The Last Of Us Part 1 Review: 7 Ups & 2 Downs
Is The Last of Us Part 1 a worthy remake?
The Last of Us Part 1 is a strange project. The original game only released nine years ago, with a robust remaster releasing eight years ago. Then, five years ago it got even more support with a PS4 Pro patch improving the quality yet again. As a result, The Last of Us Remastered is still a remarkably modern-playing, and readily-accessible, masterpiece.
So, the question surrounding The Last of Us Part 1 has rightly been: what can this remake bring to the table that another remaster or even another patch couldn’t and, more importantly, are its improvements worth the high $70 price point Sony has set?
Well, right off the bat, it’s worth saying that this new game is the definitive way to play The Last of Us. If you’re new to the series, this is the version you absolutely should pick up, regardless of price.
However if, like me, you’ve spent the last 8 years playing and replaying the remastered edition, it’s not quite so cut and dry...
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UPS
7. Robust Quality Of Life Changes & Accessibility Features
TLOU Part 1 doesn't majorly overhaul the foundations of the original Last of Us, but the cosmetic and quality of life changes it brings to the table are still welcome. Being able to craft directly from your inventory is handy, and the swanky workbench animations when customising weapons are suitably opulent.
PS5 features such as Dualsense compatibility also heighten the gameplay’s tactility. The rumble of the controller when it’s raining combined with the tension in the triggers when handling different weapons closes the barrier between your living room and the world of the game. With all these changes, immersion seems to be the driving motivation; menu screens have been streamlined as much as possible, while items found in the environment are now all viewed in game rather than via their own menu.
What's not a minor addition is the new accessibility suite however, which features a lot of options brought over from TLOU 2. These modifiers are robust, and hopefully this is an area Sony continues to push in the future.