The Last of Us is one of the many hallowed PlayStation exclusives that PC players couldn’t experience since it first debuted in 2013. However, on March 28th, they’ll finally get the opportunity when The Last of Us Part 1 launches for PC.
Currently available for PlayStation 5, this is a remake with improved visuals and several new features while retaining the core gameplay and story of the original. Let’s take a spoiler-free look at 15 things you should know before buying.
Story
The Last of Us takes place in a post-apocalyptic future, where an outbreak of the Cordyceps fungus has turned people into mindless monsters. Joel Miller is the protagonist, serving as a smuggler with Tess in Boston. After making a deal with the Fireflies militia, the duo take on the task of smuggling a young girl named Ellie. Where their journey leads them and the challenges encountered along the way make up the bulk of this tale, but The Last of Us Part 1 also includes Left Behind, a prequel DLC which gives more insight into Ellie’s circumstances.
Gameplay
Set in the third-person perspective, The Last of Us is more of a survival action-adventure game than a run-and-gun shooter. You have different firearms, but crafting melee weapons and items like Molotov Cocktails is encouraged due to limited ammunition. Stealth is also paramount when dealing with bandits and the infected, especially the Clickers, who possess brute strength but rely on sound to get around. There’s also plenty of exploration and puzzle-solving to be had, with players learning more about the world and how humanity is coping with its collapse.
Graphical Improvements
The most noteworthy feature of The Last of Us Part 1 is its visuals. They’re a considerable step up over the PS3 original (and its PS4 remaster) with more detail, revamped character models and animations, improved lighting and shadows, and 4K support. For a PC player who’s never experienced the initial release, this is the best way to play the classic, barring any potential performance issues.
New HUD and Workbench
The Last of Us Part 1 does have its share of changes and new gameplay features that distinguish it from the original. The HUD and workbench now see Joel working on weapons as he modifies them. The AI has also been improved, resulting in multiple ways that encounters could play out.
Gameplay Modifiers
The remake has a lot to unlock, including new gameplay modifiers. While you can horizontally flip the world on death or permanently to traverse an intriguing mirror dimension, many modifiers are essentially cheats like unlimited ammo, infinite crafting materials, slow motion, infinite melee weapon durability, one-shot kills with guns, and Explosive Arrows, which cause an explosion on impact with regular arrows. You can even alter the audio, changing it to 8-bit retro style or Helium, which increases the pitch.
Skins and Filters
Other unlockables include different outfits for Joel and Ellie, weapon skins, and filters. Filters change the game’s appearance, from basic color changes with Cool, Warm and Vibrant to 8-bit for a retro appearance, Dungeon for an almost cel-shaded look, and Void for changing the background to a Matrix-like amalgamation of letters and numbers. If that weren’t enough, there’s also a Model Viewer for admiring many character models up close. Want to take in every grotesque detail of a Bloater? Now’s your chance.
Speedrun and Permadeath
Those who finish The Last of Us Part 1 and want to play it again but faster, can enable Speedrun Mode. Exclusive to the remake, it keeps track of your playtime per chapter and in a complete playthrough. These times are categorized based on the difficulty, New Game Plus and more. In addition to six difficulty options, including the punishing Grounded difficulty, Permadeath is also available in the remake. It limits the player’s save options, so you can respawn at the beginning of an act or chapter on death or start the whole game over.
Accessibility Features
There are over 60 accessibility features in the remake, with three presets to choose from. Players can enable Enhanced Listen Mode, skip puzzles, enable invisibility, adjust the HUD scale, enable subtitle names and directions, and receive navigation assistance. There are also lock-on aim and auto-target options, auto pick-up, holding buttons for melee combos and repeated presses, removing weapon sway and much more.
True 4K and Ultrawide Support
Speaking of the PC-exclusive features, The Last of Us Part 1 supports native 4K and Ultrawide monitors. In addition to 21:9 Ultrawide displays, 32:9 Super Ultrawide monitors also work, giving you the widest possible viewing area to appreciate the ruined world.
Graphics Settings
The PC port also supports Nvidia DLSS Super Resolution and AMD FSR 2.2. There are also graphics options, like Texture Quality, Shadows, Reflections, Ambient Occlusion, Vsync and frame rate cap etc. Though 120 FPS support hasn’t been confirmed, its inclusion in the PS5 version makes it a given for the PC version.
Minimum and Recommended Requirements
Now for the big question – can your PC run it? You’ll need 100 GB of installation space on an SSD and Windows 10 64-bit (Version 1909 or newer), regardless of other hardware. Minimum requirements include an AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or Intel Core i7-4770K and 16 GB of RAM. GPU-wise, a Radeon RX 470 or RX 6500 XT (4 GB) or GeForce GTX 970 or 1050 Ti (4 GB) is necessary. This nets 720p/30 FPS at Low settings.
Recommended requirements include a Ryzen 5 3600X or Core i7-8700, 16 GB of RAM and a Radeon RX 5700 XT or RX 6600 with 8 GB of VRAM. Nvidia users need an RTX 2060 Super or RTX 3060 with 8 GB VRAM for 60 FPS/1080p gameplay at High settings.
1440p and 4K Requirements
For running the game in 1440p/60 FPS at High settings, an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i7-9700K is required, with either a Radeon RX 6750 XT or GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and 32 GB of RAM. Finally, for 4K/60 FPS at Ultra settings, a Ryzen 9 5900X or Core i5-12600K, Radeon RX 7900 XTX or GeForce RTX 4080, and 32 GB of RAM are needed.
DualSense and Gamepad Support
PS5 players, take note – the DualSense is supported on the PC version, complete with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. A wired connection is necessary, though. Other gamepads, including the DualShock 4, are also supported, but you can stick to the keyboard and mouse if needed.
Keyboard and Mouse Controls
Those playing on keyboard and mouse will find plenty of options to customize. In addition to full control remapping, you can set primary and secondary bindings. There are also other options, like an adaptive mode for combining inputs from the keyboard and controller.
Bug Fixes and Improvements
Interestingly, The Last of Us Part 1 on PC doesn’t exist in perpetuity. Naughty Dog has been listening to feedback since the console version was released, and implemented various improvements and bug fixes. We’ll only know the full extent when the PC version launches, but expect a more polished experience.
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