The Last of Us Part II Remastered

Play it on: PS5
Current goal: Indulge in the cycle of violence, apparently

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is out this weekend on PS5, and while the original PS4 game is one of my favorites of all-time, the big, headlining draw of the remaster is its the new roguelike mode. I’ve already said my piece on No Return, as I think the mode is one of the most bald-faced examples of a AAA video game that can’t adhere to a single thematic vision, but it’s easy for me to fuck up Infected and transphobic cultists as Ellie in a Pride tank top and say “I’m her.” The Last of Us Part II’s combat has always been underrated in my opinion, and No Return is a pretty good showcase for it. Sometimes it’s satisfying to throw a brick at some asshole then knock him out cold with a lead pipe.

Ultimately, No Return is silly, and feels out of place alongside a game supposedly about the self-destructive nature of violence. But the combat designers at Naughty Dog were cooking in 2020, and it’s at least cool to see those folks get their flowers. — Kenneth Shepard