Compare The Last of Us Part II Remastered vs Forza Horizon 5

Reviewers praise the expanded accessibility suite, especially descriptive audio, speech-to-vibration support, and broader options that make the game easier to experience.

Accessibility is strongly supported through difficulty assists, disability options, prosthetics, pronouns, sensory options, and broad playability.

Evidence points to mature-only suitability: reviewers cite an M rating and warn that younger players or those without a strong stomach may not appreciate it.

Age appropriateness is generally good for a racing game, with a caveat for suggestive lyrics and bleeped language.

Enemy behavior is praised for unpredictable patrols, strong aim, and AI that can swarm the player, especially in No Return encounters.

AI behavior is mixed: some reviews cite rubber-banding or runaway opponents, while one says past AI has improved.

Aiming is helped by precise PC controls and performance modes, with one technical review emphasizing fast aiming precision and dodging.

Animation remains a major strength, with industry-best combat animation and varied contextual actions supporting the game's brutal presentation.

Animation quality is a weak spot in at least one review, especially for NPC crew presentation.

The art direction is praised through scenic, atmospheric landscapes that reviewers repeatedly stop to admire.

The art direction benefits from Mexico’s colorful, exotic festival setting and diverse landscape identity.

The game maintains an oppressive, visceral atmosphere, with reviewers calling out its tension, revenge story, and masterclass sense of mood.

Atmosphere is a major strength, with reviewers emphasizing sense of place, Mexico’s beauty, and a breathtaking world.

Boss encounters are supported mainly through No Return and Abby-focused PC coverage, with reviewers highlighting memorable boss fights and final-run showdowns.

Bug and stutter reports are limited but present in PC coverage, including texture glitches, foliage pop-in, and stutter entering dense areas.

Bug frequency is generally low or minor, but reviewers still report specific issues such as radio bugs and small glitches.

Camera praise is mostly cinematic rather than mechanical, with reviewers noting strong camera shots rather than camera problems.

Character development is supported by reviews praising Abby's humanization, character arcs, and the emotional impact of the main cast.

No Return's playable roster is a major positive, bringing Ellie, Abby, Joel, Dina, Lev, Jesse, Tommy, and others into the mode with distinct traits.

The co-op experience is essentially absent; one review explicitly notes that the gameplay bones are there but the online infrastructure is not.

Co-op centers on Horizon Arcade and nearby-player minigames, which reviewers find approachable but sometimes less compelling than racing.

Combat is one of the strongest areas, repeatedly described as dynamic, brutal, satisfying, and mechanically solid in both campaign and No Return.

Community features are light but present through Daily Run-style shared challenges and leaderboard comparisons.

Community features are strong through EventLab, custom races, shared routes, and creator tools.

Competitive balance is a concern in long-term coverage because ranked or serious competitive features are limited.

The remaster is praised for its extras: No Return, Lost Levels, commentary, guitar free play, skins, speedrun tools, and other options.

Content variety is one of the strongest themes, with many race types, events, activities, modes, expansions, and map objectives.

Controls are generally praised as responsive, smooth, and especially strong on PC mouse and keyboard.

Controls are described as slick, intuitive, responsive, and supportive across both casual driving and more serious handling.

The core loop is highly praised, especially the tight combat-survival rhythm and No Return's distilled version of the game's mechanics.

Reviewers describe the loop as open-world driving, racing, challenges, and self-directed play rather than a linear campaign.

Crafting remains important, with reviewers tying it to survival, stealth, ammunition scarcity, and No Return upgrades.

Crash stability is mixed: one review reports no crashes while another reports a few PC crashes.

Cross-play is explicitly supported on PS5 with PC and Xbox players.

Cross-save support is supported by a review noting that PS4 saves and achievements can be carried over.

Cross-save support is a weakness because existing Xbox or PC saves cannot transfer to PS5.

Dialogue quality is split: one reviewer says no line is wasted, while another says some dialog exchanges stumble and bore.

Dialogue and voice work receive criticism for being lacklustre and overly peppy.

Difficulty is framed as challenging but fair, with selectable difficulty helping players ease into No Return while preserving tension.

Difficulty is highly adjustable and newcomer-friendly, though some reviewers note uneven balance or a game that can feel too easy.

DLC and expansions add value, especially Rally Adventure, Hot Wheels, free updates, car packs, and bug fixes.

Driving is one of the strongest areas, with reviewers praising sublime mechanics, distinct cars, sim-arcade balance, and improved handling.

