2024 - what is the PS5 version of the cult game worth?

The Last of Us Part 2, one of the PS4 masterpieces, comes to PS5 in a remastered version. Equipped with more refined graphics and enriched content, it seeks to appeal to both new players and those who have already made the adventure in 2020. We have had our hands on it for a long time, here is our verdict.

TLOU 2

The history of the PS4 has been marked by many high-quality adventure games, but none have impressed as much as The Last of Us Part 2 in 2020. Four years later, Naughty Dog studio is at it again with a remaster specially designed for the PS5.

TLOU Part 2 — The story of TLOU 2 takes place largely in Seattle

This version offers improved graphics, but also additional content. We could we dive into it to offer you a complete opinion. Should you go for The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on PS5? Are the add-ons worth checking out again? Answer right away.

The Last of Us Part 2, remake or remaster?

Before getting to the heart of the matter, a small semantic point is necessary. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is not a remake. It is, as its name suggests, a Remaster. Fact, the foundations of the base game have not been touched up. It’s exactly the same title as the 2020 one, with the same graphics that have just been improved. On this point, it differs from The Last of Us Part 1 (2022) on PS5. On the latter, Naughty Dog had certainly retained the gameplay of 2013, but had reworked the visual aspect in its entirety. The difference is sometimes fine between the two concepts, and The Last of Us saga is a perfect example of the confusion that this can cause.

The Last Of Us Part 2 Remastered is not being sold as a “new” game. Those who already have the title on PS4 don’t need to break the bank, since they only have to pay 10 euros to benefit from it (compared to 50 euros for the entire game). It is even possible to import your backups. The Naughty Dog studio seems obsessed with the idea of making The Last of Us a timeless work, and therefore keeping its two games “up to date”. The remastering of Part 2 fits completely into this project.

An adventure as bloody as it is gripping

The Last of Us is today an emblematic video game license. The first part, released in 2013, shocked players. The feat was repeated in 2020 with this second opus. The license was even able to reach a new audience in 2023 with a high-quality TV series produced by HBO. A fresh audience what does Naugthy Dog want to aim for with this remaster.

For the two at the back who aren’t following, The Last of Us Part 2 is an action/adventure title in which the player must progress through “corridor” levels, all while eliminating enemies (infected or human) who stand in his way. To achieve his goals, he can either opt for an aggressive approach or exercise discretion. The second is obviously more recommended, the “survival” aspect encouraging us to save resources. A classic scheme, but wrapped in a gripping story and extremely careful staging.

Even knowing it by heart, this Part 2 still hits the mark. We remain amazed by this narrative mastery, this absurd quest for revenge which guides our steps through a post-apocalyptic Seattle, which even questions our actions as a player. We always take great pleasure in an adventure that knows how to perfectly manage its pace, skillfully juggling between moments of exploration, action, calm and absolute horror. We are always left breathless by Nautghy Dog’s total mastery in terms of level design and atmosphere, each environment being both credible and fun to navigate. Finally, we are still amazed by the mastery of the gameplay and the animations that accompany it. The Last of Us Part 2 is a great game, a very great game, which manages to keep us going for around thirty hours. A title calibrated for the greatest number of people, but which also sometimes knows how to take risks, whether in its writing or certain gameplay sequences. It’s an important game, a bold blockbuster that has marked the history of the medium and which remains relevant in 2023.

Not everything is perfect, obviously. We can point to a sometimes clumsy gameplay which can be a handicap in fights, certain arenas which sound a little artificial or even a last act which is a bit long, but nothing which really tarnishes a brilliant picture. This remaster does not change in any way the adventure we know. TLOU 2 remains essential.

What does this Remastered version bring?

This PS5 version aims to technically update a game released on the previous generation. If there was a graphic gulf between TLOU 2013 and its 2023 remake, the difference here is more tenuous. And for good reason : the original game still remains magnificent today on PS4!

Naughty Dog still reworked its copy. The lighting effects are more careful, the graphics are finer and the image benefits from native 4K definition. Discreet improvements which only enhance an already magnificent title, in particular thanks to its ultra-extensive environments. Fine-tuning so light that it is even difficult to see the difference between this PS5 version and the original PS4 version. Eh yes ! Note that the title has the traditional Fidelity and Performance modes and that it does not support ray-tracing.

This PS5 version also brings its share of new features, such as costumes, a clearly unnecessary free guitar mode, a speedrun/permadeath mode for hardcore players, support for haptic feedback from the DualSense, but also and above all the No Return mode. The latter is clearly the big piece of the remaster. It takes the form of a Rogue Lite. Through different random arenas, the player must survive waves of enemies until reaching the final boss. If he dies, he loses all the upgrades obtained during his run, if he survives, he unlocks new playable characters, costumes and tougher bosses to face. A nice and engaging game mode. It will satisfy fans of challenge, but there remains additional content on the sidelines of the main adventure. You would have understood it, TLOU Part 2 Remastered shines more with its No Return mode only by its graphic improvements, discreet but present. A shame!

Let us also note the presence of “lost levels”. These are unfinished sequences that were cut from the final game. There are three of them, they are clearly not here for the fun aspect (because far from being finished), but serve as “making of”. They are in fact punctuated by various comments from developers, often informative. Enough to satisfy the fans for half an hour, nothing more, but we appreciate this addition.

TLOU — These short gameplay sequences are cut scenes and commented by the developers

Also read – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 test on PS5: a game that makes you want to weave

So, should we buy?

It remains to ask the question that kills: should you go for The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered ? If you discovered the license with the HBO series, we cannot advise you enough to follow the PS5 versions of Part 1 and 2. If you know the first game but not the second, this remaster is an ideal opportunity to fill this gap .

If you already have the PS4 game and want to repeat the adventure with better graphics, the answer to this question is more nebulous. Clearly, the PS4 version patched on PS5 is very close to this remaster, the 10 euros invested are therefore not necessarily necessary. On the other hand, if you are a completionist and/or a fan lured by the very good No Return mode, the upgrade is worth it. In summary, it is a quality remaster, but not essential.

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