Last Of Us Part 1 VS Last Of Us Part 2: Which Is Better?

When it comes to the Last Of Us Vs, in Last Of Us Part 2, we must carefully examine each title’s pros and cons. So, let us find out what are the key differences between them. 

Last of Us Part 1 & Part 2 Release

Here’s a quick comparison between TLOU Part 1 And 2: 

Story And Setting

The story of the original ‘The Last Of Us’ propelled the title to monstrous heights and gave it the legendary status it has. The story was the driving force behind the record-breaking sales. The same story has also landed it a live-action TV series on HBO.

Joel and Ellie take us through the post-apocalyptic world of Last Of Us Part 1. Humanity has a few desperate survivors left who are fighting to stay alive. Joel is a grizzled veteran of this world who smuggles for a living after losing everything to the infection. He is tasked to smuggle Ellie to a group called The Fireflies. This duo travels across the dilapidated US to fulfill this mission.

Part 2 takes place five years after the events of the first game. It follows Ellie, who is out for revenge, and Abby, a soldier who gets stuck in a conflict between two groups. While not as airtight as the first game, the story is still decent. But it makes some questionable decisions that some people might not enjoy.

The pacing of this part is also weak, and the story seems haphazard at times. But it is still an enjoyable experience coupled with its amazing gameplay. Comparing the two, Part 1 is the clear victor in the story. There haven’t been many video games, or media in general, that have reached their level. It is undoubtedly a classic, and the bar that it has set will be hard to overcome.  

Gameplay

Regarding the gameplay in Last Of Us Vs Last Of Us Part 2, there’s almost a clear winner here. The original Last Of Us, released in 2013, shows its age in the remake. It maintains its linear style, which may seem outdated, but retains the original’s essence. If you’re new to the franchise, it’s worth playing.

In 2013, Naughty Dog’s The Last Of Us was groundbreaking, but the remake offers little in terms of gameplay changes. The level designs in Part 1 feel outdated in today’s open-world gaming era. It’s a linear experience, often feeling restrictive.

Gameplay mainly consists of progressing from point A to point B, with occasional puzzles. These puzzles can feel like filler. However, you can now skip them with accessibility features. Combat involves human and non-human enemies, with options for weapons and stealth. The combat feels somewhat plain and unchanged from the original, except for AI improvements.

Accessibility options have been enhanced to make the game more inclusive, too, if you ask me. They cover audio narrations, visual adjustments, and customizable difficulty. Plus, Joel has various weapons and crafting abilities, enhancing realism.

In Last Of Us Part 2, gameplay improves significantly. It maintains linearity but offers a more open-level design akin to a sandbox. The levels encourage exploration, both vertically and horizontally. The addition of jumps and dodges enhances combat and exploration. Players have more control and options, making encounters feel more natural.

The new approach enhances encounter variety. In contrast to Last Of Us Part 1’s limited options for dealing with enemies in linear areas, Part 2 offers open-ended gameplay. Players can choose stealth tactics on expansive battlefields. Larger levels grant more opportunities for stealth kills and eliminating foes individually.

Alternatively, players can adopt a more aggressive approach, using new weapons like explosive arrows, flamethrowers, and submachine guns. The PS5’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers intensify the experience. Players control Ellie and Abby in Part 2, each with distinct playstyles. Ellie excels in stealth with her switchblade and silenced submachine gun.

Abby offers a confrontational style with weapons like pipe bombs, creating intense, action-packed combat. The overall combat is more realistic and brutal. The dodge and prone techniques in Part 2 could have enhanced Part 1 but were missed opportunities. Remaking a remastered game seems unjustified.

If you ask me, AI improvements are evident in both games. Part 2’s smart AI influenced the remake, offering better enemy placement and adaptability. Friendly character AI in Part 1 has also improved, ensuring they don’t handicap you during combat. Also, customization options for Joel and Ellie’s outfits are now available in Part 1, adding a personal touch.

The remake includes Speedrun and Perma Death modes, unlockable after completing the game. Director’s Commentary Mode, hosted by Neil Druckmann and cast members, provides insight into the creative process.

Visuals And Performance

Last Of Us Part 1 and Part 2 both use Naughty Dog’s internal engine. It uses a deferred renderer, which makes the unmatched lighting in the game a possibility. Last Of Us Part 2 also introduced motion matching to the series. This allows for photorealistic animations and seamless movements by the characters. 

Last Of Us Part 2 has more open and vast outdoor levels, like ruined cityscapes and jungles. You can see the marvel and splendor of these levels in all of their glory with the help of a next-gen console like the PS5. The highly detailed textures lend to an unforgettable experience.

Part 1 has received a visual overhaul, matching its successor’s awe-inspiring visuals, showcasing masterfully crafted environments, life-like textures, and the benefits of deferred rendering and motion matching.

Facial expressions in both games convey subtleties, enhancing interactions and setting a standard for visual storytelling. The remarkable audio design amplifies the impact of weapon fire. Regarding performance, both games offer a stable 60FPS at 1080p. Pushing the resolution to 4K sacrifices framerate, reducing it to 30FPS.

In summary, both titles redefine gaming visuals and performance, blurring the line between reality and virtual worlds.

Verdict

Last Of Us Part 1 is a stunning remake, combining the old narrative with next-gen gameplay. The developers have put a lot of effort into remaking the entire game and giving it a complete visual overhaul. However, the core gameplay itself might feel outdated at times. 

On the other hand, Last Of Us Part 2 provides an unmistakably fun gameplay experience. The narrative and story might sometimes feel weaker, but that’s only because it’s being compared to its predecessor. On its own, it is a solid story with some pacing issues.

The lack of the father-daughter dynamic from the first game might also make the game feel lackluster. But it makes up for this with improved combat and level exploration. Both games have some things they do well and some that they don’t.

This has been our Last Of Us Part 1 Better Than Last Of Us Part 2 Analysis. While you’re at it, be sure to check out some of our other articles.

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