The Last of Us: Part 1 – One of the best games ever, but…

I want to make one thing clear: The Last of Us is one of the very best games and stories I’ve ever played. If I were still keeping personal hit lists today, I would even have a good chance of taking first place. Very few characters are as close to my heart as Ellie, Joel and, by the way, Abby. The final scene from Part 1 – don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything – is one of the worst/strongest I’ve ever seen.

And yet I was ranting like a fox when I played The Last of Us Remastered version on the hardest difficulty! If the pure stealth action is then much more in the foreground, it almost falls apart in places. At the same time, it’s absolutely superb over long stretches, promoting a dynamic of cautious sneaking, rapid advances, and re-hiding that’s not only tactically interesting, but also fits perfectly with the scenario in which it takes place.

But in this gripping cat-and-mouse game, it’s absurd that Joel can be mauled by clickers, for example, when they’re still a whopping two meters away from him! There are a few frustrating mechanics like this that make up for a fundamental lack of challenge with unfair advantages – which is just plain frustrating and takes away from what should be great immersion.

I’m also not a big fan of the rather wildly swaying crosshairs, because as much as it mimics an understandable human weakness on most difficulties, it lacks a sense of control over the alter ego on tougher challenges. In the case of pure action, at least, I prefer that to watching while aiming too wide.

Last but not least, I would like to remind you of the forced changes from stealth to action, with which you are basically mocked for being able to successfully sneak past a difficult spot or even having already done so. Sure: Naughty Dog is staging a guided game film with The Last of Us. But if you give players two different approaches, both should always be relevant.

And so I’m just wondering whether Sony’s noble studio has only revised the external aspects or whether they have also tackled weaknesses in the game design. They weren’t mentioned anywhere when the new edition was being presented in detail in a ten-minute video. For me, another run would only really be worthwhile with a corresponding revision. If the weaknesses mentioned continue to exist, I would at least not be in the mood for the new speed runs. Not to mention the permadeath mode.

Of course, the overhaul makes sense if only because additional options make it easier for players with various limitations to access. And at least the much more believable AI routines known from Part 2 find their way into the game, which is why I had to think about the infected in the first The Last of Us in the first place. After all, Part 2 is one of the best stealth action titles ever. But is its quasi-new AI enough to make up for fundamental weaknesses in game design, enemy formation, level design and other elements?

I don’t want to complain about past facts – especially not when it comes to this masterpiece of all things! But if Naughty Dog is no longer talking about a remaster this time, but about reimagining, then I just hope that the completely revamped The Last of Us will also convince as an action title that you can bite your teeth into even on the high levels of difficulty can.