The Last of Usis a widely beloved title that came out onto thePlaystation 3back in 2013. DeveloperNaughty Dogcrafted an absorbing and gut-wrenching tale set in a post-apocalyptic world unlike any other in video games before. The story of Joel Miller and Ellie remains legendary in the gaming world, even with a controversial sequel.
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It seems thatSonyand Naughty Dog are heading towards a remake of the original Last of Us, which already had a Playstation 4 remaster in 2014. WhileThe Last of UsandThe Last of Us Remasteredare beautiful experiences, some elements of the game could be improved upon in a remake, especially if it were a full-scaleResident Evil2and3-style remake. Here are a few examples of what aThe Last of UsRemake could add or improve.
8Graphics Upgrade
The graphics in the originalLast of Uswere at the peak of the console scene at the time of release, and the Remastered version made them even better. However, these games came out almost ten years ago, and graphics have improved a lot since then.
That’s the risk developers run when imbuing a game with high-end graphics intended to look photorealistic instead of stylized — things age.The Last of Us Part 2’s graphics blowLast of Us Remasteredout of the park, so improving the graphics in aLast of Usremake would be vital.
7Make All Crafting Upgrades Attainable On One Playthrough
This is a minor complaint, but it’s relevant nonetheless. The video game completionists out there want to get all collectibles and upgrades that are available. However, the amount of scrap and pills available in a single playthrough ofThe Last of Usisn’t enough to get all of the weapons and stat upgrades for Joel.
Lowering the amount of scrap and pills required for the upgrades would be an easy fix. Alternatively, the game could increase the amount of pills and scrap that can be found throughout the world.
6Shake Up The Encounters
The Last of Usis, at least in part, a horror game.Horror relies on unpredictability and suspense, but the veteranThe Last of Usplayer will know everything to expect if a remake keeps the encounters identical to the original and remastered versions.
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Taking notes from the Resident Evil remakesandDark Souls 2would be a great idea in this regard. Both games reshuffled the enemies and encounters in their worlds between the initial releases and the remakes. While many encounters inThe Last of Usare relevant to story progression, others are not. A remake could alter these to keep the suspense and uncertainty.
5Add References To Abby And Co.
This is another minor alteration. However, it could make the world of Last of Us feel more complete, especially given Abby’s history as part of the Fireflies.
Adding in an overt reference to Abby, Owen, and the others might feel a little inorganic. Still, having a passing Abby sighting or Owen mentioned by a Firefly would be a nice reference toThe Last of Us Part 2, as divisive as that game is.
4Amp Up The Blood
The original game is bloody, brutal, and violent, butThe Last of Us Part 2really kicked it upto the next level. That said, it’s hard to say that the blood and gore in the second installment is gratuitous. That game is specifically about violence, and what drives a person to commit violence.
Adding more bloodshed to remake ofThe Last of Uscould actually reinforce its themes. It might even leave a player feeling bad about what they do to an enemy, even if it’s just one of the marauders in Pittsburgh.
3Give Enemies Names
A subtle but gut-punching detail added toThe Last of Us Part 2was how Seraphites and Wolves would all out the names of fallen comrades. Even more than the amped-up gore,giving human enemies namesis a great way to make players think about the ramifications their actions. It reminds the player that Ellie and Abby are killing real people.
Adding this element to aLast of Usremake could make the player think more about the violence that Joel is committing too. It would be a great addition to the final level, where Joel is gunning down the Fireflies on his path to save Ellie.
2Expand On Bill’s Story
If aThe Last of Usremake wanted to expand on its story, the character of Bill would be a great place to start. He’s the loner that Joel and Ellie run into on their way out of the Boston Quarantine Zone. This paranoid loner ran tripwire through an entire town tokeep people and infected out.
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As Joel and Ellie travel with Bill, they learn what turned him into such a curmudgeon. He was in love with a man named Frank, who left Bill for being such a misanthrope. Joel and Ellie are with Bill when he discovers Frank’s body — an utterly heartbreaking moment. A level where the player gets to play as Bill and/or Frank would be an amazing addition in a remake.
1Expand On Marlene’s Story
Marlene is another character that could use more fleshing out. Fans know she is the leader of the Fireflies and that she raised Ellie after her mother died. Despite that, it feels like players know more about Bill than Marlene.
Adding an extra level, much like theLeft Behindexpansion to the originalLast of Us, would make for a fantastic addition to a prospective Remake. Players could explore Marlene’s character, her relationship with Ellie, and her responsibilities as the leader of the Fireflies.
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