Once I finished a game, I never played it again. Do you want to reboot? yes. The Witcher 3 and Divinity: Original Sin are just two of his victims of my ADHD-plagued brain, abandoned and back. My pile of shame is practically my entire game library. That’s why it’s a near miracle that I’ve seen the credits roll on every Naughty Dog title I’ve played.
Whether it’s Uncharted or The Last of Us, the cinematic storytelling is perfectly paced and holds my attention. This game is for people who like movies. Uncharted is an action-adventure summer blockbuster with a charismatic protagonist and his cast of memorable characters. The Last of Us has a fair amount of action, but in contrast, the post-apocalyptic backdrop is tragic, despair, and sadness.
And while I loved The Last of Us Part 1 when I played it back on my PS3, the book closed as soon as I put the controller down. Even if you always leave some cracks in your rose colored glasses. With any luck. Sometimes the lens falls off completely. The Last of Us PS4 remaster did nothing to change that belief. Even avid replayers of the game would have struggled to find significant improvements to justify a second purchase. Got a shirt.
So it lives on in the drab pits of my memory, surrounded by piles of little games labeled with tattered post-its that read “GOAT.”
Then you’ll understand why I was indifferent during The Last of Us Part 1. PS5 remake announced“It’s not for me” was my immediate reaction. This is for obsessive purchases every time GTA 5 gets a new release. Some are already thinking about pre-ordering the PS6 and Xone Box X (Microsoft’s naming system remains a mystery).
If a classic game isn’t tarnished by a fresh pair of nostalgic brilliance, the remake could go the other way – fueling the ire of the fanbase with misguided concepts and ideas. But somehow, Naughty Dog deftly navigated its waters, plotting a narrow and careful course, and docked the masterpiece unscathed in port.
It’s been about 10 years since I played the original. And when we revisited this glossy and expensive remake, it felt like nothing had changed at all. That’s the best compliment I can give.
future past
sony is rolled up (opens in new tab) A list of enhancements and improvements aimed at keeping this remake in line with the developer’s original vision while leveraging new technology. Also, since we are not animals, we have two performance modes to choose from. Native 4K targeting 30 fps and Dynamic 4K targeting 60 fps.
Even deeper is a completely rebuilt character model and animations, as well as an upgraded AI. The PS5 also made things a little more difficult with in-game physics allowing bullets to tear through the environment. But for me, it’s how I remember this game will always be like a perfect restoration of an old painting, not so defaced. jesus meme (opens in new tab) we all know
Lead Cinematic Animator Eric Baldwin summarize (opens in new tab) The conundrum Naughty Dog faced perfectly. I was going to compare it to my memory of the original.” And the developers nailed it. Everything is as I remember the first time. Obviously not. There’s a magic going on that improves everything while keeping those improvements to the point where they’re almost invisible. repair shop (opens in new tab).
The only discernible difference in my experience between the original and the remake is the combat. The PS5 remake has four difficulty options, and Survivor Mode unlocked after completion doesn’t count. Easy, Normal, and Hard have been superseded by Very Light, Light, Moderate, and Hard. In other words, there was a new low and I was happy to step inside it. In Very Light, ammunition was plentiful, human enemies were practically blind, and the infected were still terrifyingly terrifying, but fear was a notch down.
Good grief
The Last of Us Part 1 is filled with unforgettable moments both in and out of combat. And hello, does the improved intro qualify for that and some from it.
I know, I know – I just this week, The Last of Us Remake Launch Trailer To drop 10 year old spoilers. But I think the death of the first Joel’s daughter is forgivable. right? It’s a zombie apocalypse – or close to it. Joel has a sad beard that has grown out of nowhere. and a teenage daughter-shaped hole in his mind that Ellie helps heal.
I was left growling and snorting just like I was back in 2013… to the ground.
You can see the shock of being shot sketched on her face.
There are a few moments where Joel is seen helplessly cradling his daughter Sarah in his arms in panic and despair. The impact of her being shot is sketched on her face, and I see her lying and bleeding, the pain in her tiny little body that I don’t understand. As Joel hugs her, her faces touch, her life drains from her eyes, her tears drip down the side of her face, and he realizes his girlfriend is gone. . I was ready for this scene. And it still got me.
I’m not sure which of these details were present in the original game and which were added in the remake. Ultimately it doesn’t matter. Every beat, every moment, whether it was tragic, hopeful, terrifying, or adrenaline-fueled panic, is exactly what I remember.
Our minds tend to take our memories, smooth the edges and remove impurities without distorting the core of what we hold dear. and reconstructed with finesse and delicacy to match even the most romantic and surreal bars. A tribute to the original game and its fans. And it’s done in a way that you won’t even notice.
