Developed by Naughty Dog, The Last of Us Part I is an updated and enhanced version of the original game. It features an increased number of accessibility options, expanded gameplay, and more.
Character models and faces
Compared to The Last of Us Part 2 and the PlayStation 3 version, the new The Last of Us Part 1 has some major improvements in character models and faces. The character designs and facial animations have been completely overhauled.
One of the most noticeable changes is that the face of Tess has changed. Her appearance has changed from the 2013 PS3 version to the version that is available today on the PlayStation 5. She looks more realistic and has more wrinkles than before.
Naughty Dog has also improved facial expressions. The motion matching technology in the game automatically matches the best animations to the context of the character’s path. These facial animations are almost as good as those in live action.
Enemies have changed as well. They are more intelligent and have different patrol patterns. The game’s AI has also been improved to make stealth gameplay more challenging.
Lighting
During the development of The Last of Us Part 1 the developers focused on the art of light. Naughty Dog’s 3-point lighting scheme, for instance, allows for placement of up to three directional spotlights in each scene. The resulting photo mode is quite stunningly realistic. The most impressive part is that it is realised using a virtual lighting rig.
The aforementioned 3-point lighting system is also implemented in the game’s photo mode. A new UI tab has been added to allow players to rotate 360 degrees around the character of their choosing. The aforementioned 3-point lighting scheme is complemented by a reflective shadow map used only on selected surfaces in select scenes.
The game’s motion-blur shutter speed is now optimised to match varying framerate options. The aforementioned motion-blur-mimics-mementos are the most obvious, but a few other notable changes have been made to cutscenes and gameplay.
Permadeath and Speed Run modes
During a recent gameplay demo for The Last of Us Part 1, the developers at Naughty Dog showcased an official speed run mode and the permadeath feature. This is a nice quality of life enhancement that’s sure to appeal to hardcore fans.
The main benefit of this mode is that it breaks down the game’s difficulty into bite-size chunks. For example, if you find a safe in a particular area, you can now open it with audio cues rather than the manual keypad.
In addition to this new feature, The Last of Us also includes new interfaces for safes. In the past, you would have to scribble a note with the code to access the safe. This new feature makes life a lot easier for Ellie and Joel.
DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback for every weapon
Using a DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback is a great way to enhance your gameplay experience. Not only will you be able to feel the tension from a bowstring or the resistance of a gun, you’ll also be able to hear the sound of raindrops or crisp sand. The sound effects that this haptic feedback produces will complement the spruced-up graphics.
The PS5’s DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback technology will bring out the subtleties of environments, as well as the details of combat situations. In The Last of Us Part 1, for instance, you’ll feel the resistance of a weapon’s trigger with each strike, and you’ll be able to detect when a weapon is jammed.
The PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller features a unique design that incorporates vibrations, haptic feedback, and a microphone. This controller will also feature an internal speaker and a USB Type-C port. It will have a textured grip and a mute button for its in-built microphone.
Development of The Last of Us Part II
During the development of The Last of Us Part II, Naughty Dog worked with an outside writer to provide perspective on the characters. Halley Gross was approached as a writer for the game, and she worked with Druckmann to write the script.
In addition to Halley Gross, Anthony Newman and Kurt Margenau worked on gameplay elements, and the game was designed by Richard Cambier and Emilia Schatz. The team also experimented with different plot structures. They settled on an idea that resembled the original story.
As for the game’s development, the studio’s goal was to make the experience as accessible as possible to players of all ages. They began planning accessibility features as early as the beginning of the project.
In The Last of Us Part II, players can modify the difficulty settings relating to stealth and incoming damage. They can also change the way the camera is positioned, the speed of movement, and the way the controller is held. The team also worked on an expanded lock-on aim system. This allows users to remap all the controls in the game.
