REVIEW – The Last of Us Part I is one of the best and most awarded games ever made. The PlayStation-exclusive title is available on PC for the first time, but is Joel and Ellie’s brutal journey worth it on this platform? We try to answer that question by looking at the technical side of the game, examining how Naughty Dog’s classic performs on desktop and Steam Deck.

The Last of Us Part I is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure game in which a zombie-turned-button infection wreaks havoc on humanity. The game stars Joel, a cynical survivor, and Ellie, a 14-year-old girl whose immune system is resistant to the infection. Joel’s mission is to take Ellie to a resistance group who hope to find a cure with her help. Throughout the game, they must navigate their way through a series of dangerous locations while battling the undead and hostile humans. The game’s strengths include stunning graphics, tense gameplay and emotional storytelling.

This lame beta is destined to be so much more

The PC port of The Last of Us Part I didn’t launch smoothly – and that’s putting it mildly. The game was released on Steam and Epic Games Store on March 28, but has been plagued by a number of technical issues. Players complained of long load times, poor optimisation, camera shake, texture glitches, animation glitches and random crashes. According to Digital Foundry’s analysis, the game was “practically a beta” and a “profound disappointment”.

However, Naughty Dog has not let PC fans down and has released several fixes for the game. The latest patch (v1.0.1.7) addressed crashes when starting the game and switching between windowed and full-screen modes, as well as improving NPC behaviour and UI, among other things.

However, the PC version of The Last of Us Part I is not just a simple port, but also includes a number of PC-specific features and improvements. The game supports AMD FSR 2.2 and Nvidia DLSS Super Resolution technologies, which help boost frame rates and resolution with compatible graphics cards. In the game, you can adjust VSync and the frame rate limit, as well as a number of graphics options such as texture quality, shadows, reflections and ambient occlusion. The game can be played in 4K resolution and on ultra-wide monitors, so you can immerse yourself even more in the richly detailed environment. And thanks to 3D sound, you can better hear the rustling of leaves, the rattling of glass or the footsteps of enemies.

PC extras – “to make up for the trouble”…

The PC version supports the DualSense controller with a wired connection, so you can feel the impact of combat, the rumble of the tank and more thanks to haptic feedback and dynamic triggers. In addition to the DualShock 4 controller, you can also use other gamepads and keyboard/mouse combinations, and customize the controls. The game also includes accessibility features from The Last of Us Part I, so you can tailor the experience to everyone’s needs and preferences. The PC version comes with two free T-shirts for Ellie, which you’ll receive once you’ve completed the main story: a Left 4 Dead T-shirt and a Portal T-shirt.

However, Naughty Dog hasn’t let PC fans down and has released several patches for the game. The latest patch (v1.0.1.7) addressed crashes on startup and when switching between windowed and full-screen modes, as well as improving NPC behaviour and UI, among other things. The patch also added some additional diagnostic tools to help developers better understand and address bugs. Naughty Dog and Iron Galaxy partners are continuously monitoring player reports for further patches and updates. Patches are released regularly to increase game stability and fix additional bugs.

Steam Deck version: waste of steam?!

The Last of Us Part I is not only available on PC, but also on Steam Deck. However, the game is not supported on Steam Deck, which means that performance and stability are not guaranteed. According to player reports, the game is choppy, buggy, crashes and often won’t launch on Steam Deck. Due to the high hardware requirements of the game, Steam Deck cannot serve the game at 720p resolution and 30 FPS.

Several videos have been posted on YouTube showing the game running on Steam Deck. From these, we can see that the game often lags and freezes, especially in larger areas or in more intense combat. The graphics also suffer from poor optimisation and often become blurry or pixelated. Sound may also be distorted or lag behind the picture. Players often have to restart the game or Steam Deck to get the game to start at all.

However, Naughty Dog hasn’t let Steam Deck fans down and has released a new patch (v1.0.1.7) that fixes some of the issues. The patch has fixed crashes when starting the game and switching between windowed and full-screen modes, as well as improved NPC behaviour and UI. The patch also added some additional diagnostic tools to help developers better understand and address bugs.

Will the game run better on Steam Deck after this? Well, unfortunately not much. Videos show that there are still crashes and freezes, and the graphics haven’t improved much. The sound can still be problematic too. So the patch hasn’t solved all the problems, but it has at least improved them a little.

Steam Deck would be an exciting option for fans of The Last of Us Part I who want to take the game with them wherever they go. The device can run the game at 720p resolution and 30 FPS, which isn’t bad for a portable device. Playing on Steam Deck, you can enjoy the action-adventure nature of the game and its storytelling without missing out on details or atmosphere. On Steam Deck, you can also use the DualSense controller or other gamepads, and take advantage of the features and improvements of the PC version.

Are you one of the last or one of the last?

The PC version of The Last of Us Part I is a dual experience. On the one hand, the game itself is a masterpiece that everyone deserves to experience. The story, the characters, the gameplay and the atmosphere are all elements that leave a deep impression on you. The PC version also brings a number of new features and improvements that make the game even more beautiful and enjoyable.

On the other hand, the technical side of the game is still not perfect. Due to the high hardware requirements and the lack of optimisation, many people will not be able to enjoy the game to its full potential. There are still bugs and glitches in the game that can spoil the experience. And running on Steam Deck will have to wait for a while until the developers finish patching and testing.

All in all, we can say that the PC version of The Last of Us Part I is a great game worth trying out if you haven’t already. The original charm of the game has been preserved and more has been added. But if you’ve played it on PlayStation, it might not be worth buying it again on PC unless you want better graphics or different controls. And Steam Deck fans will have to be patient if they don’t want to tear their hair out over the poor performance and glitches that persist. (Note, the actual score does NOT reflect glitches and bugs, as the fix is still in progress! Based on the current “beta” state of the game, it only deserves a 6/10, but we expect the situation to improve greatly in the near future – both on PC and Steam!)

-BadSector-

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Developer: Naughty Dog

Style: Action-adventure

Release: September 28, 2022 (PS5), March 28, 2023 (PC)