Summary
- The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered for the PS5 brilliantly utilizes the DualSense controller's adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to enhance the gameplay experience.
- The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's integration of the DualSense adds to the game's realism and visceral nature, making it more than just a small upgrade.
- The DualSense controller continues to be praised by fans for its immersion and realistic feel, making it a standout feature of the PS5.
The PlayStation 5 has been out for a little over three years now, and it doesn't really feel like it's aged a day. Capable of delivering 4K, and technically able to dish out 120FPS consistently, the PS5 still gives many gamers all the technical advantages they'd expect from a modern console. And with Sony continuing to deliver a steady stream of excellent first-party exclusives over the last three years - exclusives like The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered - it's clear why the PlayStation 5 has been such a resounding success.
Taking an already-phenomenal game and giving it a makeover only the PlayStation 5 could handle, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is refined, beautiful, and bloody, and there's a whole lot more to this remaster than just a new lick of paint. A fairly fleshed-out roguelike mode, some developer commentary, and some Lost Levels are all the obvious stars of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, but there's one crucial new addition that's gone under the radar, as it so often does: DualSense support.
The Last of Us Part 2 No Return Is Home to One of the Scariest Modes in Gaming
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered has some neat little surprises in store, and that includes one of the most horrifying modes in all of gaming.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Makes Great Use of the DualSense
One of the best new additions to come with The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is also one that not a whole lot of people are talking about, and that's the game's DualSense integration. A defining feature of the PlayStation 5 on launch, the DualSense continues to be an unsung hero for the console, and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered really puts it to work.
The two most obvious, and best, DualSense features that The Last of Us Part 2 uses to great effect are the controller's adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. As fans have now come to expect from just about every PS5 game, especially first-party titles, the DualSense's adaptive triggers work overtime in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, with the left trigger tightening and loosening up with each weapon depending on its in-game weight, and the right trigger requiring quite a bit of force to pull, both of which make every shot feel genuinely lethal.
The DualSense's haptic feedback is also there at every turn, simulating Seattle's rainy weather, Ellie's crawling animations through grass, and the nearby explosion of a deadly pipe bomb. It's not really anything DualSense enthusiasts haven't seen before, but for a game striving to be as realistic and visceral as possible, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's DualSense integration is far more than just a welcome addition.
The DualSense Continues to be the PS5's Hidden Hero
The DualSense certainly isn't every PS5 owner's cup of tea, but those who love it really love it, so much so that it might even be the factor that tips them over the edge in buying a multi-platform game on PlayStation. And to be fair, the DualSense has enhanced far more than it's hindered. 2023 was an excellent year for the DualSense, with games like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor actually putting the power of the Force into players' hands, and Resident Evil 4 Remake making each gunshot and parry feel life-saving. It may not be for everyone, but it's great to see the DualSense continue to give its all even despite that.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 90%
- Released
- January 19, 2024
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- The Last of Us
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
