The Last of Us Part 1 Review: Is It Still Worth Playing?
Yes. The Last of Us Part 1 is still worth playing because it delivers one of the strongest story-driven
Yes. The Last of Us Part 1 is still worth playing because it delivers one of the strongest story-driven experiences in gaming, supported by modern visuals, refined gameplay, and excellent accessibility features.
While the core story remains unchanged from the original release, the remake offers a polished experience for both new and returning players.
What Is The Last of Us Part 1?
The Last of Us Part 1 is a full remake of the original The Last of Us, which first launched in 2013. Developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the remake was released for PlayStation 5 in September 2022 and later for Windows PC in March 2023.
Unlike a simple remaster, Part 1 was rebuilt using modern technology. Character models, environments, animations, lighting, and sound were recreated to match the visual quality of The Last of Us Part II. The remake also includes updated gameplay improvements and many accessibility options.
Although the gameplay has been modernized, the story, characters, and overall structure remain faithful to the original game.
Story Still Sets the Standard
More than a decade after its original release, the story remains one of the game’s greatest strengths.
The game takes place in a world devastated by a fungal infection that has turned much of humanity into dangerous infected creatures. Society has collapsed, and survivors struggle to live in quarantine zones or dangerous wilderness.
Players control Joel, a hardened survivor who is given the task of escorting a teenage girl named Ellie across the United States. What begins as a simple mission gradually develops into a deeply emotional relationship between the two characters.
The story focuses less on action and more on trust, survival, sacrifice, and human relationships. It explores difficult moral choices without offering simple answers.
The pacing is steady, with quiet moments balancing tense encounters. These slower scenes help develop the characters naturally instead of relying only on dramatic events.
Even players who know the story often find that the improved presentation makes emotional scenes feel more impactful.
Visual Improvements Make a Huge Difference
The most obvious change in Part 1 is its visual quality.
Character faces contain far more detail than before. Facial expressions appear realistic during conversations, helping players better understand emotions without dialogue alone.
Environmental details have also improved significantly. Abandoned cities, forests, ruined buildings, and small interior spaces all contain much richer textures and realistic lighting.
Weather effects, shadows, reflections, and particle effects create a more believable world.
Lighting deserves special attention. Natural sunlight, nighttime darkness, and indoor illumination all feel much more dynamic than in previous versions.
Animation quality is another major upgrade. Character movement looks smoother, combat feels more fluid, and transitions between gameplay and cutscenes are almost seamless.
The visual improvements do not change the story itself, but they make the world feel far more immersive.
Gameplay Feels Better Without Changing Its Identity
One concern before release was whether Naughty Dog would significantly change the gameplay.
Instead, the developers chose to modernize the original systems while keeping the game’s identity intact.
Combat still emphasizes limited resources. Ammunition remains scarce, crafting materials are valuable, and direct combat is often risky.
Players must decide whether to sneak past enemies, silently eliminate them, or engage in open combat.
The shooting mechanics feel smoother thanks to updated controls and improved animations.
Enemy encounters remain tense because even small mistakes can quickly become dangerous.
The crafting system also remains simple and effective. Players collect materials to create health kits, Molotov cocktails, shivs, smoke bombs, and weapon upgrades.
Resource management continues to be an important part of survival.
Exploration Rewards Careful Players
The game encourages exploration without becoming an open-world experience.
Each area contains optional rooms, hidden supplies, notes, collectibles, and environmental storytelling.
Reading notes left behind by survivors helps build the world’s history.
Players who take time to explore usually find enough supplies to make later encounters easier.
Exploration also provides optional conversations between Joel and Ellie, helping develop their relationship naturally.
These small moments remain some of the game’s most memorable features.
Combat Remains Tense
Combat in The Last of Us Part 1 is intentionally slow compared to many modern action games.
Enemies are dangerous.
A single mistake can quickly lead to death.
Human enemies communicate with each other during combat, making encounters feel realistic.
Some enemies attempt to flank the player while others search carefully through buildings.
Stealth remains an important strategy.
Using bricks, bottles, and distractions often works better than wasting valuable ammunition.
The remake improves enemy animations and reactions, making combat feel more believable even though encounter layouts remain largely unchanged.
The Infected Still Create Constant Pressure
The infected remain one of the game’s defining features.
Several enemy types appear throughout the journey.
Runners are fast and aggressive.
Clickers are blind but rely on sound, making them extremely dangerous if players make too much noise.
Later enemy types become even stronger and require careful planning.
Each infected encounter feels different because environments encourage multiple approaches.
Dark buildings create suspense even before combat begins.
