While the very existence of The Last of Us Part 1 makes it controversial, as some believe the game release too recently to warrant a remake, others were thrilled to have confirmation that a new version of the critically acclaimed title is on the way. Likely releasing to capitalize on the new fans that will be coming over thanks to The Last of Us HBO series, the remake will provide updated character models, more detailed environments, and gameplay on par with the sequel.
While the visual improvements made in The Last of Us Part 1 are clear, and gameplay changes are welcome, Naughty Dog should also provide fans with a new Trophy list to work through. Not only did a few things make the original list tedious, but a fresh batch of achievements to work on could make the remake appealing to those that have already played through The Last of Us multiple times.
Issues With The Last of Us’ Original Trophy List
The most glaring reason for The Last of Us Part 1’s Trophy list needing a change is Factions multiplayer. With Factions getting a standalone game next year, it makes little sense for Naughty Dog to go through the effort of remaking the multiplayer mode from the original The Last of Us game. As such, the Trophies for completing the Firefly and Hunter journeys will have to be swapped out, as will the other Trophies tied to the online mode. While the rarity of other Trophies could just be increased instead, it would also make sense for new achievements to be introduced.
The Trophies tied to fully upgrading every weapon should be removed or reworked, as should the Trophies asking players to complete the game on multiple difficulties. Both objectives are asking for players to go through the game a few times, as there are not enough resources to fully upgrade everything in one go. For something like The Last of Us, asking players to replay repeatedly is not ideal. The Last of Us features an impactful and emotional story that is brilliant on the first try, but most fans would not want to play through something so intense again and again. While gamers could start on the highest difficulty to minimize playthroughs, the need for upgrade materials will still require at least one more. Further, starting off on the toughest difficulty level could make it harder to concentrate on the story during the initial run, with the pacing damaged by constant deaths.
Fun New Trophies Naughty Dog Could Add
While the Left Behind DLC’s Trophies could be worked into the main list to compensate for the removal of Factions’ achievements, more Trophies would be needed if Naughty Dog were to get rid of difficulty-related tasks as well. Trophies tied to Easter eggs could be fun, and with players already needing to track down collectibles, these could be picked up along the way. Throwing the Jak and Daxter outfit on Ellie and shooting the Uncharted Board Game is just one example of a possible Trophy, and any new Easter eggs Naughty Dog adds could be tied to Trophies as well.
Speaking of the Uncharted series, the games in that franchise consistently featured fun combat-related Trophies that could be unlocked at any time. These tasked gamers with performing a certain number of melee kills in a row, racking up headshots, and getting kills with every weapon. Trophies like this would be a great way to let players work on achievements while enjoying the story, and whatever they miss could easily be picked up by retrying combat encounters after the game is complete. Players could get Trophies for sneaking through entire areas or going loud in places that would be easier to sneak through, too.
Something like the David boss fight is prime Trophy material, as gamers could be rewarded for hitting him with a variety of items or for completing the battle without any mistakes. When designing the new Trophy list, Naughty Dog should craft a lineup that rewards players for finding secrets and doing certain things in combat. For a story-driven game like The Last of Us Part 1, making sure everything can be gotten in one go is key, with any missable Trophies able to be picked up quickly via chapter select instead of demanding a full replay of the game. Hopefully, a more diverse list that leans into the game’s strengths will be seen once the remake arrives.
The Last of Us Part 1 launches September 2 on PS5. A PC version is in development.