Daisy
PC gamers rejoice! Last year The Last of Us Part II Remastered dropped on PS5 giving fans more content and a new game mode. And now, Part II of this cult classic is finally available on PC.
I was sceptical, considering the numerous issues players faced with The Last of Us Part I PC port in 2023. It launched with a myriad of issues, riddled with bugs and performance issues that took some time to fix.
But this time, developers Naughty Dog brought on Nixxes Software to join Iron Galaxy for the PC port. I had all my fingers and toes crossed that this meant I was in for some smooth sailing – performance wise, at least.
The Last of Us (Part I) leads players on a perilous journey across a post-apocalyptic United States as Joel and Ellie. The hardened survivor and the young girl – who may hold the cure – form a bond as they navigate their terrifying world.
Part II shows life four years later, taking a darker, and somewhat controversial direction. It delves into the cycle of revenge and the moral complexities of a world where everyone is struggling to survive.
As a PC gamer myself, I was thrilled simply being able to experience The Last of Us Part II. And I was even more delighted when the port ran rather well. It worked solidly across performance and fidelity options and the game only crashed once in my entire run through. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough for me.
If you’re comparing the remaster for PS5 to PC you might find slight differences in the minor details. But overall, the PC remaster holds its own. The Last of Us Part II features a wide range of environments, from claustrophobic interiors to expansive landscapes. The enhancements made to these landscapes may seem small, but did have a positive impact – especially with draw distance.
The PC coloration is bright with solid rendering, resulting in sharper, more detailed characters. This helped further enhance the (spectacular) performance by Ashley Johnson as Ellie.
The remaster includes three lost levels, each introduced by Game Director, Neil Druckman, and other fun extras to explore. You can also delve into some guitar free play to strum some tunes.
But the most exciting addition is No Return – a roguelike play that lets you fight your way through a series of randomised combat encounters. Being narrative-heavy, replayability of the actual game is quite low, unless you wish to relive the trauma. But this new gameplay option gives those who have finished their campaign a chance to itch that clicker-killing scratch. Unlike it’s name, it’s the reason I will be returning to the game.
Despite the controversy this game (and now the HBO show) has faced, The Last of Us Part II is a gripping tale of revenge with edge-of-your-seat scenes and terrifying combat. While the PS5 remaster felt more like a patch update with bonus content, it paved the path for the PC release. And it was a pretty solid PC release at that.
Released: April 2025
Rating: R
Platform reviewed: PC
Genre: Action
Developer: Naughty Dog, Nixxes Software, Iron Galaxy
Publisher: Sony