The much-anticipated PlayStation 4 re-release of The Last of Us, one of last year’s most acclaimed games, arrives tomorrow, July 29. The first reviews of The Last of Us Remastered have been published today, but as the core game is identical to what was released on PS3 last year, you likely have some idea of what to expect as far as its gameplay goes.

What’s been more uncertain prior to Remastered’s launch were how the improvements would affect the game. We’ve heard a great deal about the improved visuals and 60fps frame rate; the game can still be played at 30fps (which is what the PS3 version ran at), but developer Naughty Dog has talked about how much a difference 60fps can make. Remastered also makes use of the PS4’s new controller, includes a photo mode, and packages in all of the DLC released for the PS3 version.

If you still own a copy of the game on PS3, you won’t get a discount through Sony for buying Remastered, which is priced at $50. GameStop, however, will sell you Remastered for $25 with the trade-in of the PS3 game.

A sampling of Remastered reviews follows below. Let us know in the comments below whether you’ll be picking it up and if this is your first time playing it–Sony says there are plenty of PS4 owners who haven’t done so.

• Game: The Last of Us Remastered
• Developer: Naughty Dog
• Platforms: PlayStation 4
• Release Date: July 29
• Price: $49.99

GameSpot — 8/10

“The Last of Us is a great action game that you should play if you haven’t already. And if you have played it before, the improvements here aren’t so dramatic as to make the game feel like a new experience, but it is definitely one worth revisiting. In the world of The Last of Us, as in our own world, love might destroy you, but it’s also one of the only things worth fighting for.” [Full review]

Game Informer — 10/10

“All the graphical improvements are wonderful, but you may be wondering if The Last of Us Remastered is for you. Like the best visual updates, Remastered plays like you remember it. If you played 2013’s Game of the Year near release and have been dying to return to the dark tale, then this is a great opportunity. If you never played The Last of Us at all, this is absolutely the way to do it. But be careful–you’ll never want to go back to the PS3 original again after reveling in all the improvements.” [Full review]

USGamer — 4.5/5

“There’s not really enough distance between the PS3 version of The Last of Us and this new Remaster to make it worth double-dipping, unless you’re simply that fixated on counting lines of resolution. If you missed out the first time around, though, you really shouldn’t let it slip past again. While it often works better as a movie than a game, it still stands at the state of the art. And the writing is good enough to enjoy even if you hate zombie genre fiction (like I do). The Last of Us is about refinement, not innovation, and this version takes the art of refinement another step forward.” [Full review]

Polygon — 8/10

“I might not adore The Last of Us as much as the crowd that Remastered is clearly targeting, but I can’t help but appreciate the enthusiasm that has gone into this edition. It reminds me of a great Director’s Cut DVD of a beloved movie–a collection of everything a fan could want and a celebration of it at the same time. It’s another sign that Naughty Dog understands and respects its fan base, and if nothing else, that’s worth supporting.” [Full review]

IGN — 10/10

“In 2013, I called The Last of Us on PlayStation 3 a masterpiece. The same holds true of its PlayStation 4 ‘Remastered’ sibling. You can’t go wrong with either version, but with Remastered you’ll get a better frame rate that smooths out gunplay, a prettier, sharper look, and a bunch of DLC content rolled into the package from the get-go (not to mention a whole fresh set of Trophies to earn again, if you have a whole lot of time on your hands). Whether you’ve already experienced it on PlayStation 3 or have no idea what you’re missing, The Last of Us: Remastered is worth your time and attention. PlayStation 3’s best game just became PlayStation 4’s, too.” [Full review]

The Escapist — 4.5/5

“Still, as terrific as the game is, and as nice as the updates are, this is a port, and it does feel like more of a fresh coat of paint as opposed to an actual remaster. These are simply things one would do well to expect so as to avoid any potential disappointment. With preparation in mind, The Last of Us Remastered is a gorgeous looking improvement to an already delightful game, and while it’s damn hard to justify repurchasing a game so recently released, Naughty Dog’s done a way better job than most in that endeavor.” [Full review]

Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
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