Naughty Dog really wants you to understand The Last of Us Part 1 is a remake, not a remaster

gamesradar.com:

Just ahead of The Last of Us Part 1's launch on September 2, Naughty Dog has released a new blog (opens in new tab) and video detailing all of the ways the remake improves upon the original game.

Right from its initial announcement back in June, The Last of Us Part 1 has been aggressively marketed as a full-blown remake, and not just a PS5 remaster of the PS4 remaster that already exists. Naturally, that requires a lot more work from the developers, and even still, the fact that it's $70 seems to be a sticking point for a lot of folks. Seemingly in response, Naughty Dog has been keen to show off what you're getting for the money, and today they're getting into the nitty gritty.

"To me, what makes this a remake instead of a remaster is the sum of its improvements," says the remake's creative director, Shaun Escayg. "This isn’t just the same characters, environments, art direction, etc., performing on better hardware. We completely redesigned everything from the art direction, lighting, [lighting] technology to the character designs themselves. 

"We’ve applied everything we’ve learned over the decade since the original and utilized that new technology to create something that stays true to the original but reimagined in an updated way."

Specifically, you'll notice a more detailed, interactive world where there's a reaction to everything. Light filters through trees, moss swirls in the water when you walk near it, and abandoned cars quake and groan when protecting you from gunfire. 

The upgraded hardware in the PS5 also allows for smarter NPCs, too. AI will be able to analyze their environments and adapt accordingly, which should make for more interesting and varied enemy encounters in contrast to the original game's more