The Last of Us Part II Remastered review – unmissable repacking of modern classic

Sony, PS5
Visual and haptical enhancements along with bonus content including new modes, cut stages and audio commentary from designers make this a required experience

It's hard to believe The Last of Us Part II originally arrived almost four years ago, dropping right into the middle of the Covid lockdown period. There was such a haunting irony in the idea of people trapped at home by a global pandemic, playing an apocalyptic video game about ... a global pandemic. Well, Covid never went away, and neither did the Last of Us - in 2021, a free upgrade allowed new PS5 owners to play a tweaked version of the PS4 original, then came the critically acclaimed TV drama series, which brought a new audience to the desperate tale of Ellie and Joel.

Now we have The Last of Us Part II Remastered, an overhauled version of the excellent game, which adds a new Fidelity Mode, offering 4K resolution at 30 frames-per-second, as well as a Performance Mode, in 1440p at 60 fps. You'll need a decent display to spot the differences from the old PS5 upgrade, but they're there. Movement is smoother, lighting is brighter and the scenic detail, especially on foliage, just has a touch more life to it, making for an even greater sense of immersion in this muddy, ruined world. I felt the impact hardest in the game's epic fight scenes, which now feel utterly fluid and intense, and in the emotional cinematic moments that the game already did so brilliantly.