For me, this remaster is more in line with a Criterion Collection kind of package: I'm basically paying for the extra features and content, rather than the actual graphical "remaster" effort itself. The graphical upgrade is so miniscule that its embarrassing to talk about, so let me use this review as a way to talk about the two extra features that I care about the most. If you want to know my thoughts of the main game: it's my 2nd favorite game of all time. I wrote a review for it sometime ago here.
I'm entirely satified with the Lost Levels and the director's commentary. There's a cutscene selector now, so you can just watch all of the commentary that way. I'm always down to learn more about the behind the scenes of this game, and the lost levels especially are so cool to me. There's a ton of insight and fun moments from Neil and the rest of the cast, and I get to learn more about this game that I really love. Can't really ask more than that.
No Return is the kind of game mode that I've been wanting from TLOU for a while now, especially with the Factions game being cancelled. TLOU Part II has one of the best third person combat system out there, and I just wanted a way to experience it while being detached from the main story. In that regard No Return definitely succeeds. It showcases the combat at its most chaotic heights, especially when the games' crazier modes (infected holdouts are insane) or mods (like the invisible enemies mod, or the random photo filters) show up. But it still feels more like a once-in-a-while kind of mode, rather than this addictive thing that makes you want to keep playing one more time. And that's fine by me honestly, I still got what I wanted anyways. I will still miss Factions though.
Anyways, that's it really. If you're interested in the features above then it's definitely worth the upgrade price. If you haven't played the OG game then it's a no brainer full game purchase. Everybody else can sit tight.
P.S.
Some deeper thoughts about No Return:
- The intensity of the gameplay have been ramped up to the point that it almost feels tiring at times. Kinda reminds me of RE4 Remake's almost non stop combat barrage. It definitely adds to the fact that I can't play this mode for too long in one session, haha. It's not necessarily good or bad, I just thought that it's an interesting feeling to have in a roguelike thingy, where usually the game likes you to go right back in straight away.
- If they ever update this mode, I would love to something that makes choosing the branching paths more interesting. Maybe a free gun upgrade as a reward for one of the levels, or a permanent buff mod reward.
- I noticed that while your selected character still says some lines, the things they say makes it feel so detached from how the main story portrays them. I can see a lot of people being bummed by how disconnected this mode is from the main story, but I think that's for the better. I want this mode to feel like a fever dream that the character would have in the game's world. Looking at it from that perspective, I'll say that it's a pretty great time.
I'm entirely satified with the Lost Levels and the director's commentary. There's a cutscene selector now, so you can just watch all of the commentary that way. I'm always down to learn more about the behind the scenes of this game, and the lost levels especially are so cool to me. There's a ton of insight and fun moments from Neil and the rest of the cast, and I get to learn more about this game that I really love. Can't really ask more than that.
No Return is the kind of game mode that I've been wanting from TLOU for a while now, especially with the Factions game being cancelled. TLOU Part II has one of the best third person combat system out there, and I just wanted a way to experience it while being detached from the main story. In that regard No Return definitely succeeds. It showcases the combat at its most chaotic heights, especially when the games' crazier modes (infected holdouts are insane) or mods (like the invisible enemies mod, or the random photo filters) show up. But it still feels more like a once-in-a-while kind of mode, rather than this addictive thing that makes you want to keep playing one more time. And that's fine by me honestly, I still got what I wanted anyways. I will still miss Factions though.
Anyways, that's it really. If you're interested in the features above then it's definitely worth the upgrade price. If you haven't played the OG game then it's a no brainer full game purchase. Everybody else can sit tight.
P.S.
Some deeper thoughts about No Return:
- The intensity of the gameplay have been ramped up to the point that it almost feels tiring at times. Kinda reminds me of RE4 Remake's almost non stop combat barrage. It definitely adds to the fact that I can't play this mode for too long in one session, haha. It's not necessarily good or bad, I just thought that it's an interesting feeling to have in a roguelike thingy, where usually the game likes you to go right back in straight away.
- If they ever update this mode, I would love to something that makes choosing the branching paths more interesting. Maybe a free gun upgrade as a reward for one of the levels, or a permanent buff mod reward.
- I noticed that while your selected character still says some lines, the things they say makes it feel so detached from how the main story portrays them. I can see a lot of people being bummed by how disconnected this mode is from the main story, but I think that's for the better. I want this mode to feel like a fever dream that the character would have in the game's world. Looking at it from that perspective, I'll say that it's a pretty great time.