Does The Last of Us Part 2 really need a remaster? Over the last couple of years, developer Naughty Dog’s tale of a post-apocalyptic world has been fleshed out across several games and transmedia properties, and fans have been debating if a spruced-up version of The Last of Us Part 2, an incredible game that helped end the PlayStation 4 generation with a bang, is even necessary. After all, the 2020 game is a damn good-looking piece of interactive entertainment, and it already got a PS5 performance patch not too long ago.

So who is this version of The Last of Us Part 2 meant for?

Will it appeal to longtime fans who have already experienced this harrowing story? Can newcomers to the series, no doubt curious after sinking their teeth into last year’s remastered version of the original The Last of Us game and the HBO series, find something worth shelling out cash for? I think no matter where you stand on The Last of Us Part 2, an incredibly divisive game for all the right and wrong reasons, there’s no denying that this new release of the sequel is the definitive version. It’s not a quick cash-in, because amidst technical improvements and enhancements, some fun extras extend this game’s longevity beyond the core experience.

Before we dive into what’s new, let’s take a look at what you can expect from The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. I like to think that games like this represent the prestige appeal of first-party PlayStation titles at their peak: A single-player adventure set in a meticulously crafted world that leaves a lasting impression on you by the time the end credits have rolled. This has been Sony’s approach for over a decade now, a direction that has led to hit games like Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and so many more from its studios.

When you think of that template, The Last of Us Part 2 nails the formula for riveting entertainment. It is a brutal game set in a harsh world, one where you actually begin to question the violence that you inflict on the characters around you, and the lingering damage that these characters have to deal with when they try to move on. I don’t want to spoil the story of The Last of Us Part 2, because it’s a masterpiece that examines the destructive cycle of revenge. There are no heroes or villains here, but there are monsters…and it’s up to you to decide just how much of a nightmare you want to be when you’re forced into terrible situations.

Yes, I know the game is divisive. But if it can provoke such powerful responses and emotions from the people who play it, it’s definitely doing something right to achieve something that only a handful of interactive titles have accomplished over the decades.

Alright, so now that you know that The Last of Us Part 2 is going to leave you an emotional wreck by the time you wrap up its meaty 20-25-hour storyline, what else can you expect in this Remastered package?

On the visual side, the game now sports native 4K output in Fidelity Mode, 1440p upscaled to 4K in Performance Mode, and an Unlocked Framerate option for TVs that support VRR. On top of that, there’s also increased texture resolution, enhanced Level-of-Detail distances, improved shadow quality, animation sampling rate, and reduced loading times.

That makes for a game that looks downright spectacular on PS5, leagues above the PS4 and PS4 Pro versions. Sure, the Performance patch in 2021 was a welcome upgrade that allowed for 60 frames-per-second gameplay on the then next-gen console, but in comparison, this PS5 upgrade leaves those versions behind in the last-gen dust. If you’ve got the right television, keeping the game in Quality mode and selecting the uncapped frame-rate option results in black magic, as evidenced by my playthrough on my LG CX television.

For returning players, there are also the Lost Levels. This content was originally cut from the base game on PS5 and includes the new Jackson Dance, Boar Hunt, and Sewers, and it’s joined by hours of new developer commentary to give you more insight into Part II’s development.

Just as important are the new accessibility modes that add a wide number of features. Descriptive Audio and Speech to Vibrations uses the DualSense controller to indicate character speech and cadence, and there are a number of other options available to fine-tune the game for players with different disabilities and requirements. There’s also a Speedrun Mode, something that we saw in The Last of Us Part 1, as well as a selection of bonus skins for Ellie, Abby, and their weapons.

Heck, even the Photo mode has been upgraded with dynamic lighting, Frame Forward, and Gaze Direction, as well as new frame and logo options for any of you budding shutterbugs. But the real meat of these extras can be found in two new modes: A roguelite option called No Return, and a chance to become a guitar hero.

The Guitar Free Play mode does pretty much what it says on the box, giving you a brief moment of downtime to strum out songs on a variety of guitars–or a banjo!–as either Joel, Ellie, or as The Last of Us series composer Gustavo Santaolalla.

But what about No Return? At first glance, a roguelite The Last of Us sounds like a mode that is at odds with the core of the game, as combat is heavy, methodical, and emotionally scarring when you play this game. Surprisingly, it works damn well. All the basics of a roguelite are here, as you’ll pick a character, leverage their unique strengths in randomized encounters, and unlock upgrades along the way.

While it won’t keep games like Dead Cells up at night, No Survivor still holds its own in this genre as every run is an armpit-moistening battle against escalating odds. Each attempt gets shaken up by modifiers that’ll keep you on your toes or encourage you to experiment, and the arcade flavour pushes you to be the best in each scenario. It’s a highlight reel of violence, as each arena is pulled from a section of the base game and is populated with familiar and new enemies to deal with.

If you can survive five encounters, you’ll get thrown into a boss fight, but if you lose, it’s back to the start for a fresh run. Just as the roguelite gods intended. If there’s one area where this mode can improve it’s in the pacing department, as between grabbing as many supplies as possible, fending off infected, and crafting explosives, there’s just not a lot of time to experiment with your builds. You’re going to have to think fast in this mode–which is split between hunting waves of enemies from the various game factions or surviving against a horde of them–and there’s no time to catch your breath, let alone experiment with new playstyles.

The flipside to Naughty Dog’s approach is that No Survivor also works brilliantly as a quick roguelite for a not-so-chill afternoon, a game mode that’s just deep enough and won’t require you to read through an entire wiki to help you min-max your build. And I’m okay with that because with sub-objectives to pursue, modifiers that allow for some ridiculous moments, and challenges that unlock some terrific extra content, there’s more than enough here to keep you occupied. Plus, your laundry hamper will be kept full of sweat-soaked T-shirts.

We’re living in a golden age of remakes and remasters right now, and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is proof of that. It’s not enough to slap a new coat of high-definition paint on an older game, as people expect more when the classics re-enter the marketplace. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered ticks every box, adds some new ones, and checks those off too.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered releases on 19 January for PS5.


The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered review

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered lives up to lofty expectations, delivering a silky-smooth audio-visual experience, stunning landscapes to explore, and fun new modes to make you feel like you’ve gotten the most bang for your buck by returning to Naughty Dog’s video game masterpiece.

 9.5
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered was reviewed on PS5