When it comes to remakes and remasters there is an inherent discussion about value – is the game worth playing for those who haven’t ever played it and is it worth revisiting depending on the changes made to the original product. For The Last of Us Part 1, those discussions have been more heated for a number of reasons, with the value of the remaster varying from person to person.

After having spent considerable time with The Last of Us Part 1 it’s hard not to come away impressed. Naughty Dog has upgraded the visuals of the game across the board, making it look on par with most current-gen games on the market. The game still features the performances from the original, but with a new coat of paint, everything about The Last of Us Part 1 has an added boost of realism.

last of us part 1 review

It really is impressive how much visual detail Naughty Dog was able to layer onto The Last of Us Part 1 without completely redoing the stunning production design that existed before. The developers called their work on the project meticulous, and it feels that way. Much of what The Last of Us Part 1 does is modernize the visuals of a PS3-era game to match the fidelity of the current generation.

At the same time, that also means that The Last of Us Part 1 does not feature any major overhauls from a gameplay perspective. This is not The Last of Us Part 1 with Part 2’s combat and systems. Going from Part 2 to Part 1 is sure to be jarring for veterans, but that doesn’t seem to be the intent of this remake. Rather, the focus is on preserving its experience, or what fans remember from 2013.

There are some bonuses included with The Last of Us Part 1 that will entice more hardcore fans. A speedrun and permadeath options are included from the start, which will likely satisfy the dedicated Last of Us players out there. The Last of Us Part 1 also features a ton of accessibility options, which has become standard practice for Sony-published games lately and is nice to see here.

The Last of Us Part 1 also comes packed in with the Left Behind DLC. It’s a great, Ellie-led story that highlights her life before Joel and gives some hints about her behavior in The Last of Us Part 1. One of the things that Naughty Dog excels at is its ability to craft quiet moments that are mechanically engaging but not focused on intensity or outright combat. Left Behind has some of the best examples of those in the series.

last of us part 1 review

The Last of Us Part 1 is an exceptional game, one whose influence has permeated game development on every level. It features a story that’s on par with any movie or TV series, performances that are emotionally affecting and beautiful, and gameplay that is unbelievably tense. Without question, it deserves to be played, and The Last of Us Part 1 is the best version of the game available.

Of course, with a game this beloved and popular there are tons of people that have already played The Last of Us Part 1 and are looking for reasons to buy the remake. The visual upgrade is a major selling point, but whether that’s worth a $70 price tag will vary from person to person. The lack of the game’s Factions multiplayer is likely going to be a sticking point for some as well.

last of us part 1 review

In some instances, a remake can feel like a brand new game, but that isn’t entirely the case here. The Last of Us Part 1 is no doubt a better-looking game and the DualSense functionality adds some nice immersive touches to the gameplay, but it doesn’t feel fundamentally different. There’s an exceptional game on display but it was exceptional back in 2013 and 2014 for the remaster. As a result, interest in the game is going to be all over the place. Some will see it as a cash-grab, others will be happy it exists for the new fans that will come from the HBO series, and specific fans will appreciate yet another opportunity to journey with Joel and Ellie in an experience that is one of PlayStation’s best.

The Last of Us Part 1 releases September 2, 2022 for PS5. Game Rant was provided a code for this review.

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The Last of Us Part I

The Last of Us Part 1, released in 2022, is an action-adventure title by Naughty Dog. This game is a remake of the 2013 edition, featuring refined gameplay elements such as improved combat and broader exploration. Its narrative centers on Joel, responsible for safely guiding young Ellie across the post-apocalyptic United States. Their journey is filled with dangers, including the threat from creatures that have been transformed by the Cordyceps fungus. Additionally, the game features an expansion titled The Last of Us: Left Behind.