It’s always tricky writing about Remastered released for games that were released to a console just a generation ago. But some games make it easy by introducing truly new valuable additions to the game, and The Last of us Part II Remastered does just that. 

For context, the game that precedes it, The Last of Us Part I, was remastered for a second time. The game first came out for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and then a remastered version was released for the PlayStation 4 (PS5). And just in 2022, it received its most significant graphical overhaul when it got a remake, this time, for the PlayStation 5 (PS5). 

That last one wasn’t exactly received well when it was first announced. Primarily because PlayStation and Game Developer Naughty Dog priced it as if it was a totally brand new game. But those who played it, like us, can attest that the changes did feel significant. 

But those graphical changes aren’t exactly that necessary for The Last of Us Part II. After all, it came out at the tail end of the PS4 Pro and was easily one of the best looking first party games of that console generation. 

So, what’s new? 

A lot, actually. It has everything from native 4K and improved graphics, support for the DualSense controller, to a brand new game mode you can sink your teeth into as soon as you finish the story. 

The graphical improvements don’t feel significant at first. However, if you look for it, there’s a noticeable seamlessness into how the game transitions from cutscene to gameplay. Not that it wasn’t seamless before, it just is even smoother now in this remastered version.

It’s worth noting that if you have beaten the game before, your save file will be recognized and all your trophies will carry over. This also means you can jump right into the couple of new gameplay stuff that The Last of us Part II Remastered has to offer. 

Guitar Free Play

This was a popular thing when the game first came out. Many players posted cover songs using only the game’s guitar playing mechanic. If you’ve advanced to the story enough, you’ll also gain access to more than just the acoustic guitar with Ellie playing during the early part of the game.

Speedrun 

This is pretty self explanatory. Speedrun mode challenges you to beat the game as fast as you can. You can even post your best times for bragging purposes. 

No Return

No Return is most certainly the addition that most players will sink their teeth into. Naughty Dog describes it as A Roguelike Survival Mode. Survival is very apt.

Essentially, you progress from one map to another defeating waves of enemies and collecting loot as you go along. The maps and waves of enemies are randomized. But they’re all ones that you’ve encountered in the main game. 

After every wave, a treasure chest becomes available allowing you some time to retool your loadout or heal if necessary. After completing a stage, you are sent back to the first area which is a hideout. Here you can use the loot you collected in your runs to improve your stats and equipment with the work bench. 

A punishing experience

The kicker is if you die at any point during your run, you lose all your items and you have to start over from the beginning. It can be punishing but it will certainly test your mastery of The Last of Us Part II’s combat.

You start off with just Ellie and Abby available as playable characters. The more runs and challenges you complete, the more characters are unlocked. Each character handles a little differently from each other. Much like how Ellie is more agile and Abby is flat-out stronger, each character will have their own strengths and weaknesses. 

If you love a challenge, then this is certainly for you, but if you’re anything like this writer who is quite impatient and does not really care for roguelikes, this can be an infuriating experience. 

Should you play The Last of Us Part II Remastered? 

Despite this being a game that yours truly doesn’t exactly vibe with, this is objectively a masterpiece. 

The Last of Us Part II Remastered polishes an already well-made product and adds some gameplay touches that elevate the experience. Most importantly, the new No Return game mode presents a challenge for those that truly enjoyed the game’s combat mechanics. The nature of the game mode even invites multiple playthroughs so it’s definitely something you’ll be investing some time in. 

Unlike The Last of Us Part 1, The Last of Us Part II is a mere US$ 10 upgrade if you already own the game. And if you don’t, it’s worth every damn penny. 

If you missed the first game and don’t have the bandwidth to play through it, you can watch either some quick recaps on YouTube or the Emmy Award-winning HBO show starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.

SEE ALSO: The Last of Us Part II review: An aftermath of ruthlessness