Headline: The Last of Us Part I on PS5: A Stunning Remake Questioned for Its Price Tag

The Last of Us Part I, launching this Friday on PlayStation 5, represents a retroactive title modification reminiscent of George Lucas’ earlier alterations to his inaugural Star Wars film. Initially released simply as Star Wars in 1977, the film is now recognized as Episode IV – A New Hope. Mirroring Lucas’s extensive revisions to the original Episode IV and its sequels and prequels—from the period preceding the sale of his Lucasfilm to Disney—Naughty Dog is revisiting The Last of Us, which first debuted on PS3 back in 2013. This isn’t even the initial revision, as the critically acclaimed survival horror title received a remaster for PS4 in 2014. However, The Last of Us Part I represents a far more ambitious project, with Naughty Dog characterizing it as a complete “rebuild.” It’s like Lucas’ work on steroids, in essence.

And it looks stunning. The Last of Us Part I now resembles the 2020 sequel, Part II, in terms of aesthetics, gameplay, and animation. (The latter is yet to receive a dedicated PS5 version—it was the final Sony exclusive on PS4 before PS5’s release—but performs significantly better on the new console thanks to minor updates.) With Part I now on PS5, you’ll find enhanced detail in character faces, textures, and the overall environment. Similar to Part II, The Last of Us Part I utilizes the DualSense controller, intensifying the tension and atmosphere of its zombie-ridden landscape.

However, if you’ve recently played Part II, Part I may not leave you in awe, particularly if you experienced the original on a PS5. Yet, there’s a remarkable difference, which is only evident when you place the original next to the remake, as I did. When I launched The Last of Us Remastered on a PS4 Pro—not having a PS3 and the original The Last of Us disc to fully transport myself back to 2013—I found the environments, lighting, and shadows to be quite basic by comparison. That’s saying something, as the PS4 Pro Remastered version claimed to offer “high-quality shadows” at 4K. I can hardly imagine how much less impressive The Last of Us must appear on the PS3.

The Last of Us Part I on PS5 makes it feel like the PS3 era was two decades ago. It’s astounding how significantly video games have advanced in nearly the last decade. (To be fair, the PS3 was nearing the end of its lifecycle when The Last of Us was released in 2013.)

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Arguably, one of the most remarkable enhancements in The Last of Us Part I is in its representation of fire. It’s, dare I say, exponentially improved. Recall the burning house from the pre-credits scene when Joel and Sarah are in Tommy’s vehicle? That moment is chilling now, in ways that the PS4 Pro 4K incarnation failed to capture. As they drive into town, Austin vividly unfolds before you, with Sarah witnessing the city unraveling from the backseat.

Character animations during cutscenes no longer appear antiquated—their faces exhibit more wrinkles and a wider range of expressions. The movement of both player characters and NPCs is far more lifelike in The Last of Us Part I. Enemy AI also behaves in a more realistic manner. If you attempt to stealthily approach an Infected from behind while another is observing you, it will react appropriately, contrasting starkly with the AI behavior in the original The Last of Us (Remastered).

Similar to the previous remaster on PS4 Pro and Naughty Dog’s recent PS5 updates of the Uncharted series, The Last of Us Part I presents a choice between two graphical modes: “Fidelity,” which aims for 30fps at native 4K resolution, and “Performance,” which targets 60fps with a “dynamic internal resolution” upscaled to 4K. If you own a 120Hz display, you can enable the “Unlocked Framerate” option in the display settings, targeting 120fps. (Ensure to also enable Variable Refresh Rate, or VRR, in the PS5 system settings.) I could only try out Fidelity and Performance modes due to my TV—considering the slow pace of The Last of Us which leans towards stealth rather than intense action, I opted to prioritize the minimal quality enhancement Fidelity provided over additional frames.

Remasters are best appreciated visually, which is why I’ve included gameplay footage from The Last of Us Part I, captured on PS5 in Fidelity mode. You can witness for yourself that loading times are virtually instantaneous.

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Riley and Ellie in The Last of Us Part 1: Left Behind
Photo Credit: Sony/Naughty Dog

However, much like *Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection*, there’s no option for a 4K 60fps mode or ray-tracing features, despite the PS5’s capabilities. Both remasters share the distinction of lacking a multiplayer component; for that, you’ll need to revert to The Last of Us Remastered, which remains backwards compatible on PS5. Fortunately, it’s still available on the store (and included in the PlayStation Plus Collection). What comes with the PS5 remake is all the single-player content: the full narrative and the DLC expansion, The Last of Us: Left Behind.

