Sony released a ten-minute trailer for The Last of Us Part 1 on Thursday, where the game directors talk about some of the improvements coming to the PlayStation 5 remake of Naughty Dog’s iconic game. The trailer takes plenty of opportunities to show off the improved graphics (which look just as good as the leaked screenshots, but not that the game was ugly on PS3 or PS4), but the most interesting part involves gameplay changes: Naughty Dog It says that the AI for enemies and companions will be improved, that there will be some additional game modes, and that cutscenes in the game will have audio descriptions for accessibility.
When it originally released in 2013, The Last of Us’s AI was nothing special. However, the new version is apparently based on The Last of Us Part 2’s more modern system for controlling NPCs, making them better at working together and coming up with more complex tactics than “running straight at the guy with the shotgun “. According to Neil Druckmann, creative director of both Last of Us games, this makes the fights more intense. Apparently your companions’ AI also got an update, which should hopefully prevent immersion-breaking experiences where Ellie or Henry run right in front of an enemy who then has to act like they didn’t notice.
In terms of game modes, the new version will apparently include a permadeath mode for those who really want to try and survive a zombie apocalypse (er, sorry, “infected”). There is also a quick race mode, although the trailer doesn’t offer any more details than the game will display a timer in the top right corner.
The trailer also includes some other interesting details: apparently the character animation system has been overhauled, the game will have improved haptics that will supposedly make it feel like you’re petting a giraffe in that famous scene, and Naughty Dog. details some of the things it’s doing with adaptive triggers, one of the PS5’s best features. If you are interested in the remake, I highly recommend checking it out.
Personally, I’m still not sure if all of this is enough to make me want to play the game again (I’ve already tried it once on the PS3 and then played the PS4 remaster), but it looks like it will. it would be worth picking up for people who have never experienced it, or who have been looking for an excuse to make another game. The Last Of Us Part 1 will be released for PlayStation 5 on September 2 and for PC at some point in the future.
