It is a weird thing. Honestly, the naming convention alone is enough to give anyone a headache. First, we had the original 2013 game on PS3. Then came the 2014 "Remastered" version for PS4. Now, we have The Last of Us Part I Remastered—well, technically it is a "remake" for the PS5 and PC, but everyone keeps tripping over the terminology. People get angry about this game. They see a $70 price tag on a story they played a decade ago and they lose their minds. I get it. But if you actually sit down and look at the technical leap between the versions, the conversation starts to shift from "cash grab" to something a bit more nuanced.
Joel still looks tired. That is the first thing you notice. In the old versions, his face was a bit more "video game hero"—stern, but somewhat smooth. In The Last of Us Part I Remastered, he looks like a man who hasn't slept since 2003. You can see the broken capillaries in his nose. You see the way his skin bunches up around his eyes when he lies to Ellie. This isn't just about higher resolution textures. It is about performance capture that finally matches the actual data Naughty Dog recorded years ago.
The Technical Reality vs. The Nostalgia Filter
Most people remember the 2014 Remastered version looking better than it actually does. If you go back and play it right now, you’ll notice the "clunk." The movements are a bit stiff. The lighting is flat. The Last of Us Part I Remastered fixes this by gutting the engine and replacing it with the tech used in Part II.
The AI is the real hero here. In the original game, enemies followed very predictable "nodes." They walked in circles. If you threw a brick, they’d all look at the brick like clockwork. Now? They flank. They communicate. If you kill a guy named "Ethan," his buddy might actually scream his name. It’s unsettling. It makes the combat feel less like a puzzle and more like a desperate, sweaty scramble for survival.
Why the "Part I" Branding Matters
Naughty Dog changed the name for a reason. They wanted parity. When you look at the covers of Part I and Part II on a shelf, they finally look like they belong together. The HUD is the same. The crafting menus are the same. It creates this singular, massive 30-hour experience if you play them back-to-back.
- Environmental Storytelling: The world is denser. There is more "junk" in the corners of rooms. This sounds small, but in a post-apocalyptic game, the junk tells the story of the people who died there.
- Haptic Feedback: On the PS5 DualSense, you feel the tension in the bowstring. You feel the rain. It’s a gimmick until it isn’t.
- Accessibility: This is arguably the most important update. There are dozens of toggles for players with visual or auditory impairments. High-contrast modes, navigation pings, haptic dialogue. It’s probably the most accessible game ever made.
Is It Just a Graphical Coat of Paint?
Kinda. But also no.
If you are looking for new levels or a different ending, you won't find them here. The story is sacred. Neil Druckmann and the team at Naughty Dog decided not to touch the script. Every line of dialogue is identical to the 2013 release. Some fans wanted a "Director's Cut" with deleted scenes. We didn't get that. Instead, we got a version that removes the "gamey" barriers between the player and the emotion.
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Think about the museum scene with the birthday gift. In the original, it was moving. In The Last of Us Part I Remastered, the lighting coming through the high windows and the micro-expressions on Ellie's face make it devastating. You aren't looking at a character model; you're looking at a kid who is finally getting a moment of peace.
The PC Port Drama
We have to talk about the PC launch. It was a disaster. There is no other way to put it. When The Last of Us Part I Remastered hit Steam, it was riddled with bugs. Joel's hair turned into a neon strobe light. Shaders took forty minutes to compile. It was a mess that tarnished the "definitive" label the game was aiming for.
Fast forward to now. It’s mostly fixed. If you have a beefy rig, it’s the best the game has ever looked. Ultrawide support makes the Pittsburgh bridge sequence feel massive. But it’s a cautionary tale. Even a masterpiece can be ruined by a bad port.
Combat Mechanics and "The Part II Feel"
A major misconception is that Joel can now dodge or prone like Ellie can in the sequel. He can't. The developers argued that Joel is a "tank." He’s an old man. He doesn't dive into tall grass.
While that’s a bit of a bummer for people who loved the mobility of Part II, the combat still feels revamped. The "weight" is different. When you hit someone with a pipe, the impact feels heavy. The physics system allows for more emergent moments. A shotgun blast might take a limb off in a way that looks horrifyingly realistic, forcing you to reckon with the violence you're committing.
It’s brutal.
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Honestly, the gore system is a bit much for some. But it fits the tone. This isn't an adventure; it's a tragedy.
The Accessibility Revolution
I mentioned this earlier, but it deserves its own space. Most games treat accessibility as an afterthought. Here, it’s baked into the DNA. There is a feature that allows the controller to vibrate to mimic the cadence of the speech. This allows d/Deaf players to feel the "tone" of a conversation. That is incredible.
There are also "slow motion" toggles for people who struggle with the fast-paced nature of the shooting. It’s not "cheating." It’s making sure everyone gets to see why this story is so beloved.
Permadeath and Speedrun Modes
For the hardcore crowd, Naughty Dog added a built-in speedrun timer and a Permadeath mode. If you die, you start over. The whole game. Or the chapter, depending on how much of a masochist you are. It adds a layer of tension that the original game lacked. Every encounter with a Clicker becomes a heart-stopping gamble.
Does the Price Tag Hold Up?
This is the $70 question.
If you have never played The Last of Us, buy this version. Don't look at the PS4 Remaster. Just get this. It is the definitive way to experience one of the greatest stories in the medium.
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If you’ve played it ten times? Maybe wait for a sale.
The value isn't in "newness." It’s in "fidelity." It’s like upgrading from a DVD to a 4K Blu-ray. The movie is the same, but the experience is heightened.
Real-World Performance
On the PS5, you have two main modes:
- Fidelity: Native 4K at 30fps. It looks like a painting.
- Performance: Dynamic 4K (usually 1440p) at 60fps. This is the way to play. The fluidity of 60fps makes the shooting feel 100% better.
Final Insights for the Modern Player
When you jump into The Last of Us Part I Remastered, don't just rush through the combat. The game is designed for "moseying." Stop and look at the posters on the walls in the Boston QZ. Look at the kids' drawings in the sewers. Naughty Dog spent thousands of hours on details that 90% of players will never see.
Also, don't skip the "Left Behind" DLC. It's included in the package. It’s a prequel that reframes everything you know about Ellie. It’s shorter, more experimental, and arguably contains the best writing in the entire franchise.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your Hardware: If playing on PC, ensure you have at least 16GB of RAM and an SSD. This game hates HDDs.
- Adjust the Settings: Immediately turn on "Auto-Pickup" in the accessibility menu if you hate spamming the triangle button for every piece of tape and scrap.
- Audio Matters: Play with a good pair of headphones. The 3D audio is essential for tracking Clickers by sound alone.
- Photo Mode: Use it. The lighting engine in this remake is one of the best in the industry, and the facial expressions are worth capturing.