That being said, there is something fresh in terms of gameplay mechanics. The Last of Us Part I introduces a permadeath feature, allowing you to approach it in three distinct manners. You can opt to restart the entire game upon death, reset only the current act (expect to lose 2-3 hours of gameplay, according to Naughty Dog), or return to the chapter you’re currently playing (sending you back 30-60 minutes). Naturally, activating the permadeath feature means you’re unable to save manually at any time. Additionally, if you find yourself needing to step away in real life, quitting while in a “dangerous position” counts as a death.

All these enhancements—permadeath, DualSense functionality, and particularly the graphic revamps—come at a hefty price. The Last of Us Part I is priced at Rs. 4,999 / $70, aligning with other new PS5 titles such as Horizon Forbidden West or the forthcoming God of War Ragnarök. This seems outrageous. Despite all the advancements Naughty Dog has incorporated, this remains a remake of a nine-year-old game. It’s not a fresh release. What are Sony and PlayStation Studios thinking?

While The Last of Us Part I far exceeds the PS5 remaster of Uncharted 4 and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy—the latter launching at Rs. 2,999—it’s worth noting that Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection provided an upgrade pathway as well. If you possessed Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, or the combined digital bundle, you could transition to the PS5 version for only Rs. 500 / $10 / €10. Even Ghost of Tsushima allowed you to upgrade to its PS5 edition for Rs. 2,497—although that was still a hefty sum—and offered additional content, including a brand new island to explore.

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The Last of Us Part 1 appears stunning on the PS5
Photo Credit: Sony/Naughty Dog

As it stands, The Last of Us Part I does not provide any upgrade options, neither for the original 2013 version nor for the 2014 Remastered edition. One must pay Rs. 4,999 to experience it on the PS5—an idea that seems even more preposterous considering the happenings with Sony’s major competitor. (For context, The Last of Us Part I represents an enhancement beyond anything Xbox has accomplished. Naughty Dog has effectively reconstructed the game in many aspects.)

Since the introduction of the Xbox Series S and Series X, Microsoft has provided complimentary upgrades to 4K 60fps for titles like Gears 5, Forza Horizon 4, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection. These titles are fundamentally included with its arguably superior subscription service, the Xbox Game Pass. Moreover, Microsoft’s Smart Delivery feature allows you to enjoy those games seamlessly between Xbox and PC. Even should Sony reconsider and offer upgrade options, The Last of Us Part I won’t be included in any of the new PlayStation Plus tiers for quite some time. When Part I does make its way to PC—reportedly “very soon”—all PS4 and PS5 users will again need to pay the full price.

Sony’s strategy not only appears excessively profit-driven concerning release and distribution, but it also raises questions on the reasons these remasters exist in the first place. The PS5 version of *Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection* was strategically timed with the release of the Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg-led Uncharted film, while The Last of Us Part I aims to capitalize on the forthcoming television adaptation featuring Game of Thrones stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. Initially anticipated for late 2022, the HBO series is now set for a debut in early 2023.

As is often the case with (successful) adaptations—much like Bridgerton and The Queen’s Gambit that propelled their source material back onto best-seller lists—Sony anticipates a sales boost for The Last of Us franchise coinciding with the series’ premiere. By rebooting this PS5 version, they’re providing a contemporary offering rather than an outdated product. If things go as planned for Sony, consumers may end up purchasing both a PS5 console and the game. I can already envision bundles featuring The Last of Us Part I with PS5s in 2023.

With an increasing number of PlayStation titles being adapted into movies and television series, this will likely shape the new direction for studios looking to breathe new life into their franchises. Naughty Dog has dedicated 2021 and 2022 solely to remasters, and while a standalone multiplayer version of The Last of Us Part II is in development, it’s uncertain how this commercialization has impacted its progress. By the time it is released, Naughty Dog may have gone several years without crafting a brand-new title.

Expect this trend to persist. With Sony’s mobile division expanding, a mobile spin-off of The Last of Us seems more probable than Part III at this stage. If HBO decides to renew The Last of Us for a second season, I predict we will see The Last of Us Part II for PS5 and PC. Be prepared to invest Rs. 4,999.

Pros:

• Stunning visuals, audio, and gameplay experience
• On par with or surpasses Part II
• A significant improvement over the PS4 Pro version
• Enhanced enemy AI behavior
• Introduction of the Permadeath feature

Cons:

• Pricing is similar to new PS5 games
• No upgrade options available for PS3 or PS4 owners
• No 4K 60fps option or ray-tracing features
• No multiplayer mode
• PC version sold separately

Rating (out of 10): 8

The Last of Us Part I will be available on Friday, September 2 for PlayStation 5, with a release on Windows PCs anticipated later. The Last of Us Part 1 is priced at Rs. 4,999 on PlayStation 5.