Before HBO’s “The Last of Us” television adaptation received critical and commercial success, Naughty Dog remade 2013’s The Last of Us for PlayStation 5, titled The Last of Us Part 1. It was an easy way for those new to The Last of Us games to experience this universe, given that it was originally on PlayStation 3.
Now, Naughty Dog is re-releasing its direct PlayStation 4 sequel as The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, for PlayStation 5. This remaster boasts enhanced graphics, DualSense controller features and new content, such as the new roguelike survival mode No Return.
The Last of Us Part 2 is still one of the best games in PlayStation’s exclusive library, boasting a complex story and engaging combat. However, adding the extra content just for the PS5 remaster feels unnecessary when it could’ve just been an expansion for the PS4 version.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered upgrades Sony's hit game with enhanced visuals, new DualSense controller features and a handful of extra modes and behind-the-scenes content.
What we liked about it
Combat and the new No Return gameplay mode
The new No Return gameplay mode is the remaster’s biggest addition. It’s a roguelike survival mode where players go through a series of rooms with randomized conditions and defeat the enemies in them, ultimately culminating in a boss fight in the last room. If you die, then you have to start all the way back from the first room. What makes No Return unique is the game’s core combat systems that include strategies other than direct combat.
Assault-type rooms require you to defeat enemies in a certain number of waves, and I was able to sneak around the field and take out enemies one by one instead of engaging in a firefight. The multiple approaches offer an interesting spin on the roguelike genre. In some instances, I got a Hunted-type room, where I had to survive against an endless onslaught of enemies until the clock expired. My solution? I just hid in a bush and none of the enemies could find me!
No Return also has multiple playable characters, something that the main story doesn’t provide. As you play through more runs, you’ll unlock more characters, skins and mods. Mods are also really interesting because they add certain conditions, such as enemies catching on fire when you hit them with a melee weapon. These make each encounter unique. With all of these unlockables, No Return will definitely keep players busy for a fun while.
New features that enhance the narrative experience
Two other notable features in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered are the Lost Levels and Free Play mode. Lost Levels are gameplay sequences that were cut from the original game. While they’re unfinished, you’re able to play through them and listen to developer commentary about the original ideas behind the cut sequences and why they were ultimately removed from the final game.
The Seattle Sewers one was fascinating, as Naughty Dog designer Pete Ellis explained how it was cut due to pacing issues, and that players originally needed to use the sewer’s currents to navigate and get out. Playing through the Lost Levels gives you a deeper appreciation for the game’s story sequences and offers an interesting look behind the scenes of Ellie’s adventure.
The original PS4 version of the game has a playable guitar and the remaster expands on that in Free Play mode. Here, players can choose different characters and unlock a variety of instruments to play songs on. While players likely won’t spend as much time with this content compared to No Return, it still offers valuable insight into the game’s development.
Extra immersion with PS5 features
This remaster has 4K output in Fidelity Mode and 1440p upscaled to 4K in Performance Mode. Additionally, shadow quality, texture resolution, and draw distances have improved. The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller also has haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, The recoil from shooting a shotgun and the friction when pulling an arrow back in a bow add more immersion to the overall gameplay experience.
Thankfully, The Last of Us Part 2’s accessibility settings are as great as ever. Some new ones include descriptive audio and speech vibration that help other players tailor their own experiences with the game. These settings can be applied everywhere, even in No Return and Lost Levels. The high contrast mode is a personal favorite of mine, which lets me more easily discern item pickups from the surrounding environment.
What we didn’t like about it
This remaster feels somewhat unnecessary
No Return, Lost Levels and Free Play are welcome additions to The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, but these features could’ve just been extra downloadable content or expansions for the original PS4 version. Having to pay $50 for this remaster feels unnecessary — though fortunately, folks who own the The Last of Us Part 2 on PS4 can upgraded to the Remastered edition for just $10.
While the DualSense features and performance enhancements are unique to PS5, the most substantial new piece of content is undoubtedly No Return, but it feels like it doesn’t take full advantage of the PS5’s hardware.
Bottom line
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is the definitive way to play the game, just like how The Last of Us Part 1 is for Ellie’s first adventure. It’s a complex story about how Ellie seeks revenge for a loved one and will keep you engaged until the very end. No Return is a great new game mode for returning players to come back to after finishing the story and getting used to the combat mechanics.
Sure, the DualSense features and extra graphical and performance enhancements are nice, but I struggle to find that The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered fully justifies its existence. This is especially true since in 2021, the PS4 version received a PS5 performance patch that allowed it to look and perform better than ever on Sony’s new console. However, both new and returning fans will still find much to appreciate about this remaster.
