Test – The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered: Sony delivers an excellent remaster on PS5

Released in 2020 on PS4, The Last of Us Part 2 is already entitled to its remaster. If there was reason to doubt its usefulness, it’s clear that Sony has pulled out all the stops to convince fans.

Faced with an Xbox steamroller, Sony and its ten small studios lacked the means to string exclusives together. The Japanese publisher relies mainly on first-party exclusives each year, a few third-party exclusives (often temporary) ordered from publishers like Square-Enix or Konami, and a few remasters and remakes to fill in the holes.

We can actually wonder about the real interest in giving us – less than four years after its release – a remaster of The Last of Us Part 2. But be careful not to blend your brush. If we criticize the policy of remastering 3 or 4 year old games, which are sold at full price, Sony has made the right choice this time by offering an “upgrade” for owners of the original opus on PS4 at €10. And it’s a wonderful surprise. Because the publisher got into a bad habit of charging us full price for their previous remasters.

Another good surprise: Sony wasn’t satisfied with a simple port to PS5 with a few minor upgrades in terms of visual effects. We’re entitled to native 4K in Fidelity mode but at 30 frames per second – which is actually quite low. That being said, the settings gain in depth and clarity and visually, the game still remains as impressive as it was then. Performance mode in 60 FPS will be more suitable to play, but this time you will have to deal with less beautiful scenery. We also notice some minor performance improvements here and there such as reduced load times. However, it is not on the technical side that we should be pleasantly surprised but more on the content level…

Sony could have been satisfied with a simple PS5 port of the game. The publisher literally goes ahead by offering a director’s cut. There is good and bad. Useful and pleasant. The real big innovation of this episode is a few new levels added with the added bonus of audio commentary. On the program: 3 new sequences, cut from the original game, and added to this director’s cut. Let’s not beat around the bush, there is nothing too exciting here and we understand why the developers cut these sequences. In one of them, we follow Ellie on a wild boar hunt, in another, we explore a cellar, and finally we attend a small party. A total of 15 to 30 minutes of gameplay is enough. So it’s a small addition, but one that will nonetheless delight fans as it lifts the veil on previously unreleased passages.

In addition, we find a new skin from the developers with French subtitles, audio commentary, a free-play guitar mode with some interest, a speedrun mode and – the real asset of this edition -, no return mode, a demanding rogue. -Lite mode that offers a radically different experience.

Different because first of all, you will be able to play (to unlock) 10 different characters and not just two like before. Also different because it’s not a narrative mode but more of a mode with a series of challenges where you have to face random enemies, then a boss. Between each challenge, the player will collect cash that will allow him to improve his character and his equipment. Here death is final, which means that in case of failure you have to start all over. And we must admit, this new game mode is a real breath of fresh air. It is fun, edgy and players who have completed the game will find real joy in it. Even better: here every character has their own skills and they are gradually unlocked. The game increases in intensity during the game by introducing bonuses and penalties, new game rules and subtle challenges that will allow you to leave with bonuses. Not everyone will necessarily agree with this concept, but we have to admit that it has merit as a nice addition.

The base game itself is still worth a look. And actually this remaster and €10 upgrade is worth the investment if only to benefit from the 4K mode. For sports fans there is no reason to deprive yourself of this nice upgrade. For others, it’s a good reason to explore this amazing adventure/horror game, one of the best titles in the PS4 catalog /PS5 and a must-do.

conclusion

Sony gives us a remaster of The Last of Us 2 less than 4 years after its release. And if it doesn’t surpass the gaming experience, we must admit that it brings a number of interesting bonuses in addition to the 4K display. New routes, skins, new game modes and shorter loading times… the content of this edition is generous. Additionally, upgrading to the PS5 version – if you already have the PS4 version) costs just €10. So there’s no reason to miss it, even if the content itself doesn’t really appeal to you. The Last of Us Part 2 is a fantastic adventure game that you should definitely seek out and this re-release does it proud.

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