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If you count The softcore moviesLast of Us Part II Remasteredto the list, this marks the fifth different remake or remaster in Naughty Dog's The Last of Us franchise. Oddly, the studio decided to drop a remaster for its critically acclaimed sequel nearly three years after its initial 2020 release.

However, this isn't to say Part II Remastered isn't worth a buy.

In fact, after having spent some time with the game, you should know that the improved graphics are just the cherry on top of an excellent remaster that's locked and loaded with extra features and game modes. It also doesn't hurt that if you purchased Part IIfor the PS4 in 2020, you can grab the remaster for just $10 (as opposed to the full price of $49.99).

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Here at Mashable, we believe that Part II Remastered is the definitive way to play Part II, and if you're a fan of the game, story, and cast of characters, you won't be disappointed by this remaster. If you need more convincing, we broke down experience with some of the new features and extras added by the developers.

1. The Last of Us Rougelike

Violence begets violence or whatever the saying is. Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment

"No Return" is the headline feature of the remastered version of Part II. It's a combat-focused roguelike mode that sees players in randomly generated encounters to get as far as they can without dying. Throughout each run, players can unlock new gear, weapons, upgrades, and additional characters to play with in future runs.

It's a different flavor for the game, specifically designed for those who enjoyed the combat mechanics of Part II. Having played through the story of Part IIa couple of times, I can say the combat is not for the faint of heart. It's excruciatingly and unflinchingly graphic to the point, where, throughout my playthroughs of the campaign I've had to stop and take breaks cause the constant agonizing screaming of the NPCs after you kill a comrade or blow a leg off was uncomfortable.

That's kind of the point though, as one of the narrative throughlines of the campaign is the destructive nature of revenge and how it perpetuates a cycle of violence. This, and I'm not the first to point this out, makes it strange that the most marketed feature of Part II Remaster is a game mode that is nothing but a mindless cycle of violence—something that stands at odds with the story the developers were trying to tell.

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However, if you're looking for a way to play the game and maximize the potential and efficiency of its combat mechanics, you'd enjoy "No Return." There's no story here to get in the way of all the fighting, with "No Return" offering several different combat scenarios like fighting off waves of enemies or timed-survival trials. There's even a heist scenario that prompts you to break into guarded safes.

If you like the grim combat of Part II, then the remaster is worth it for this alone. But there are other modes for the less violence-inclined TLOUenjoyers.

2. Guitar-free play

Honestly the best addition to the game. Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Some would call this icing on the cake for players, but let's be honest, this is the main attraction. If you're unfamiliar, there are a few sections within the campaign of Part IIthat let you play the guitar using the DualShock controller's touchpad to strum the guitar and the bumpers to change the chords. They're neat interactive sections that have been let loose for players in the remaster, so you can skip all the bleak and depressing story beats and get to the real gameplay.

You can swap between several characters and even play the banjo. Additionally, Naughty Dog added the option to play as series composer Gustavo Santaolalla.

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3. Lost Levels

Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment

One thing that buying DVDs has over video games is the inclusion of behind-the-scenes featurettes and director's commentary. It's rare in the gaming space, which is known for its secretive development cycles, so it was a surprise to see just how much BTS content is available for players who purchase Part II Remastered.

The meat of the BTS content is the lost levels — three cut sections of gameplay from the original story all in various states of completion, complete with an intro by director Neil Druckmann before each level and developer commentary throughout. Players can walk through these levels, although they are missing animations and have close to no voice acting.

As explained by the devs, a lot of the cuts had to do with pacing issues. One level involves a leisurely trek through Jackson, Wyoming, the settlement Ellie and Joel reside in at the start of the game. Another is an additional sewer section during the Seattle Day Two portion of the game. The last follows Ellie as she hunts a boar near– an endeavor that triggers her PTSD.

Players can trigger the developer's commentary that explains the various minutiae behind object placement, story beats, and why every little thing was either cut or kept. It's a captivating addition that delves into what it's like to develop a game of this caliber and a welcome one for any hardcore fans of the franchise.

Topics Gaming PlayStation