The Last of Us seems like a franchise doomed to continuous controversy. The leaks heading into The Last of Us Part 2 were obviously far more damaging, ruining a specific scene that set up the entire game, but The Last of Us Part 1 has had its fair share of controversy. Even before it was confirmed, many questioned if it was even necessary given The Last of Us Remastered, and many now debate whether the confirmed remake of The Last of Us Part 1 is worth its $70 price tag.
Many have accused it of being a cash grab, even with what has been shown. It’s clear that it is indeed a from-the-ground-up recreation of The Last of Us, but the recent leak-leading-to-a-seemingly-rushed-announcement hasn’t been great for its reception either. Still, there are plenty of improvements fans can look forward to.
Beyond the graphical improvements, there’s also the inclusion of special PS5 DualSense features such as Haptic Feedback. Each weapon in The Last of Us Part 1 is said to feature unique feedback, as well as the workbench with the various new animations for Joel’s weapon and equipment. Various moments that involve jumping, landing, combat, and so on will use this feature to make it all the more immersive, but one moment is perhaps sweeter than the rest of the grittier feedback elements.
The giraffe scene is one of the most memorable moments of the last game, where Joel and Ellie come across a pack of giraffes and manage to pet one. When players pet the giraffe, the DualSense will have a light reverb to imitate the sense of contact with the creature. Instead of gritty realism, it’s a peaceful moment made all the more immersive.
During the recent Last of Us Part 1 trailer, Naughty Dog Co-President Neil Druckmann stated why this haptic feedback is so important. “To me, that’s the essence of The Last of Us. It’s the high-tension moments, it’s the low-tension moments, and all of it feeling grounded. It’s you feeling immersed in this world…and that’s what the new technology on the PS5 is allowing.”
It’ll be interesting to see how these features, as well as other PS5 improvements, make The Last of Us Part 1 better and more immersive. September is not far away at least, so fans will find out soon enough.
The Last of Us Part 1 is scheduled to release on September 2, 2022, on PS5. A PC port is also in development.
