Review: The Last Of Us Part II Remastered

Before we get started, I have a confession – I didn’t finish The Last of Us Part II when it was originally released and have been unable to ascertain the reason behind it; definitely not due to a lack of interest because Naughty Dog has been captivating me for years. Regardless, I decided that my New Year’s resolution would be to finally complete the game which I somehow managed to evade spoilers until my own playthrough with The Last of Us Part II Remastered as of late. Was it worth the wait? Indubitably considering the game features 4K resolution in Fidelity Mode and improved loading times – definitively the best way to experience the next chapter of this critically acclaimed and award winning series.

The story takes place roughly five years after the events of The Last of Us with Ellie and Joel having settled in Jackson, Wyoming with Tommy (Joel’s brother) and a thriving community. Things are relatively peaceful despite a noticeable strain on Joel and Ellie’s surrogate father/daughter relationship which comes to fruition later on through a series of flash backs that pieces everything together. Joel confesses about what really happened in Salt Lake City to Tommy and that he’s been lying to Ellie – they could have cured the Cordyceps outbreak but doing so would have resulted in her death and he wasn’t about to let that happen. Their budding relationship made the adventure memorable and Joel’s decision is both selfish yet rationally understandable – Naughty Dog had their work cut out for them.

I can confirm that The Last of Us Part II Remastered lived up to my expectations while simultaneously punching me in the stomach over and over again with little remorse. It was an emotional journey which blended hate, sorrow, animosity, and anguish together – leaving me visibly shaken. I was honestly caught off guard with how the game took such a dramatic shift in tone compared to its predecessor but appreciate and respect the direction Naughty Dog took it. Thematically, the story uses the scientific principle of cause and effect which evolves into a metaphorical blood for blood game of ping-pong and I couldn’t put the paddle down – lines between what is right and what is wrong are less obvious.

Without diving into spoiler territory, The Last of Us Part II Remastered introduces Abby Anderson as a playable character with a unique perspective. We get glimpses into her past and motivations that drives her forward in this changed world – not entirely devoid of complications along the way. The timeline occasionally branches out – no need to contact the TVA – and converges again routinely which provides instances of fear and utter dread with new stages of infected including the Shambler who releases acidic gas when provoked and another that is pure nightmare fuel… yikes! Unfortunately, encountering infected aren’t as scary unless you’re face to cheek with a naked Clicker – cannot unsee that one.

But where the infected falter is where the humans triumph – and not in a good way. Things become extremely violent and unsettling which keeps your heart racing; beating like drums. I’m not ashamed to admit that I occasionally ran straight throw groups of enemies as taking them out entirely would be time consuming or I was simply short on ammunition. As I mentioned, the difference between right and wrong is unrecognizable by the endgame and the individual pain felt by Ellie and Abby respectively brought back emotions I hadn’t felt since watching Pokémon: The First Movie as a child. I struggled with one instance because it finally became clear as day – this wasn’t justice in the slightest sense.

And while we’re on the subject – I’d like to address my biggest issue with the game: violence involving dogs. I hate this with a passion. The silver lining is that combat scenarios with attack dogs are avoidable but there is one story related sequence that is frustratingly unavoidable – results in quick time event taking place. I immediately muted my audio and closed my eyes at that part; involves Ellie navigating an abandoned aquarium for those that want to prepare themselves. My two fur babies didn’t complain when I was cuddling with them on the couch later that same afternoon. There are times when you can interact with dogs (pet) and even play fetch with them – toys squeak when they bounce too.

The graphics are jaw dropping with better texture resolutions, improved shadows, and breathtaking photorealistic vistas on full display, allowing you to fully appreciate the lush and decrepit environments during periods of calm before the violent storm continued. In fact, some of my favourite moments came from those peaceful times – a dinosaur museum and playing fetch with canine companions were amongst those that really resonated with me; it’s the simple things that really stick out. The narrative reached its peak when I was feeling uncomfortable and I had a choice: soldier through or end the game altogether which wasn’t considered in the slightest – a second playthrough is certainly warranted.

A surprising and welcome bonus to The Last of Us Part II Remastered are the Lost Levels – sequences which were cut from the final version of the game. It offers players the rare opportunity to peek behind the game development curtain and actually see what goes into designing a game. What makes this feature extra special is that Neil Druckmann, President of Naughty Dog introduces each section before apologizing for the roughness and lack of polish. Afterwards, you actually have an opportunity to play through each of the three sequences – Jackson Party, Seattle Sewers, and The Hunt – whilst listening to developer commentary like a guided museum tour. This is worth the price of admission alone and encourage other developers to offer similar experiences with their games in the future.

Verdict

Despite it taking me four years to finish the game, The Last of Us Part II Remastered left me incredibly satisfied despite beating me into the ground with emotional turmoil and discomfort. It’s very difficult to elaborate these feelings further without giving away major spoilers – and that’s where Naughty Dog ultimately succeeds with their storytelling: evoking raw emotions. After I had rolled credits, I intrinsically wondered what a potential third installment could be – does Ellie have a role in that story? She could logically take over for Joel and serve as a guide to future survivors as long as developers avoid mirroring those previous elements and give Ellie the sendoff that she deserves; complete her journey.

Final Rating: 9.0/10

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is available now exclusively for PlayStation 5 consoles.

PlayStation Canada provided SophistiGamer with an early copy of The Last of Us Part II Remastered for review purposes.