It feels strange explaining to people why playing The Last of Us is in their best interest. After all, it is one of the most highly acclaimed video games of all time, with some arguing that it is the best PlayStation 3 game. Grand Theft Auto 5 fans might have something to say about that, but it’s that good!
Even with the crazy reception, incredible sales numbers and word of mouth, some people don’t seem interested. Oddly enough, those same people are usually the ones who haven’t played it, and wonder how it could be as good as fans say it is. Well, whether you’re a believer or skeptic, allow us to give you 10 reasons (we joked with our editor it could be 77) that you need to play The Last of Us Remastered on July 29.
Hits you right in the feels
We’re going to do our best not to spoil anything for you, just in case you haven’t had an opportunity to play this game. Still, you can expect to take a crazy ride on the emotional roller coaster that is Ellie and Joel’s journey. It starts about 20 minutes into your experience and continues through just about every single mission, right up to the last moment of one of video game history’s best single-player experiences.
Get terrified in HD
Given that the PlayStation 4 is a fairly new system, it’s not often that players are treated to a native resolution of 1080p. In fact, the only time it seems to happen is when the game is a PS4 exclusive. Look back to Killzone: Shadow Fall or Infamous: Second Son for evidence of that. Building on that point, as gorgeous as The Last of Us was on the PS3, try to imagine how much better the experience will be when you bump up the resolution and the visuals clock in at 60 fps.
Don’t be a hoarder, yo!
If you’re someone who enjoys searching for collectibles, The Last of Us Remastered should definitely be in your game library. Whether it’s Firefly Pendants, Comics, Artifacts or even the Optional Conversations, these hidden gems blend in perfectly with the world. Where some games make finding collectibles tedious, the ones you’ll find in this post apocalyptic wasteland tell a story that makes exploring every inch of the landscape worth every minute of your time.
Get your bow on
Using a bow is a lot of fun, not to mention somewhat quieter and more economical than wasting bullets and alerting all the nearby Clickers. The best part, however, comes during the Lakeside Resort mission. In that case, Ellie not only goes deer hunting with it, but also wipes out dozens of evildoers without making a peep. For stealth players, this will be one of the most rewarding chapters of the game.
Things that go bump in the night
If you played the PlayStation 3 version, you’re well aware of the terror that washes over your body when you hear the sound of a Clicker somewhere in the darkness. If you haven’t, this could be the one time you regret buying a $300 gaming headset. The only thing that’s worse than hearing is seeing them. Their fungal-infested faces aren’t something that even a mother could love… unless of course, she’s a Bloater.
Do you even multiplayer?
The Last of Us multiplayer is very underrated. Yes, it is third person, but the rounds are short, the maps are well made and since you only have one life per round, you value it. Everything depends on teamwork, and gameplay is tense from beginning to end. It’s no secret that the true star of the game is the campaign, but come July 29, don’t forget to give the online modes a fair shake. The first time you beat someone to death with your bare hands, you’ll be hooked.
Gimme some of that DLC
Some people are against the idea of paying full retail price for a game that already released on another platform. To us, that’s like saying Star Wars isn’t worth buying on Blu-ray because we already own it on DVD. Fair enough, that might go too far, but our point remains valid, and even more so when you consider that your purchase will include all single-player and multiplayer DLC packages. That means you get the Left Behind single-player expansion, as well as the Abandoned Territories and Reclaimed Territories map packs.
The soothing sounds of Troy Baker
He’s the man. It’s as simple as that. With roles like Booker DeWitt from BioShock Infinite, or Delsin Rowe from Infamous: Second Son, his resume speaks for itself. Although, perhaps his most shining role is the one you’ll experience when you play The Last of Us Remastered. Yes, Troy Baker playing the part of Joel is one of the greatest voice acting performances in video game history, and he likely occupies a few more spots on that list as well. Of course, not to be overlooked is the voice behind Ellie, Ashley Johnson. If you’re not sure where you’ve seen her before, think back to the film What Women Want as Mel Gibson’s daughter. Of course, that was in the year 2000, so we forgive you if it slipped your mind.
Melee! Melee! Melee!
It’s a good thing this list isn’t in order, because melee attacks wouldn’t be number two on the list of reasons to pick up The Last of Us Remastered. However, that doesn’t stop Joel and Ellie’s respective close quarters skills from being very rewarding. In the case of Joel, when you sneak up behind one of your foes, you can choke him in a way that will make you adjust your collar. It just looks like it really, really sucks. Ellie, on the other hand, might be even worse. She frantically climbs on her victim’s back like some crazy spider monkey, then proceeds to stab him in the neck (repeatedly) with her switchblade. We guess that’s what you get for being a jerk in the apocalypse.
The best game of all time
We might be a little bit bias on this one, just like one or two other points, but the idea here is to tell you why we think it’s worth buying, and for us, this is in the conversation for best single-player experience of all-time. In fact, if you are a fan of Metacritic, The Last of Us was the third highest ranked game of 2013, behind only Grand Theft Auto 5, which beat it out on both the PS3 and the Xbox 360.
The Last of Us isn’t about reviews, though. It’s about a journey that will make you care for each and every one of the characters. One minute, you’ll explore the land without a care in the world, bonding with Ellie, and the next, you’ll fight against near hopeless odds to save her. It’s just one of those games that, 10 years from now, you’ll regret having to say you didn’t play it, or even play it again.
The Last of Us Remastered will release exclusively for the PlayStation 4 this July 29, and you can find in-depth coverage, including a full walkthrough and collectible guide, right here on Prima Games.
