Review — The Last of Us Part II: Remastered
Relive Ellie and Abby’s heart-wrenching tale of revenge in the remastered version of The Last of Us Part II.
Every once in a while, there’s a game that defines a whole generation. I’m of course talking about games like the original Pokémon games on the Game Boy, Halo: Combat Evolved, Half-Life, Grand Theft Auto 3 and, although we might not want to hear it, Fortnite. One game that we certainly should not overlook is The Last of Us. While this game served as Sony’s swan song for the PlayStation 3, it also became one of the defining games for the PlayStation 4 and it only became more important with the release of its sequel.
If there’s any sign that we might play the third chapter in this saga on the PlayStation 5, it has to be the fact that both of these games have now received a revamped edition with the Part I and Part II subtitle for this console. The remake of The Last of Us launched back in 2022 and now you can finally experience the second game in all its glory on PlayStation 5.
An Unforgettable Story
When looking at cinematic experiences in video games, developer Naughty Dog really pushed the envelope with The Last of Us and because of this, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the game was successfully translated into a critically acclaimed television series. When they released The Last of Us Part II, they luckily didn’t rest on their laurels. Naughty Dog upped the ante with the sequel and delivered us a game that shows us the power of the interactive nature of games and how this can benefit its storytelling. Additionally, they gave us one of the boldest and most daring story twists in video game history.
I’m not going to divulge too much, as I want to keep this review spoiler free for those who still have to play the game . But those that have, or have read about it online, will certainly know what scene I’m referring to. And this scene is the catalyst for the gut-wrenching experience that follows, where the game puts you in the shoes of both Ellie and her adversary in a tale of mutual revenge that is the consequence of what happened at the ending of the first game. If you ever wondered about the narrative power of video games, The Last of Us and its sequel offer an amazing case study.
Technical Masterpiece
As The Last of Us Part II was originally released in 2020, one has to wonder whether this game, our review of which you can read here, needed a remaster. The game was optimized for the PlayStation 4 Pro and received a 60 fps patch on PlayStation 5, already offering a gorgeous looking experience. But there are several reasons as to why this remaster deserves to exist. First of all, this version wasn’t developed by the veterans at Naughty Dog, but instead by new talent who are still gaining valuable experience in the industry. Secondly, as the game is probably coming to PC, it’s only logical that they optimize the game for the current generation of hardware and implement these enhancements for the PlayStation 5.
In terms of performance, this game still runs at a steady 30 fps with a 4K resolution in Fidelity Mode and 60 fps at a 1440p resolution, upscaled to 4K in Performance Mode. However, the game also supports 120 Hz and VRR, offering a boost in frames for both rendering modes. Further visual enhancements include improved textures and foliage, and better lighting. The game also takes full advantage of the DualSense controller with its haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, making combat feel even more immersive. They also added the accessibility features that were introduced in The Last of Us Part I Remake.
All in all, this new version is actually more like a director’s cut, like they did with Ghost of Tsushima and Death Stranding, offering an improved version with a lot of extra’s. These include concept art, behind the scenes videos and podcasts and commentary by the cast and developers. They also added three unfinished “Lost Levels” that you can play and that are accompanied by commentary from the developers. These three levels, Jackson Party, Seattle Sewers and The Hunt, are a nice distraction and it was actually nice getting some more insight into the development of the game. Other than that, you will also find an improved photo mode, new character and weapons skins and even a speedrun mode. There’s even a free play mode for the guitar, where you can play a banjo this time. While this wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, I’m certain some people will enjoy this addition.
Roguelike fun
The biggest draw in this remaster, however, is probably a brand new mode called No Return. This is a roguelike mode where you play as one of ten characters and run through a series of randomized encounters, ending with a boss fight. These encounters are remixed levels from the main game where you’ll face off against different enemy factions, giving you various objectives to complete and changing things up with various modifiers. As with any roguelike, death means you have to restart your run from zero. Between the encounters, you’ll return to your safehouse where you can buy upgrades, but these aren’t permanent, so if you die, you’ll lose them. You do unlock new characters, modifiers, encounter types, bosses and the possibility to customize runs as you keep playing. These characters include characters that were not playable in the main game, and each character has its own specialties. Abby focuses on melee combat, whereas Lev is all about archery, for example.
If you already own The Last of Us Part II and you’re only interested in all the new stuff, you luckily don’t have to pay full price this time. While it made sense to charge $50 for Part I as it was completely rebuilt, this was less the case for Part II. So you’ll be happy to hear that upgrading your version will only cost you $10. And if you haven’t played the game yet, you might as well go for this definitive edition as it’s still an enhanced version of a game that is a masterclass in storytelling, world building and immersive gameplay.
4,5/5
Reviewed on PlayStation 5.
Download code provided by the publisher.
