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Five reasons the haters are wrong about The Last of Us Part II Remastered
6K View2024-01-06
You might recall me screaming into the throng of the internet that we all needed a break from The Last of Us. Not even a year ago, I was calling for some time away from this beloved franchise.
I’ve changed my mind, though, and I’m here to defend the upcoming release of The Last of Us Part II Remastered. Why the change of heart? Well, it’s 2024! A new year means a time to celebrate and start again. Don’t hold me accountable for something I said ages ago!
Sony’s cinematic horror series has once again gained ire from a certain subset of the public with the announcement of The Last of Us Part II Remastered, which is launching for PlayStation 5 on January 19, 2024. This game was controversial when it first came out, so it’s not surprising that some people are upset about this rerelease.
What’s maybe more surprising, given my stance of wanting a break, is that I think The Last of Us Part II Remastered is actually a great idea for fans, and for the series as a whole. Let’s go through a point-by-point breakdown of why I’m in support of this game and why I think the haters have got it wrong.
1. It’s not actually too early for a remaster
Given the sheer amount of trolling and controversy surrounding the release of The Last of Us Part II, I’m not surprised that this remaster is receiving a similar amount of rage. One common complaint is that it’s too early for a remaster. Maybe it feels like this because The Last of Us has been everywhere in recent memory, but it really isn’t the case. We live in the remaster era. It’s become increasingly common for popular games from the previous console generation to receive a relatively quick remaster to take advantage of the latest hardware. And Sony has led the charge on this trend.
Marvel's Spider-Man originally released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4, and it received its remaster for the PlayStation 5 in 2020—with a follow-up PC launch in 2022. Ghost of Tsushima, another hit PlayStation 4 title, was released in 2020. The Director’s Cut rerelease came out on PlayStation 5 just one year later.
Although it might be hard to believe, The Last of Us Part II came out four years ago. While the second season is still a ways off, the HBO show based on the game introduced the series to a whole new audience. That makes now the perfect time to take advantage of the power of the PlayStation 5 for TV viewers who might just now be jumping into the games.
2. It’s not just a cash grab...or not that much of one
Okay, sure, I won’t argue this point! When a big publisher like Sony puts out a game, obviously they’re doing it to make money. But The Last of Us Part II Remastered isn’t the cash grab that some online trolls are making it out to be. In fact, if you own the PlayStation 4 version of the game, you can upgrade to the Remastered edition on PlayStation 5 for only $10. That’s got to be the least grabbiest of grabs I’ve ever heard of. It’s also a huge improvement from 2022’s The Last of Us Part I remake, which everyone had to pay a full $69.99 to play.
3. It’s not the average remaster
There are a few commonplace things about The Last of Us Part II Remastered. Of course, the graphics are updated and include 4K visuals; the haptic feedback and control scheme have been adjusted so that weapons feel unique; and some more progressive add-ons, like the new accessibility features such as descriptive audio and speech, are great for giving an even wider audience of gamers a chance to experience an excellent game.But what I’m really hyped about are the DVD extra-style bonuses. In addition to three cut levels, The Last of Us Part II Remastered will include director’s commentary. These two features alone should provide not just a new playthrough experience, but a more in-depth examination of the game itself and the choices that Naughty Dog made during development.
4. An apology of sorts for The Last of Us Online
With The Last of Us Online officially canceled by Naughty Dog, the roguelike survival mode “No Return” feels like the consolation prize for fans waiting on an undelivered promise. In all honesty, I don’t go to The Last of Us to get my online multiplayer killing fix. It’s the single-player narrative that makes this game so great. Nevertheless, I completely understand why fans of the original game’s “Factions” multiplayer mode would be pissed. The new “No Return” survival mode may not fill the same exact space, but hopefully it will soothe some of the pain.
5. All the little things
On top of the big additions, The Last of Us Part II Remastered will be full of small things that will still help it feel like a fresh experience. There’s new character and weapons skins for Ellie and Abby, a guitar free play, and a speedrun mode complete with online leaderboards and rewards. Sure, these things aren’t making me jump outta my seat with enthusiasm, but it’s things like this that make an already excellent game even better.
January 19 is right around the corner, and as a lover of this franchise, I’m excited for both old and new fans. Sure, it’s not Last of Us Part III or even season 2 of the TV series, but it’s that perfect little snack that keeps you satisfied between meals. So for all the haters talking smack about this remaster, do me a favor and chill out. This release is a good thing.
💬 Are you looking forward to The Last of Us Part Two remaster? Let me know in the comments.
Comments
The Last Of Us Part II Remastered Is Real, Coming to PS5 on January 19, 2024!
Re-experience, or discover for the first time, Ellie and Abby’s emotional journey with the definitive way to play The Last of Us Part II.
Naughty Dog is thrilled to unveil The Last of Us Part II Remastered, offering players an enhanced experience of the highly-praised sequel from 2020. Experience for the first time or relive Ellie and Abby’s story with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full Dual Sense wireless controller integration, and more.
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The Last Of Us Part 2 Remastered Preorders Available Ahead Of January Release
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is up for preorder ahead of its January 19 release exclusively on PS5 Along with the standard edition, you'll find a currently sold-out collector's edition exclusive to PlayStation Direct.
There are currently no preorder bonuses for reserving a copy of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. However, the game is more than a simple graphical overhaul; the remaster comes with a new roguelike survival mode, exclusive developer commentary, enhanced accessibility features, and new unlockable character and weapon skins.
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A Perfect Game, a Botched Port: Review of The Last of Us Part I on PC
Cecil Gao -- Superpixel
In February of this year, Naughty Dog announced that the PC version of The Last of Us remake (The Last of Us Part I), originally scheduled for release on March 3rd, would be delayed until March 28th. After the success of the show and additional hype for the PC release, it appears the developers wanted to take a few extra weeks to ensure that the game was polished enough to meet players’ high expectations.
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