Review by kevinmartell-99554

There are few video games as beloved or important as The Last of Us. Originally released in 2013, the game was a landmark for the medium because of how cinematic, grounded, and story driven it was. While far from the first game to utilize motion capture technology, it was the first game to implement it in such a way that you could tell actors were giving collaborative, deep, heartfelt performances on screen for extended periods of time. The realism of the cinematics opened the door for The Last of Us to challenge contemporary criticisms about video games - Those who claimed that games could never reach the heights of films were suddenly faced with a game that looked and felt just like a film. Now, almost a decade later, the game has been remade as The Last of Us Part I for the PS5.

Visual Upgrades: The original game still looks pretty good by today's standards, but The Last of Us Part I has received enough visual upgrades that it now stands as one of the best-looking video games on the market. Every asset is improved, from character models to buildings to foliage, but what really stands out are the character facial animations, which are approaching lifelike levels and truly took me aback at times.

Gameplay Upgrades: Gameplay hasn't been touched nearly as much as visuals, although there are new accessibility options that can improve the experience for anyone. For example, the added ability to automatically pick up resources is a must. Enemy and squad artificial intelligence was said to be enhanced, but while I did personally notice some improvements, I also saw some things that still feel last generation, such as Ellie walking out right in front of enemies and them not reacting.

How Does It Hold Up?: The Last of Us is still a great game, and Part I is easily the definitive way to experience it. As is to be expected, the video games industry has caught up in some respects, primarily in terms of actor performances and cinematic storytelling. In some ways, the game no longer feels as revolutionary or unique as it once did, but in others, it remains a timeless classic. The way that you begin to care for Joel and Ellie as they embark on their cross-country journey is simply unmatched by most other games. In terms of gameplay, it still lags behind its sequel but is an overall excellent experience on higher difficulties, where resource scarcity and sturdy enemies require a more immersive, tactical approach. That said, I do think there were some missed opportunities to really bring it up to par with the competition, such as adding a melee dodge mechanic.

Conclusion: I recommend The Last of Us Part I to experienced players, but I strongly recommend it to new players.