Despite ongoing debates about the intricate plot of The Last of Us Part 2, released back in 2020, its impact continues to be as powerful today. One thing is certain, this game stands out as a visual marvel among video games. The way Naughty Dog leveraged the PlayStation 4 hardware to achieve such high-definition quality, whether it’s the realistic character models and effects, or the smooth animations and meticulous environmental details, still leaves us in awe and wonder.
Despite getting a free upgrade for PS5 offering 30 FPS and 60 FPS options, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is a genuine paid upgrade over the PS5 version. Although it doesn’t undergo a significant graphical transformation, it does present new features such as No Return (a rogue-like mode) and Lost Levels (previously unseen levels from the game). Additionally, it includes extensive developer commentary, Guitar Free Play, and Speedrun Mode where you can attempt to finish the story as swiftly as possible.
As a long-awaiting fan, I’m thrilled to share that over a year since its initial promise, the remastered version of this cherished game will grace PC screens on April 3rd. Naughty Dog, joined by Nixxes and Iron Galaxy, are bringing it to life. The question on everyone’s mind is: Does it outshine the PS5 version? Is this the ultimate way to experience the original masterpiece?
Given the rocky debut of The Last of Us Part 1 on PC and the somewhat disappointing first-party PS5 ports like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, a hint of skepticism is certainly justified. Let’s delve in together to uncover the truth.
What’s New With the PC Version?
Given that The Last of Us Part 2 (original and remastered) lacks ray tracing, it’s not surprising that ray tracing isn’t an option for this PC port. Instead, it offers ultrawide monitor support for various resolutions such as 21:9, 32:9, or even 48:9, along with triple-monitor setups. Additionally, upscaling technologies like Nvidia DLSS 3 Super Resolution, AMD FSR 3.1, Intel XeSS, and AMD FSR 4 are supported, as well as Frame Generation and DirectStorage. You can also enable Vsync to output higher frame rates than the PS5. However, keep in mind that all these features may impact system performance.
PC Requirements and Test Rig Configuration
For the system requirements of this game, Naughty Dog, Nixxes, and Iron Galaxy have provided a good range of options for scalability. At the minimum, you’ll need an Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300X, but to run it smoothly at 720p/30 FPS on low settings, a GeForce GTX 1650 or Radeon RX 5500XT and 16 GB of RAM are necessary. If you want to play the game at 1080p/60 FPS on medium settings, you’ll require a Core i5-8600 or Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, an RTX 3060 or Radeon RX 5700 GPU, and again, 16 GB of RAM.
To achieve smooth gameplay at 1440p/60 FPS with high graphics settings, you’ll need a Core i7-9700K or Ryzen 7 3700X processor, an RTX 3070 or Radeon RX 6800 GPU, and at least 16 GB of RAM. If you aim for the ultimate experience with 4K/60 FPS and very high settings, you’ll need a Core i7-11700 or Ryzen 7 5700X CPU, an RTX 4080 or RX 7900XT GPU, and 32 GB of RAM. Keep in mind that the PC version requires around 150 GB of storage (an SSD is mandatory), while the PS5 version takes up about 79 GB. Our setup boasts an AMD Ryzen 9 5950X processor, a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU, and 32 GB of RAM.
Graphical Options and Our Settings
Beyond upscaler features, DirectStorage support, and additional aspects, the primary allure of the PC version lies in its customizable graphics settings. You can tailor the Level of Detail, Reflection Quality, Texture Quality and Filtering, Shadow Quality, Depth of Field Quality, Refraction Quality, Particle Density, and numerous other options to suit your preferences.
For our configuration, we chose DLSS Quality mode with a resolution of 3840×2160, a refresh rate of 60 Hz, and frame rate limited at 360. We turned on DLAA and Vsync, while virtually all settings were set to Very High. The Field of View remained unchanged, and dynamic resolution scaling was disabled.
PC Performance
If you were uncertain about high-quality PC ports following Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, take comfort. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered maintains a steady 60 frames per second with only minor dips, even at 4K resolution, showcasing an impressive balance between detail, effects, and smooth gameplay. From observing the town lights to trekking through snowy landscapes while evading infected hordes, the graphics remain lifelike and intricate. The facial and character animations continue to appear realistic and detailed, with exceptional image quality highlighting subtle details like freckles, snowflakes, and other fine elements.
Although Abby and Owen’s scene initially appears smooth, there are some minor technical hiccups. For instance, Owen’s hair occasionally seems to malfunction in certain spots, and this issue recurs later on. While these instances are not frequent, they are hard to ignore. Additionally, there are “ghosting” effects, particularly evident during the mansion scene with Owen’s hair. However, these are more pronounced when Ellie gallops through the snow on a horse. Initially, it seemed that these issues were confined to cutscenes, but you might also spot them during gameplay while moving at a moderate speed. Fortunately, there are no significant glitches or performance problems elsewhere in the game.
PC vs PS5 (Fidelity and Performance)
On the PlayStation 5, “The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered” gives you two modes: Performance and Fidelity. The Performance mode runs at a resolution of 1440p with a smooth 60 frames per second, while the Fidelity mode provides native 4K resolution, but only at 30 frames per second. If your display supports a refresh rate of 120 Hz, you can tinker with the Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) settings on the PS5 to potentially boost the frame rate beyond the default. However, for this review, we opted for the standard settings.
In summary, both console versions maintain consistent frame rates, but Fidelity mode provides enhanced image sharpness, particularly in distant details and vegetation. However, it’s important to note that the improved clarity comes with a decrease in frame rate. On the other hand, the PC version allows you to enjoy the benefits of both modes simultaneously. Scenes like traveling through fields alongside Joel or admiring Jackson from afar under the sun demonstrate how the visuals have aged gracefully over time, despite occasional ghosting effects.
Conclusion
Reflecting on the initial rollout of the series on PC with The Last of Us Part 1, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is in a league of its own. Although occasional ghosting may divert attention and there might be some minor visual anomalies with Owen’s hair, it boasts impressive performance, stunning visuals throughout, and no significant bugs (as far as we could tell during our playtime).
Typically, performance may differ based on hardware and configuration, but achieving such high-quality visuals with most settings set at Very High and 4K resolution, maintaining a nearly steady 60 FPS on an RTX 3080 Ti is truly noteworthy. If you’re a PC gamer eager to delve back into the narrative since Part 1 was released, we strongly suggest giving The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered a try.
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2025-04-07 16:12