On June 14, 2013, The Last of Us released, with Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece doing a lot to shift the narrative around video games. Back then, some still debated if video games were art in the same way as music or movies, something that feels absurd when it comes to how games are viewed today. Further, the stories in video games were never viewed as being as impactful as the narratives in other genres by those outside the gaming bubble. With The Last of Us, though, even non-gamers began to take notice, and the stories of video games started to become more widely appreciated.
As a massive commercial success and one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time, it is no surprise that The Last of Us would go on to influence video game storytelling as a whole. After the game released, a clear shift could be felt within the industry, with more emphasis placed on delivering strong performances, emotional story beats, and characters that felt like real people. Now, excellent video game stories are more common than ever, with The Last of Us being a clear example of how much a game can be elevated by strong storytelling. And, like any other classic game, it remains relevant a decade after its release - though recent developments around the property have been a mix of good and bad.
The Last of Us’ Recent Highs and Lows Do Not Detract from the Original’s Greatness
As masterful as The Last of Us was on the PlayStation 3, the game is 10 years old now, and because of that it has started to become outdated in terms of its gameplay and graphics. Realizing this, Naughty Dog and Sony crafted a version of the game from the ground-up for PlayStation 5, taking full advantage of the console’s power. The results were tremendous; The Last of Us Part 1 is a high-quality remake, with the new character models making key moments like The Ranch scene hit harder and the improved AI making gameplay more engaging. However, the PC port did not do a good job of highlighting these strengths.
Not only did the remake suffer from criticism about its price point and discussion about whether it was worth making in the first place, but the PC port's launch was disastrous. Character models were completely broken, the game would crash repeatedly, and fans were forced to endure regular freezing. Naughty Dog is still releasing PC patches for The Last of Us Part 1 today, and while it has been heavily improved upon, there are still big issues like bugs that see Joel fighting invisible enemies. These growing pains for Naughty Dog, combined with the recent delay of The Last of Us’ multiplayer spin-off, mark a rough period for the franchise - though the past year also brought the property a big win.
The Last of Us on HBO was a project many were cautiously optimistic about. After all, many video game adaptations fail, so even with the close involvement of Neil Druckmann and the support of HBO, there was reason to be concerned. However, what fans received was even better than anyone expected, as they got to witness a near-perfect retelling of the story that gamers fell in love with a decade ago. Aside from a few pacing issues, everything felt right - the dialogue was exactly the same when it needed to be, and the performances from the entire cast were incredible. New additions like Bill and Frank’s story were unforgettable, and the visuals were unbelievable.
Ultimately, all of this goes to show how relevant The Last of Us continues to be despite celebrating its tenth birthday today. Both the show and the remake helped give a new audience a chance to enjoy the tragic-yet-beautiful story of Joel and Ellie, and with The Last of Us HBO boosting Part 1’s sales drastically, it is clear that interest in the property has never been higher. The Last of Us’ TV series gave non-gamers a chance to appreciate the story and the complex figures that drive it, while the PS5 remake and its steadily-improving PC port ensure that gamers can enjoy a modern version of the classic title that does not feel like a PS3 game.
However, the HBO series, The Last of Us Part 1, and its equally brilliant sequel could not exist without the 2013 version. Though The Last of Us' original character models, level design, and enemy AI may be showing their age, its narrative and performances are timeless. The fact that there is still so much discussion around a decade-old video game’s story says it all. Both for its influence on the medium of video games and its wider cultural impact, The Last of Us deserves to be celebrated on its tenth anniversary.
The Last of Us Part 1 is available now on PC and PS5.