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Whether a game is worth the money it costs to play is always part of its consideration. The artistic merits and fun factor of each game are the most important, probably because they are the easiest to discuss in general terms. Every player and their wallet is different, after all. But the question of whether a game is worth its price (and prices are rising) sometimes requires more attention. Such a case? The last of us part 1.
Players questioned the value of this game before it was officially revealed. After all, The Last of Us only debuted nine years ago, and it’s already been re-released in “better” form once before. While it remains one of the most critically acclaimed games ever made, a creeping sense of whether another version was really needed colored its launch – especially since it launched with a price tag of $70 sticker.
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So let’s tackle the Clicker in the room, shall we? Although, again, every player’s needs and disposable income are different, I can break down what you get for the price. I can also identify the groups of players most likely to benefit from this new The Last of Us light-up.
Those who need accessibility
Let me be frank: if you need accessibility features, then you absolutely must buy The Last of Us Part 1. The suite of features on offer is comprehensive. If you wanted to play this game when it launched in 2013 but couldn’t, then Naughty Dog has your back this time.
Accessibility features this time include (but are not limited to):
- Customizable and alternative control schemes
- Complete HUD customization
- Navigation options for blind or visually impaired players
- Text-to-speech options and subtitles
- Adjusted combat to avoid certain scenarios
- Difficulty tips and adjustments
The accessibility features are worth the price of admission. I’m by no means an accessibility expert – and I’m sure the developers could do even more to improve the experience – but the original Last of Us lacked most of these options. For those users who need them, these will likely go a long way in letting you enjoy The Last of Us Part 1.
Whatever option players need, be it one or all of them, they are worth it, for this game and as many others as possible. For those lucky enough not to need these options, the urgency with which I make this recommendation is not for you.
The new players
The other category of gamers who might be best suited for Part 1 are those who haven’t played The Last of Us yet. Since the game is expected to launch on PC at some point, there will likely be a few players who haven’t played yet. Neil Druckmann said in an interview that Part 1 is the “definitive way to play” the game. He’s not wrong. The few improvements made have made the game both easier to understand and more enjoyable to watch.
To start with the first obvious: The Last of Us Part 1 is magnificent. While the character models are more tweaked than really changed (with a few exceptions), the lighting and presentation of the environment is a real upgrade on the remastered PS4 version. The Last of Us isn’t exactly a colorful game, but the upgrades definitely make it look better.
There are some slight gameplay improvements. For example, you can now read collectible notes as soon as you find them, without having to take them out of Joel’s backpack, which is a feature of the suite. Enemy and friendly AI are better, or at least easier to read. All of these things will lower the barrier of entry for players getting into it for the first time.
Devoted Fans
I think this game really has a special target audience, and that’s the group of fans who love The Last of Us. The original game is a favorite with a large number of players, and everything I mentioned above- above will all be advantages for these players.
I’m not judging: I bought Bayonetta four times, on four different platforms, and I wasn’t even getting a graphics upgrade. I loved the game so much and wanted as many versions as possible. So if you love The Last of Us, I think it will be worth your money and time to replay it in this embellished form.
If not, I think you already know you won’t buy this game. Other than a few technical and cosmetic benefits, you don’t get anything with this game that you don’t already have. This is why I refrained from referring to the story or the gameplay in this review. He hasn’t changed in a major way. If you want to read everything great about it, go read Dean’s review from nine years ago.
There’s nothing wrong with paying a high price to gild the lily – but there’s nothing wrong with not wanting to either. I think The Last of Us Part 1 will be a great addition to the library of casual TLOU fans when it inevitably goes on sale, and perhaps also to PC gamers when it launches on that platform.
The Last of Us Part 1 is currently available on PlayStation 5 for $70, with a PC launch planned for the future. Sony provided GamesBeat with a code for the purposes of this review.
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