Thanks to several factors, the run-up to The Last of Us Part 1's launch has been an intriguing ride. Having leaked months in advance of Naughty Dog’s official unveiling, fans have had a long time to mull the project over in their minds. Since the studio pulled back the curtain on its PS5 remake during this year’s Summer Game Fest, it’s fair to say that discourse surrounding those thoughts has continued to be polarizing online.
Remaking a game that many consider to be a modern classic was never going to be an easy task for Naughty Dog. Now that reviews of The Last of Us Part 1 are starting to hit the internet, it appears as though the studio has done a solid job living up to its own legacy. While there’s been questions regarding Sony’s decision to green-light a new version of a game that launched in 2013, it’s easy to see fans flocking to the experience when it launches on September 2. With that in mind, there are some things fans should keep in mind as they prepare to reacquaint themselves with Joel and Ellie’s story.
Part 1’s Improvements
Even though the term ‘remake’ has often been attributed to games that have failed to live up to the truest meaning of the word, the same can’t be said for The Last of Us Part 1. In order to modernize and bring the experience inline with the series’ second installment, Naughty Dog has rebuilt its PS3 game from the ground-up for the PS5. From just a quick glance at the footage and side-by-side photos that have been released to the public, it’s clear that this has had a profound impact on the game’s visual identity. Everything from the environments, characters, and lighting, have all been improved and brought forward a generation.
Large sections of The Last of Us Part 1‘s environments have been rebuilt for example, so that they now more closely resemble the vision that Naughty Dog initially had for the game back in 2013. It should be noted that the basic geometry of these locales has been left mostly intact, so players shouldn’t expect the verticality of Last of Us 2 to come into play. There have been some notable improvements in other parts of the gameplay side of things though, such as an updated HUD, that will no doubt make the experience feel fresh for a lot of fans.
What becomes apparent early on is the fact that Naughty Dog has tweaked the core gunplay of The Last of Us Part 1, so that it feels closer to the experience found in Part 2. Players will likely be thankful for this, due to the studio’s decision to also overhaul the game’s AI behaviors at the same time. Enemies now approach the player in more varied and sophisticated ways, which means extra planning and strategy is now an essential part of survival. One positive consequence of this, however, is the fact that the player’s companions now react realistically to danger as well.
Part 1’s Legacy
Remaking a beloved game is a tricky proposition, as it opens the door for the original experience to be tarnished. It’s likely for this reason that Naughty Dog has taken clear steps to respect the original version of The Last of Us. For example, although new camera angles have been added to several cutscenes, the award-winning narrative that catapulted the series to success has been rebuilt beat-for-beat in Part 1. Joel and Ellie’s story, and The Left Behind DLC expansion which is also included in the package, both play out just as fans remember.
Only subtle tweaks have been made on a handful of instances, to better reflect the direction that Part 2’s own story goes down. In a similar vein, even the motion capture footage that Naughty Dog has built The Last of Us Part 1 around is an improved version of what players witnessed in 2013. Despite the upcoming HBO adaptation of the series, the studio has also taken the wise decision to leave the game’s main cast intact. Players can therefore look forward to once again hearing and seeing Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson’s beloved depictions of Joel and Ellie respectively.
Part 1’s Accessibility Options
In the grand scheme of things, The Last of Us’ debut on the PS3 in 2013 wasn’t all that long ago. It’s for this reason that discourse on the internet surrounding Naughty Dog’s remake has been dominated by its validity. Even though the studio has taken steps to justify its decision to rebuild the game for the PS5, via the aforementioned improvements, it’s arguably the accessibility upgrades it’s made that have done the best job of selling The Last of Us Part 1.
Thanks to the extensive list of options that are available in The Last Of Us Part 1, it’s easy to envision the game now being approachable for plenty of players for the very first time. Having worked hard to make Part 2 an inclusive experience, it isn’t too shocking that Naughty Dog has taken the sequel’s accessibility settings and built directly on top of them. One brand-new feature that’s made headlines recently, is the PS5 game’s cinematic audio descriptions. Improvements like this can’t be understated, as they’re significant game changers that will open up the experience to millions of new people.
Part 1’s Platforms
In recent years Sony has pivoted its business plans away from complete console exclusivity. Ports of God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man, as well as the purchase of studios like Nixxes Software have resulted in the publisher now having a solid PC presence. It’s for this reason then that it isn’t too shocking that The Last of Us Part 1 is also set to hit the platform. Although the port won’t release alongside the PS5 version on September 2, and no date has officially been revealed, fans can look forward to the game becoming available on the platform at some point in the near future.
Part 1’s Price
Despite the fact that The Last of Us Part 1 could be described as the definitive version of the game, plenty of fans have called out the price that Sony is charging for it. Based in-part on how players have already had to pay the full amount for the game on PS3 and PS4, the latest incarnation’s $69.99 price tag is understandably a daunting proposition. With that being said, how much the package appeals to each individual person will naturally vary on a personal level.
For fans that are sold on and are able to purchase the PS5 game, Sony has provided several methods for them to do so. Beyond the aforementioned 'Standard Edition' of The Last of Us Part 1, there’s also a 'Digital Deluxe Edition' that can be purchased from the PlayStation Store for $79.99. This incarnation comes with several bonuses, including two skill upgrades, two weapon upgrades, six weapon skins, and early access to explosive arrows. Beyond these, the new 'Speedrun Mode' and 'Dither Punk Filter' can also be utilized from the start of the game in this version.
One final incarnation of The Last of Us Part 1, that retails for $99.99 and has been dubbed as the ‘Firefly Edition’ by Sony, also exists. However, fans looking to get their hands on this edition will have an uphill battle on their hands as it’s sold out on the publisher’s website whenever pre-orders have opened up for it. In addition to the previously mentioned 'Digital Deluxe' unlocks, the 'Firefly Edition' also features a special SteelBook case. Rounding out the package are special versions of all four issues of The Last of Us: American Dreams, a comic book series set before the events of the Left Behind DLC.
The Last of Us Part 1 releases September 2, 2022 for PS5, and a PC release is also in development.