Good sound design adds to the tension, especially when players hear enemies before seeing them.
Character Performances Remain Outstanding
Joel and Ellie continue to rank among gaming’s most memorable characters.
The performances feel natural rather than exaggerated.
Dialogue flows realistically during both major story moments and casual conversations.
Ellie’s curiosity balances Joel’s serious personality.
As the journey progresses, their relationship changes gradually rather than suddenly.
Supporting characters also leave lasting impressions despite limited screen time.
Each major character has understandable motivations shaped by the harsh world around them.
The improved facial animation makes emotional scenes even stronger than before.
Accessibility Features Set a High Standard
One of Part 1’s biggest strengths is accessibility.
The game includes dozens of options that allow more people to enjoy the experience.
Players can customize:
- Difficulty settings
- Subtitle size
- Audio descriptions
- High-contrast display modes
- Navigation assistance
- Controller remapping
- Visual assistance
- Combat assistance
These features help players with different physical or visual needs experience the full story.
The accessibility options rank among the best currently available in major video games.
Sound Design Is Exceptional
Audio plays an important role throughout the game.
Environmental sounds constantly build tension.
Players hear distant infected, broken glass, rainfall, wind, wildlife, and collapsing structures.
These subtle details make exploration feel believable.
The soundtrack uses music carefully instead of constantly playing in the background.
Quiet moments often become more emotional because of this restraint.
Voice acting remains excellent throughout the entire campaign.
Conversations sound natural, helping players connect with the characters.
Performance on PlayStation 5
On PlayStation 5, The Last of Us Part 1 performs very well.
Players can choose between visual quality and higher frame rates depending on their preferences.
Loading times are extremely fast thanks to the console’s SSD.
The DualSense controller also adds immersion.
Adaptive triggers provide different resistance depending on weapons.
Haptic feedback allows players to feel environmental effects like rainfall or distant explosions.
These features make the experience feel more modern without distracting from gameplay.
PC Version Improved After Launch
When the PC version launched in March 2023, it received criticism because of technical issues.
Many players experienced performance problems, shader compilation delays, crashes, and inconsistent frame rates.
Subsequent updates addressed many of these issues.
Players with modern hardware generally experience much better performance today than at launch.
Even so, system requirements remain demanding compared to many other PC games.
Players should ensure their hardware meets the recommended specifications for the best experience.
How Long Does It Take to Finish?
Most players complete the main story in around 14 to 16 hours.
Exploring optional areas and collecting hidden items can increase playtime to around 18 to 22 hours.
Players interested in earning every trophy or achievement may spend considerably longer searching for collectibles and completing higher difficulty levels.
The standalone Left Behind expansion is also included, adding several additional hours of gameplay and providing more background for Ellie.
Is the Gameplay Too Old?
Some players wonder whether the gameplay feels outdated compared to newer action games.
The answer depends on expectations.
The remake improves controls, animations, visuals, and overall presentation.
However, the level design remains faithful to the original release.
Players expecting large open environments or complex role-playing systems may find the gameplay relatively straightforward.
Instead, the game focuses on carefully designed levels, meaningful exploration, and deliberate pacing.
That design philosophy has aged well because it prioritizes storytelling over constant action.
How It Compares to Modern Story Games
Many modern narrative games emphasize cinematic storytelling.
Even years after its original release, The Last of Us Part 1 continues to compare favorably with newer titles.
The writing remains focused.
Character development feels natural.
Emotional moments are earned through gradual progression rather than sudden dramatic events.
The balance between gameplay and storytelling also remains impressive.
Players rarely feel disconnected from the narrative because gameplay supports the emotional tone instead of interrupting it.
Is the Price Worth It?
The biggest debate surrounding The Last of Us Part 1 has been its price.
Players who already own the original PlayStation 3 version or the PlayStation 4 remaster may question whether the improvements justify purchasing the remake.
The answer largely depends on individual priorities.
Players who value modern graphics, improved animations, faster loading, advanced accessibility, and refined gameplay will likely appreciate the remake.
New players who have never experienced the story receive the best version currently available.
Those who simply want to experience the narrative at the lowest cost may still find the older remastered edition satisfying if they already own it.
Who Should Play The Last of Us Part 1?
The game is an excellent choice for players who enjoy:
- Story-driven single-player games
- Survival gameplay
- Stealth-focused combat
- Strong character development
- Cinematic presentation
- High-quality voice acting
- Emotional storytelling
- Exploration with meaningful rewards
Players looking for nonstop action, large open worlds, or multiplayer content should know that The Last of Us Part 1 focuses almost entirely on its single-player campaign.
