It is a weird thing to talk about a game that has been "replaced" twice now. Most people look at The Last of Us Remastered as a relic of 2014, a middle child caught between the original PS3 lightning strike and the flashy, high-budget Part I remake on PS5. But honestly? If you go back and play it today, you realize it isn't just a port. It’s a specific vibe. It represents a very particular era of Naughty Dog’s design philosophy that some purists argue actually got lost in the transition to more "realistic" graphics.
When it dropped on the PlayStation 4, it was the gold standard. 60 frames per second. That was the big sell. For a game as tense as this, the jump from the chugging 30fps of the PS3 to a fluid 60 changed how the combat felt entirely. It made the bow more viable. It made the desperate, sweaty scrambles away from Clickers feel more reactive.
The 60 FPS Revolution and Why It Mattered
Let's be real: the PS3 version was a miracle of engineering, but it was held together by duct tape and hope. The Last of Us Remastered took those assets and finally let them breathe. You’ve got Joel, a man who has lost everything, navigating a world that looks sharp—maybe even too sharp for some.
There is an ongoing debate in the community about the "art direction" of the Remastered version versus the newer Remake. In the Remastered version, the lighting is a bit more "video game-y." It has a high-contrast, punchy look that emphasizes the grime. Some fans, like those on the popular ResetEra and Reddit gaming boards, often point out that the Remastered version keeps the original character models. These models were hand-sculpted to convey emotion in a way that worked with the 2013 hardware. When you move to the Remake, they use different facial capture tech, and suddenly Joel looks older, more tired, and fundamentally different. For many, the Remastered Joel is the "real" Joel.
Mechanics That Just Don't Quit
The gameplay in The Last of Us Remastered is brutal. It’s a game of inches. You aren't a superhero; you're a guy with a brick and a half-broken 2x4. One of the things that still stands out in the PS4 version is the inclusion of Factions.
If you know, you know.
Factions is the multiplayer mode that Naughty Dog fans are still mourning today. It was a meta-game where you had to lead a clan of survivors, gathering supplies in 4v4 matches to keep your group alive. It was slow. It was methodical. It was incredibly punishing. While the PS5 Remake completely stripped out the multiplayer, the Remastered version still has it. You can still find matches today in 2026, though the player base is mostly comprised of absolute terminators who have been playing for a decade. It’s a steep learning curve, but it’s a layer of the experience that makes the Remastered package feel more "complete" than its successors.
The Left Behind Factor
You can't talk about this game without mentioning Left Behind. Originally DLC, it comes integrated into The Last of Us Remastered. It’s a prequel—sorta. It jumps between Ellie’s past with Riley in an abandoned mall and her desperate search for medical supplies for Joel in the present.
It’s a masterclass in pacing.
One minute you’re playing arcade games that don’t actually work, using your imagination to "see" the screen, and the next you’re engaged in a three-way fight between Ellie, hunters, and the infected. This was the first time Naughty Dog really let those two enemy factions interact, and it’s still satisfying to throw a brick at a human just to attract a nearby Clicker to do your dirty work for you.
Why the Graphics Hold Up (And Where They Don't)
Look, we have to be honest. If you put the Remastered version next to the PS5 Remake, you’re going to notice the age. The foliage in the Remastered version looks a bit flat. The textures on the ground can be blurry if you stare at them too long. But the art style is so strong that it carries the weight. The way the light hits the moss in the flooded subways of Boston still looks moody and atmospheric.
The Remastered version also supports 4K on the PS4 Pro (and PS5 through backwards compatibility), which sharpens up those edges. But the real star is the Photo Mode. It was one of the first truly great Photo Modes in gaming. People spent—and still spend—hundreds of hours tweaking filters and focal lengths to capture that perfect shot of a Bloater's terrifyingly detailed fungal plates.
Breaking Down the Performance
- Frame Rate: Locked 60fps on PS4 and PS5. There is an option to lock it at 30fps for "higher quality shadows," but honestly, don't do that. The 60fps is the reason to play this version.
- Resolution: Native 1080p on base PS4, up to 4K via checkerboard rendering on Pro/PS5.
- Loading Times: On a base PS4, they are... okay. On a PS5, the SSD makes the initial load much faster, though it doesn't have the "instant" loading of the native PS5 Remake.
- Audio: Still top-tier. Gustavo Santaolalla’s score is haunting in any resolution. The Remastered version actually has some great audio presets for home theaters and headphones that still sound better than most modern AAA releases.
The Nuance of Difficulty
There’s a specific "feel" to Grounded mode in The Last of Us Remastered. For the uninitiated, Grounded is the highest difficulty. It removes your HUD. It removes "Listen Mode" (the ability to see enemies through walls). It makes ammo so scarce you’ll treat a single revolver bullet like a family heirloom.
