Review: The Last of Us Part I

The Last of Us is a name that has been synonymous with storytelling in gaming ever since its original release in 2013. Developed by Naughty Dog, it set a new bar for narrative-driven games, blending emotional depth with action-packed gameplay. The game was eventually remastered for PlayStation 4 in 2014, and now, in 2023, we received a remake for PC. As someone who had previously played the remastered version on the PlayStation 4 Pro, I had high expectations for the remake, especially after being swept up in the excitement of the The Last of Us series on HBO Max (now Max).

I pre-ordered the game when it became available for PC, hoping to experience a smoother, more polished version of the game. However, my initial experience with the remake on PC wasn’t exactly as seamless as I hoped. In this review, I’ll walk you through my experience, discussing the game’s strengths, the improvements made, but also the challenges I encountered along the way.

The Evolution of The Last of Us Part I

When the Remake for The Last of Us Part I was announced for PC, it generated significant buzz. The game was touted as a complete overhaul, taking full advantage of modern hardware to offer enhanced visuals, better gameplay, and even more immersive experiences compared to the original and the remastered versions. The most obvious change, of course, is the graphical update. The Last of Us Part I on PC features completely reworked character models, more realistic environments, and enhanced lighting effects.

The game was developed on the same engine used for The Last of Us Part II, which already set a high bar for visual fidelity. The result is a game that looks stunning, with lush landscapes, detailed character animations, and lifelike lighting effects that make the world of The Last of Us feel even more real and immersive.

In terms of the environment, everything feels more alive. The post-apocalyptic world has never been so rich in detail. From the weather effects like rain and fog to the way light filters through trees and buildings, you can tell the developers have put a lot of effort into making the world feel believable. The textures are highly detailed, and the facial animations convey emotion in ways that were previously impossible on earlier consoles.

However, while these graphical updates are noticeable, they don’t feel like a revolutionary shift compared to the remastered version, especially for players who have already experienced it on the PlayStation 4 Pro. Yes, there’s more detail, and the lighting and character models are sharper, but in terms of core gameplay and the visual design of the world, the differences aren’t as dramatic as one might expect from a remake. It’s more of a refinement than a complete re-imagining, and for many players, this might feel like a bit of a missed opportunity.

My Experience with the PC Version – The Good and the Bad

When I first launched The Last of Us Part I on PC in 2023, my excitement was quickly dampened by a slew of technical issues. For a game that had so much hype surrounding its release, the experience wasn’t exactly smooth.

Frame Rate Issues and VRAM Consumption

One of the first problems I encountered was a significant issue with frame rate drops. Despite having a relatively powerful PC setup, the game struggled to maintain a consistent frame rate, especially during intense action scenes. I had an RTX 3070 and 16GB of RAM, which should have been more than enough to handle a game like this, yet I found myself dealing with noticeable stutters and inconsistent FPS performance.

Another issue was the excessive VRAM usage. The game would regularly spike in VRAM consumption, causing further performance issues. While modern games are known to be demanding, The Last of Us Part I on PC felt overly taxing for my system, leading me to question the optimization of the game.

Texture Loading Issues and Dark Textures

Texture issues were also a big problem early on. In some areas, textures either wouldn’t load properly or appeared too dark, making certain environments feel muddy and less detailed. The game’s stunning visuals were marred by these glitches, leaving me frustrated during my initial playthrough. I expected a better experience given that I was playing on a modern system, but it felt like the developers had rushed the release.

The world of The Last of Us is full of details that should make every corner feel alive and gritty, but the textural errors took me out of that immersion. Many moments, especially in darker environments, looked washed out, making it hard to appreciate the beauty of the world.

Limb Issues

Another frustrating problem was the so-called “limb glitches.” In certain cutscenes, characters’ arms and legs would stretch out unnaturally or clip through objects. While these types of glitches might seem minor, they disrupt the immersion and break the emotional intensity of some of the more poignant moments. It’s one of those things you might not notice in normal gameplay, but when it happens in a cutscene, it’s hard to ignore.

Image/Credit: Naughty Dog

The Fixes and Improvements

After two months of patches and updates, Naughty Dog addressed most of these issues. The frame rate issues were improved significantly, and texture loading became much more stable. The VRAM usage was optimized to better balance performance, and most of the graphical glitches were ironed out. The game, by the time I returned to it after a break, was much smoother, and the issues I had initially encountered were largely resolved.

The problem, however, is that these issues were present at launch, and it was frustrating to have such a highly anticipated title release in a state that felt unfinished. The fixes certainly made the game much more enjoyable, but I can’t help but feel disappointed that these problems weren’t ironed out before release.

Playing the Game After Watching the HBO Max Series

My decision to revisit The Last of Us and experience the remake on PC came after watching the incredible adaptation of the game on HBO Max. The show does an excellent job of capturing the emotional weight of the original game while adding new depth to the characters and world. The series reignited my passion for the story, and I wanted to relive the journey, but this time with the upgraded graphics and the added bonus of PC performance.

While the series is a faithful adaptation, it also introduced some fresh perspectives on the characters and narrative that made me appreciate the source material even more. Watching Joel and Ellie’s bond unfold on the screen before jumping back into the game was a unique experience, as I could see how the show was able to bring new life to the characters and their story.