It is a good time to be a The Last of Us fan. In 2023, HBO will bring the long-awaited The Last of Us television adaptation that will track Joel and Ellie's journey to find the Fireflies. It is a massive production with Bella Ramsey starring as Ellie, Pedro Pascal playing Joel, and Gabriel Luna playing Tommy. Naughty Dog has also revealed that players can expect The Last of Us Part 1, a large-scale remake of the first game. As studio co-president Neil Druckmann explained at 2022's Summer Game Fest, because the game is developed for the PS5, Naughty Dog was able to craft something a little closer to its ideal vision.
It has been almost a decade since The Last of Us originally launched, and gaming, as well as The Last of Us franchise, has come a long way since 2013. With The Last of Us Part 1, Naughty Dog has the chance to blow the gaming world away once again, and to do that, a simple recreation of the original game will not suffice. There are a few ways the studio can enhance the already amazing groundwork to ensure that The Last of Us Part 1 is the definitive way to enjoy Joel and Ellie's story.
The Last of Us Part 1 Can Address Unanswered Questions
The Last of Us makes use of ambiguity and a vague ending to strengthen the impact of its story, as it forces players to make their own interpretations of events. Consequently, years later, The Last of Us is a game that is still energetically discussed, and gamers are divided on whether they consider Joel a hero or villain. The Last of Us Part 1 should retain that ambiguity, as it is a strong suit, but that does not mean it cannot answer a few burning questions.
The Last of Us Part 1 could solve a couple of mysteries surrounding Tess, a character that unfortunately does not make the leap to the sequel. Players are introduced to her early on in the game and though she is likable, they do not get to spend too much time with her. Like Joel, she is a smuggler, and she meets him in Boston where the pair become a team. Tess and Joel are hunting down stolen weapons when they cross paths with Marlene, which eventually results in them agreeing to transport Ellie across the country. In the brief time players spend with her, they do not discover much about her history and life before meeting Joel. By answering these questions, her character could be given more depth.
The upcoming remake could also shed a bit more light on Joel's younger brother, Tommy Miller. In The Last of Us, he plays a relatively minor role, although, in the sequel, his screen time is greatly increased. Tommy is an ex-Firefly and the husband of Maria who eventually becomes the leader of Jackson. Although Tommy and Joel love each other, they have their differences, and there were years when the two did not talk to each other. Not much is known about what happened during that time, except that Joel did some things for the sake of survival that disgusted Tommy enough for him to turn his back on his brother.
Fans of The Last of Us are aware that no matter how sympathetic he is, it is undeniable that Joel is sometimes a brutal person, though his violence is never senseless. The Last of Us Part 1 could answer a few questions about what happened during those years, and what skeletons Joel has in his closet. Expanding both Tess and Tommy's characters would be possible by including more dialogue in the game, or through flashbacks which The Last of Us Part 2 makes liberal use of. Alternatively, as The Last of Us series loves to do, collectibles in the form of letters and notes could also provide the necessary exposition.
The Last of Us Part 1 Should Revamp the Infected
With The Last of Us' emotional plot, it is easy to forget that, at its core, it is a zombie survival horror game. In Naughty Dog's franchise, the zombies are called Infected, and they take on different forms depending on what stage their Cordyceps infection is at. Types of Infected encountered in The Last of Us include Runners who still look relatively human, all the way up to Bloaters that have been infected for years and have transformed into monstrous, toxic beings. In The Last of Us Part 2, Ellie encounters new Infected types, including Shamblers and the terrifying Rat King that is made up of several Infected.
To have the same Infected return unchanged may be a bit boring for return players, and for this reason, Naughty Dog should ensure that The Last of Us Part 1's Infected are not carbon copies of the original game. They can be kept fresh by giving them new attacks, new ways of detecting players, or by introducing a new Infected type to keep gamers on their toes. It would be a heart-stopping experience for series veterans to traverse a familiar level and open a door, only to find a never-before-seen Infected, or to have a Bloater strike with an unexpected move.
It is smart for Naughty Dog to release a remake of its highly critically acclaimed game, as it provides an easy entry point for newcomers who wish to join the fan base just in time for the upcoming television adaptation. As Naughty Dog has revealed, the remake will feature several enhancements, including modernized gameplay, expanded accessibility features, 3D audio, as well as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback via the PS5's DualSense controller. With a few touch-ups, by way of expanding side characters and polishing the Infected, the developers can ensure The Last of Us Part 1 will be unmissable for both newcomers and longtime fans.
The Last of Us Part 1 is scheduled to release on September 2, 2022 on PS5. A PC port is also planned.