In the Remastered version, the AI has these specific quirks. Sometimes they’re incredibly smart, flanking you when they hear your gun click on an empty chamber. Other times, they’re just predictable enough that you can "speedrun" through sections if you know the exact patrol paths. The Remake updated the AI to be more like The Last of Us Part II, which is objectively "better," but there’s something rewarding about mastering the original "dance" of the 2014 AI. It feels like a puzzle you’re solving in real-time.
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Common Misconceptions About the Remaster
A lot of people think the Remastered version is "obsolete." That's a bit of a stretch.
First, the price. You can usually find a physical copy of the Remastered version for about ten bucks, or even less during a digital sale. The Remake is still retailing for a much higher premium. For a newcomer on a budget, the Remastered version provides 95% of the emotional impact for a fraction of the cost.
Second, the "missing" features. People assume the Remastered version is missing the gameplay updates of Part II (like the prone crawl or the dodge). That's true. It is. But the level design of the first game wasn't built for crawling. When you add a dodge button to the original encounters, it can actually make the game too easy. The Remastered version, with its clunkier, more deliberate movement, forces you to commit to your mistakes. If a Runner gets in your face, you can't just tap L1 to teleport out of the way. You have to swing and hope you're faster.
The Cultural Legacy
This game changed how we talk about narratives in games. It wasn't the first "dad game," but it was the one that perfected it. The Remastered version arrived exactly when the "prestige TV" era of gaming was kicking into high gear. It proved that you could have a game that was a mechanical blast to play while also being a genuine tear-jerker.
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The relationship between Joel and Ellie is the heart of the machine. In the Remastered version, the subtle performances by Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson are preserved exactly as they were captured in 2013. There’s no "re-interpretation" of their faces. You’re seeing the exact performance that won all those Game of the Year awards.
Key Tactical Advice for 2026 Players
If you are picking this up for the first time or returning after a decade, here is how to actually survive:
- Bricks over Bottles: This is the eternal debate. Bricks are better. You can hit an enemy three times in melee with a brick before it breaks. It’s a guaranteed kill on a Clicker if you’re stealthy.
- The Bow is Your Best Friend: In the 60fps Remastered version, aiming the bow feels silky smooth. It’s the only silent projectile that you can occasionally recover. Upgrading the range and draw speed should be your priority.
- Save Your Shivs: Do not use shivs to kill Clickers unless you absolutely have to. Save them for the Shiv Doors. The supplies inside those rooms are worth way more than one stealth kill.
- Learn the "Quick Turn": Pulling back on the stick and hitting X (or the corresponding button) is vital. The Remastered version moves fast, and getting cornered by a Stalker is a death sentence if you can’t 180 and bolt.
- Listen to the Optional Conversations: The "Remastered" experience isn't just about the shooting. Stand still. Wait for Ellie to whistle. Wait for her to tell a joke. Those moments build the stakes for the finale.
Final Thoughts on the PS4 Legend
The Last of Us Remastered isn't just a placeholder. It’s a definitive version of a specific moment in gaming history. It bridges the gap between the experimental PS3 era and the hyper-realistic future we live in now. It has the full multiplayer suite, the original art direction, and a performance profile that still feels modern today.
Whether you're playing on a dusty PS4 or a shiny PS5, this version of the story remains essential. It’s gritty, it’s ugly, and it’s beautiful.
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Actionable Next Steps
- Check your library: If you have PlayStation Plus, there’s a high chance this is already in your digital collection.
- Try Factions: Before you write off the multiplayer, play five matches. The "supply raid" loop is addictive and unlike anything else on the market.
- Compare the models: If you’ve played the Remake, pay close attention to the cutscenes in the Remastered version. Notice the differences in the eyes and the lighting—it's a fascinating study in how art direction evolves.
- Play Left Behind first? Actually, don't. Play the main story until the "Fall" chapter ends, then jump into the DLC for the most emotional impact, or just play it after the credits roll.
Expert Tip: For those playing on PS5, go into the settings and ensure your "Display" output is optimized. Even though it's a PS4 game, the system's "Boost Mode" ensures that the 60fps target never drops a single frame, even during the chaotic high-physics scenes like the ranch house fight or the snowy lakeside resort.
Technical Specs Summary:
- Developer: Naughty Dog
- Platform: PS4 (Playable on PS5)
- Key Features: 60 FPS, Factions Multiplayer, Left Behind DLC, Photo Mode, Grounded Difficulty.
- Audio: 7.1 Surround Sound support.