PlayStation Plus new free game puts an age-old debate to rest

If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ll have most likely stumbled across an ongoing joke that’s somewhat plaguing PlayStation. The reveal of Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yōtei seems to have quelled the noise, but the company was essentially accused of being a tad too obsessed with remasters and remakes.

You can perhaps understand why. Plenty of original games have launched in recent years, but so too have there been several, let’s say, recurring titles. Ghost of Tsushima was rapidly followed by a Director’s Cut. The Last of Us Part II was followed by The Last of Us Part II Remastered. Marvel’s Spider-Man was followed by, you guessed it, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered.

PlayStation has been playing this game for a long while now, and I personally don’t mind all that much. Yes, such projects reliably generate money but so too are such endeavours about extending the longevity of a franchise. These are IPs that Sony want to be known for on a global scale, and new players - particularly new-to-gaming or casual players - maybe won’t be drawn in by something that exhibits even a modicum of anything considered ‘dated’ or ‘janky’. As such, remastering a game goes a long way towards expanding its lifespan.

ICYMI: Take a look at Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered in action below.

Perhaps the uproar has felt more prominent as of late as it’s not as if Sony is putting out a ton of new releases to keep an equal balance. It has been a tad remaster heavy with the prime example being that neither of Naughty Dog’s last two projects were new, original games. That’s why when Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered leaked online ahead of the recent State of Play, everyone was suddenly up in arms again.

The truth is that Guerrilla’s Horizon Zero Dawn is seven years old. Technology has advanced, and despite what social media might have you believe, there is an enormously noticeable difference between the graphics of the original and what we’ve seen so far in the extended trailer for Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. The company’s latest State of Play would have only exacerbated the current frustration towards remasters and remakes had it not been for the wholly original Ghost of Yōkai tagging on the end of the event.

I agree that as much as remasters and remakes are somewhat necessary if we’re to think about the longevity of a franchise from a business mindset, we do need to make sure that such endeavours don’t replace or feel more populous than new original content. But so too do I believe that remasters and remakes can be truly wonderful, if done correctly. PlayStation Plus’ newly added The Last of Us Part I is the perfect example of a faithful remake that seeks to enhance the original experience, creating an end result that feels worthwhile.

I may be standing on this hill alone. I recall when The Last of Us Part I, a remake of the 2013 game which has already been remastered, leaked online. People questioned ‘Why?’, despite the fact that graphics had quite clearly advanced between the PS3 and PS5 eras. It’s true, I adore the original. The Last of Us is the reason that I do what I do for a living. But it’s okay to say that while a game can feel like a timeless classic, there are arguably going to be elements that make it a product of its time that stand out if you’re to hold it up to modern day competitors.

I don’t need realistic graphics to immerse myself in a story. A pixel-graphics game can tug on my heart strings just as much as photorealism can but photorealism truly enhances what’s on offer in The Last of Us. In remaking the game from the ground up for the PS5, The Last of Us Part I offered up a much more subtly nuanced emotional experience compared to its predecessor. It’s a game that requires your emotional investment if you’re to be swept up by its challenging narrative, the same goes for its successor, and understanding the characters is a key part of that.

In this remake, the actors’ original performances, including their subtle physical inflections, were much easier to pick out making for a richer experience. Additionally, the enhanced graphics resulted in a more detailed world. In Joel’s home in the prologue, I was able to pick out tiny details I’d never seen before, deepening my understanding of the character.

Sony Interactive Entertainment

I summed up my thoughts back when I reviewed the remake upon release, writing, “It may not be the expanded edition some fans were wishfully hoping for, but The Last Of Us Part I is a remake that wholly improves on the original by utilising both the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and The Last of Us Part II’s advanced mechanics. Fans have spent the last several weeks scrutinising teasers, but The Last of Us Part I offers an effect only truly appreciated when played as a whole - creating the immersive experience Naughty Dog could only dream of back in 2013.”

Remakes should never replace originality but they do have a place, and we can’t forget that either. If you’re a subscriber to PlayStation Plus’ extra tier, don’t miss out on the addition of this stellar title. The Last of Us Part I is available now.