The Last of Us Part 2 is attracting controversy once again, and for arguably the same reasons as before. While some are excited about the new features and enhancements, others question the necessity of a remaster for a game that debuted in 2020. This mixed reception raises the question: Why does it seem like the internet has a contentious relationship with The Last of Us Part II?
Content-wise, the remaster offers plenty. It includes a new roguelike mode, No Return, lost levels added back into the game alongside developer commentary, guitar free play, DualSense integration, and a slew of graphical enhancements, among others. The developers are promising native 4K output in Fidelity Mode and 1440p upscaled to 4K resolution in Performance Mode, among other visual improvements. All of this is to say that Naughty Dog is working on making Ellie and Abby’s journey more engrossing. Furthermore, additional accessibility options, including the new Speedrun Mode, further enhance its appeal.
However, the announcement has unearthed plenty of “forgotten” controversies, igniting debate about whether it’s the latest attempt to cash in on a franchise that Sony and Naughty Dog have milked plenty. Defenders argue that it’s the definitive version of The Last of Us Part II for a console that it should’ve arguably launched on. This dichotomy in the internet’s opinion reflects a broader trend regarding the value and purpose of remastered versions of recent games. But, then again, while remasters have drawn controversy before, there’s the element that this is facing backlash simply because it’s The Last of Us Part II.
True, you can argue that remaking a game less than a generation old seems redundant. After all, the original game has a 60FPS performance update on PS5. It’s a potentially unnecessary endeavor, diverting resources that the studio could use to create new and original content. But, for $10, you do get a lot. Unlike The Last of Us Part 1, which actually took content from the original PS3 and PS4 versions, The Last of Us Part 2 is adding several enhancements to a game that’s already excellent in graphical and technical aspects.
The new game mode, lost levels, and DualSense features are significant enhancements that justify the remaster. Sony’s first-party studios haven’t exactly done the best job showcasing the capabilities of the DualSense, especially over the DualShock 4. These additions, coupled with the graphical improvements, will undoubtedly elevate the game to a new level of immersion and replayability.
Another aspect fueling the controversy is the perception of Naughty Dog’s recent focus. The studio has mostly stuck to remakes and remasters, leading to questions about its commitment to new and original content. For what it’s worth, it has several projects lined up at the moment, including The Last of Us multiplayer spin-off, which isn’t canceled yet, and a new PS5 exclusive with Neil Druckmann at the helm. Furthermore, subsequent reports confirm that Naughty Dog assigned a different team to work on the remaster, leaving the veterans to work on bigger projects.
Nevertheless, the reactions towards The Last of Us Part II isn’t new. It isn’t just because of Sony’s emphasis on releasing photorealistic and cinematic games. The Last of Us Part 2 was a controversial game that killed a fan-favourite character early on, put you in the shoes of his killer, and featured a relatively unheard of same-sex relationship as a central part of the story. These controversial aspects have led to The Last of Us Part 2 generating negative discussions on the internet for the better part of the past three years. If anything, the current situation isn’t as worse as before, when The Last of Us Part 2 hadn’t come out yet and shortly after it hit the store shelves.
It remains to be seen if the numbers will justify Sony and Naughty Dog’s decision to re-release The Last of Us Part 2 on PS5 (and eventually, PC).
