The Last of Us is a series with plenty of terrifying moments, as well as plenty of drama and heartache as players witness humanity attempting to recover itself following a devastating pandemic. However, among the violence, death, and deception, there are a few light-hearted moments that provide a bit of relief from all the tension. Though they may bicker, Joel and Ellie love sharing dry jokes, and if players keep an eye out, they will spot the occasional video game reference.
With The Last of Us Part 1, Naughty Dog has included a few more references for keen-eyed players. Most of them are video game references, though there are also movie references. Some references appear to be there for the biggest Naughty Dog fans, as they reference obscure aspects of The Last of Us' world. To unlock these skins, all players need to do is collect points, which are earned through regular gameplay.
The Gaming References in The Last of Us Part 1
The Last of Us Part 1 improves on the original game in several ways, thanks to PS5's hardware. Better visuals have been paired up with 3D audio to provide gamers with the most immersive experience yet, while a range of new accessibility options have ensured that more gamers than ever will get to play Joel and Ellie's epic adventure. Additionally, the DualSense controller has been implemented, with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers used to make different guns feel unique and make key moments feel even more impactful.
The remake also brings more skins for Joel and Ellie. In addition to providing a nice cosmetic change, the clothing items on offer also reference many PlayStation games. Players can unlock a shirt with ICO written on it, a reference to the 2001 game released by Team Ico - the same studio behind Shadow of the Colossus, which is referenced on a different Ellie outfit. Some of Ellie's outfits refer to titles from Insomniac, including Resistance, which is a series of shooter games. The last title from the series is Resistance: Burning Skies, which was released on the PS Vita in 2012. Ratchet and Clank is also referenced, a long-running franchise that has only grown in popularity following the release of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart on PS5.
Housemarque's Returnal, which is an eccentric yet captivating science fiction title, also makes an appearance. The studio has released plenty of PlayStation games, and after Returnal's success, it was acquired by Sony. There are also quite a few Sucker Punch games that are referenced, including the Infamous series, which allows players to experience life with superpowers, the platformer Sly Cooper, and Ghost of Tsushima, which has gamers playing as a samurai who must defend his homeland against the Mongol invasion. Santa Monica is not neglected either, as there is a God of War skin available, too. This will likely be exciting for PlayStation gamers, as the next God of War entry is scheduled to release in November.
There is a skin that references Bend Studio's Days Gone, which is an appropriate reference, as it is also a zombie game. Ellie can also wear a pink shirt featuring Astro Bot, who has become a famous PlayStation mascot after the success of titles like Astro's Playroom and Astro Bot Rescue Mission. Other PlayStation games referenced on Ellie's clothing include Media Molecule's Dreams, Guerrilla Games' Horizon franchise, and Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo.
Naughty Dog and The Last of Us References
Some references are a bit meta, as they reference either The Last of Us series or Naughty Dog. There are three shirts bearing the Naughty Dog logo on them, which features a dog paw. This is nothing new for Naughty Dog games, and the studio frequently sneaks its logo into its games, and it even makes an appearance in the Uncharted movie. Players can have Ellie wear an Angel Knives top which features the fictional character that only the most ardent The Last of Us fans will remember. Angel Knives makes a brief appearance in The Last of Us: Left Behind during Ellie and Riley's romp in the abandoned mall. The outfit that Ellie wears in The Last of Us Part 2 is also available for her to use, which is a nice addition.
There are also two Jak and Daxter tops for Ellie, a Daxter backpack, and Jak goggles. The numerous Jak and Daxter references are no mistake, as Naughty Dog developed the series for many years. The franchise also shares a close relationship with The Last of Us, as some of the ideas that were meant for a new Jak and Daxter game eventually formed the basis for The Last of Us. That is not the only Naughty Dog game that is referenced, as there is also an Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and Uncharted 4 shirt for Ellie. The references present stretch beyond PlayStation, and even gaming. Ellie can also wear a yellow jumpsuit, which movie fans will recognize from Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill series. The reference is not entirely out of place, as much like The Bride in Kill Bill, Ellie also ends up pursuing her own brutally violent revenge quest.
To unlock the various skins, players need to collect points, which can be done by finding collectibles, completing chapters, and finishing the game on different difficulties. The different gaming references are a nice reminder of the many memorable titles that have been released by PlayStation's various first-party studios, and they add a nice change to different playthroughs. There are also skins available for Joel, though they do not appear to reference any games, with the exception perhaps being his winter gear since it looks like the outfit he wears in The Last of Us Part 2.
The Last of Us Part 1 is available now on PS5. A PC port is in development.
