The Last of Us: Remastered Review

Release Date: July 29, 2014Platforms: PS4Developer: Naughty DogPublisher: SonyGenre: Action-adventure

I’m always skeptical of “remastered” games coming from the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 to their new counterpart consoles. Tomb Raider: Definitive Editionwas a sham, offering hardly even a new coat of paint and charging $60. Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Editionwas surely great fun, but again, I saw little to no difference when jumping from the Xbox 360 version to the PS4 version. So, forgive me if I was less-than-enthusiastic about a The Last of Us: Remastered.But, I’m proudly here to report that this is one remastered gem that you shouldn’t skip.

The Last of Usis just one of those games that is impossible not to love. Now, Naughty Dog has it on the PlayStation 4, running at 60 frames per second and 1080p resolution. It runs like a dream, and now I’m left wondering how I even suffered through playing it at 30 FPS to begin with. The most notable change from the PS3 version’s already-impressive-graphics is the lighting upgrade, although it’s nothing that’ll shatter your brain. But, the PS4 version looks tuned in. Sharper. Enhanced.

The Last of Us: Remasteredalso sees a few controller changes with the new-gen upgrade. Now, you’re able to bring up your inventory (backpack) by using the center button of the DualShock 4. You can also map aim and fire to L2 and R2, instead of being forced to use the PS3 version’s unconventional L1 and R1.

But other than that, you’re getting the same game. Joel and Ellie’s journey is, of course, the same gripping story it was last year that you simply have to play if you haven’t yet. The Last of Us: Remasteredgets its true value from the fact that it includes all of the DLC in the price tag this time around.

I didn’t think we needed The Last of Us: Remasteredyet, being that the game was hardly a year old–I was still wiping the tears created by Joel and Ellie’s story. But, since my PS4 hasn’t seen much action lately, I said ‘what the hell’ and gave it a buy. Even through my renewed tears, I can tell that The Last of Us: Remastered’svisuals are the quintessence of beauty. And, if like me, you thought it was impossible to make The Last of Usany better, think again.

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