The first time I played The Last of Us Part II, it felt like falling into a cold, dark river with no idea how deep it went. It was beautiful and engaging, but it carried the weight of its themes. Now, years later, the remastered version arrives on PC — wider, sharper, and just as gutting. If the original was a knife to the heart, this one is a clean surgical cut. Same pain, delivered with finer precision and at a higher fidelity. The PC version brings visual upgrades, performance improvements, and a few fresh extras, but at its core, it is the same emotional freight train that more players will now get to experience.
If you have just watched the hit HBO TV series, the story will feel familiar. Set four years after The Last of Us, Ellie is now 19 and living in Jackson, Wyoming. You are soon introduced, quite brutally, to the second protagonist, Abby. The game then alternates narratives between the two, telling Abby’s story of loss and forcing the player to question who is right and who is wrong, as roles shift from protagonist to antagonist and back again.
The adage “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here” holds true. The Last of Us Part II is a brutal dismantling of everything that came before it. That is where its genius lies: offering a lived-in glimpse of life after a societal breakdown. In this world, the fungal monsters outside are less terrifying than the human mind pushed to its limits after years in survival mode.
The remaster is not just a shinier coat of paint; it brings texture and nuance. On PC, everything breathes more vividly. Moss looks thicker, scars more real, snow crunches underfoot with the weight of your decisions. The tactile richness heightens the bleakest moments while making the serene, satisfying conclusion to both Ellie’s and Abby’s stories all the more rewarding.
New to the remaster is No Return, a rogue-like survival mode that adds some much-needed variation. It is not comic relief — this is not that kind of game — but it gives veterans space to experiment with different characters, strategies, and builds without replaying the full story. Think of it as a pressure valve — a way to decompress between bouts of narrative intensity.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered
Gameplay remains tight and methodical. You scrounge for supplies, crouch behind waist-high counters, and pray your silencer holds. Stealth is not optional; it is vital. The remaster brings slightly improved AI and quicker load times, resulting in a smoother, more immersive experience. Ellie plays fast and stealthy, her attacks quick and precise. Abby, on the other hand, uses strength and brutal force, her military training enabling heavier weapon use and aggressive takedowns. They complement each other perfectly.
The violence is raw, relentless, and visceral. Somehow, the remaster makes it even more so. Combat drops you into intense stealth-based sandboxes, where each decision feels personal. And as you advance, the lingering question scratches at the back of your mind — am I the villain here? What begins as revenge soon becomes a cycle of loss, mirrored on both sides.
Few games do horror as well as The Last of Us Part II. There are stunning sequences where you must sneak past hordes of the infected — humans overtaken by the Cordyceps parasite, now more grotesque than ever. But the real terror lies with the remaining humans, twisted into cultists and worse.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Visually, the PC version is uncompromising. With ultra-wide monitor support, unlocked frame rates, and full mouse-and-keyboard customisation, this is the definitive version. For those who missed the console release, it is the best way to experience it. The sound design remains impeccable. Gustavo Santaolalla’s mournful soundtrack pulses beneath it all. Every creak of wood, every distant moan of a clicker, every note from Ellie’s guitar lands perfectly. You feel the weight of every silence.
If this is your first time playing The Last of Us Part II, buckle up. This is not escapism. It is not fun in the traditional sense. It is a piece of interactive art, forcing you to confront what people become when they endure too much for too long. If you have walked this path before, the remaster invites you to walk it again — slower, sharper, and more unflinching. You will not come out unscathed and maybe that is the point.
Published - April 16, 2025 11:08 am IST
