(*10*)A lot’s been stated about The Last of Us Part 1 and whether or not or not it’s totally different sufficient from the unique The Last of Us to justify its existence, a lot much less its worth. Of course, we are able to’t actually reply that query till we’ve truly performed the sport, however although there’s disappointment on the market over some of the closely requested options the sport isn’t going to have, Naughty Dog has confirmed that it’s going to have loads of modifications and enhancements past that. As we depend the times all the way down to the launch of The Last of Us Part 1, right here, we’re going to speak about some of these modifications.
VISUAL UPGRADES
To kick issues off with the apparent modifications, The Last of Us Part 1 is, of course, going to look noticeably higher than the PS3 authentic, and even its PS4 remaster. While it doesn’t seem like gamers ought to count on any important modifications in relation to issues akin to story or stage design (or any modifications in any respect, perhaps), it’s clear even at a look that the remake is a giant visible leap over the unique. From the lighting to the environments and the main points they’re populated with to the character and enemy fashions, The Last of Us Part 1 has clearly made some very noticeable enhancements.
AI IMPROVEMENTS
On the gameplay facet of issues, there are numerous who’re disillusioned that some of The Last of Us Part 2’s largest enhancements – i.e. the power to dodge or go inclined – aren’t being applied within the upcoming remake, however of their absence, Naughty Dog says it has as a substitute centered on bettering the AI. As per the developer, The Last of Us Part 1 will function rather more intense fight and stealth encounters, with enemies making an attempt to flank you in fight, speaking with one another throughout stealth sequences as they did in The Last of Us Part 2, and extra. Companion AI can be seeing enhancements, which implies that in contrast to the unique sport, within the remake, they’ll truly attempt to keep out of enemies’ sightlines once you’re in stealth.
MOTION MATCHING AND ANIMATIONS
This appears to be one other level that Naughty Dog has actually emphasised each time it’s spoken about The Last of Us Part 1. The remake does, of course, function improved facial animations in cutscenes, with the builders saying that they’re now a lot nearer to the actors’ authentic performances, full with all of their facial nuances. On the gameplay entrance, Naughty Dog has additionally used the algorithm-based movement matching expertise that it applied in The Last of Us Part 2, which, in idea, ought to make for smoother and extra fluid motion.
WORKBENCHES
One side of The Last of Us Part 2 that is seemingly being introduced over into the remake just about as is is the workbenches. The Last of Us Part 2’s workbenches have been a serious step up over the unique sport, sporting a ridiculous stage of element on the weapons and elaborate animations tied to their customizations. The remake will see these enhancements applied as effectively, which is nice to see, even when it’s a comparatively minor improve within the grand scheme of issues.
ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES
Here, The Last of Us Part 1 does deserve loads of credit score, although given how proactive Naughty Dog has been with the enhancements it’s made on the accessibility entrance, that shouldn’t come as any shock. The Last of Us Part 1 has over 60 accessibility choices, greater than even The Last of Us Part 2 did, and this consists of issues like enter choices and remapping, gameplay assists, HUD scaling and customization, choices for prompts and indicators, digicam settings, navigation and puzzle assists, a text-to-speech choice, audio cues, and rather more. The remake additionally introduces a brand new audio description mode for each gameplay and cinematics.
COSMETICS
The Last of Us, in contrast to its sequel, featured a quantity of totally different skins that gamers may apply to Joel and Ellie for his or her playthroughs. For the remake, Naughty Dog is bringing the function again. In reality, The Last of Us Part 1 goes to have an expanded pool of costumes to select from, although there’s no phrase on the precise quantity of the choices that might be out there. On high of that, the remake may even add weapon skins, which might be a primary for the sequence. Some of the weapons that we’ve seen just a few skins for therefore far are the pump shotgun, the bow, the 9mm pistol, and Ellie’s handgun. Obviously, that is one of the smaller modifications the remake is making, but it surely’s an addition value mentioning.
MODEL VIEWER
Just just like the aforementioned costumes, that is one other smaller addition, but it surely’s a pleasant bonus to have on the very least. Naughty Dog has confirmed that The Last of Us Part 1 may have a devoted mannequin viewer that, as its title suggests, will allow you to view all of the sport’s character and enemy fashions at your leisure. You’ll be capable of maneuver them round, zoom out and in, and research their minutest particulars. Again, it’s not precisely a killer new function, no, but it surely positive is a cool little addition nonetheless.
FACTIONS
This is one of the largest variations between the unique and the remake, and on the identical time one of the largest knocks in opposition to the latter based on many. The Last of Us’ multiplayer mode Factions is a fan-favourite, to say the very least, and it was actually missed in The Last of Us Part 2. Unfortunately, the upcoming remake isn’t going to convey the multiplayer mode again both. That stated, given the truth that Naughty Dog has a separate AAA Factions venture within the works, that isn’t precisely shocking, although it actually is a bit disappointing.
PERMADEATH
Naughty Dog’s post-launch addition of a permadeath mode in The Last of Us Part 2 proved to be massively standard, and the developer is bringing the mode again for the upcoming remake. It’ll work equally to the way it perform in The Last of Us Part 2. When you’re starting your sport, you’ll get the choice of how a lot progress you’ll lose upon demise. Upon dying, you’ll be able to restart both to the start of the chapter that you simply’re on, or the act that you simply’re on, or the complete sport. Just like in The Last of Us Part 2, you’ll additionally get a display screen upon demise that’ll summarize your efficiency, together with the way you died.
SPEEDRUN MODE
(*1*)
A totally new addition for the sequence in The Last of Us Part 1 is Speedrun mode, which, as its title suggests, is made for individuals who’re difficult themselves to get by means of a playthrough of the sport as shortly as potential. Speedrun mode will function a small timer on the display screen that can inform you how lengthy your playthrough has been going, and in addition give details about how far into the sport you might be. Hopefully, Naughty Dog will tie this to leaderboards of some type to incentivize extra folks to test it out than one would ordinarily count on.