Resource balance is a strength, with reviewers praising scarcity that makes ammo, crafting materials, and every shot feel meaningful.

Emotional impact is one of the strongest consensus areas; reviewers repeatedly describe the story as heavy, upsetting, and memorable.

Endgame value comes primarily from No Return's daily and custom runs, ongoing boss attempts, and reasons to return after the campaign.

Enemy variety is supported by No Return's randomized factions and the addition of new enemy types and infected encounters.

Environmental detail is consistently praised, from photorealistic detail to Seattle's scenery, overgrown environments, and accurate city recreation.

Environmental detail is often praised for lush, lifelike biomes, though some city spaces are criticized as lifeless.

Exploration is mostly positive because it rewards searching and environmental storytelling, though PC Gamer finds it more constrained than combat.

Exploration is a major strength, with reviewers enjoying Mexico alone, with friends, and even without racing objectives.

Facial animation and capture are repeatedly praised as best-in-class or amazing, preserving the campaign's emotional delivery.

Faithfulness is mixed but positive: reviewers call it a fascinating, bold sequel that recontextualizes the first game rather than repeating it.

The game is faithful to the franchise by continuing and elevating Horizon’s open-world racing legacy.

Family friendliness scores very low because reviewers emphasize the game's violence, mature tone, and need for a strong stomach.

Family friendliness is supported by low objectionable content compared with many other games.

Fast travel boards add another exploration incentive, though the evidence is limited to board hunting rather than system depth.

Frame-rate impressions are mostly positive, especially on PS5, though PC coverage notes some scene-dependent or configuration-specific issues.

Frame rate is often solid, especially at 60 fps, but a few reviews mention performance-mode issues or dips.

Fun factor is strongest in No Return, where reviewers repeatedly describe the mode as fun, addictive, and a strong reason to replay.

Reviewers repeatedly describe the game as joyful, fun, welcoming, and capable of converting non-racing fans.

Gameplay mechanics are praised for fresh combat, stealth, top-notch play, and improved action systems over the original.

Graphics remain a major strength, with reviewers praising PS5 and PC visuals even when they call the upgrade modest.

Graphics are an overwhelming strength, with repeated praise for photorealism, draw distance, lighting, reflections, cars, and environments.

Handheld suitability is supported by Steam Deck impressions, which describe playable performance and a fruitful handheld experience.

Haptic feedback is widely praised on PS5, especially weapon resistance, bows, subtle vibrations, and DualSense immersion, though one PC review says it feels weaker than PS5.

DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers make the PS5 version more tactile, though not revolutionary.

Horror tension is strong, with reviewers mentioning anxiety from headphones, clicker sounds, and overall atmosphere.

Immersion is helped by DualSense, 3D audio, haptics, and environmental presentation that reinforce the harsh world.

Immersion is strengthened by storms, visibility changes, speed, and environmental spectacle.

Innovation comes from the Lost Levels, developer commentary, and rare behind-the-scenes transparency more than from the unchanged campaign.

Innovation is best understood as refinement rather than revolution, improving a proven formula.

Learning curve is helped by selectable difficulty and clear No Return progression, though some automated hinting is described as blunt.

The game welcomes novices with assists and adjustment options, though one later review still found the learning curve daunting.

Level design is mixed: reviewers praise design explanations and training of expectations, but one PC review finds navigation unclear.

Live-service support is poor because the planned online or live-service multiplayer project is repeatedly referenced as canceled.

Live-service support is supported by years of free and paid additions, including cars, expansions, and features.

Load times are a clear improvement, with reviewers noting fast or seamless loading compared with older versions.

One PS5 review says frequent loading screens interrupt gameplay flow.

Loot systems matter in No Return through randomized shops, rewards, modifiers, and challenges, though this is not a traditional loot-heavy game.

Lore depth is supported by environmental storytelling and optional encounters that reveal wider stories without large exposition dumps.

Map and navigation design is mixed: No Return's route board is clear, but some campaign navigation is criticized as hard to read.

Map and navigation design are praised for scale and biome variety, though one long-term review finds parts of the map emptier.

Menu usability is supported by the feature-rich extras menu and speedrun recap tools.

Menus receive criticism for being messy or too numerous despite the game’s strengths elsewhere.

Microtransaction impact is a negative caveat, especially unskippable car-pass promotion reminders.

Mission design is strongest in No Return, where randomized encounters and changing objectives create short, focused challenges.

Expeditions and Showcases give the campaign authored set-piece structure beyond standard races.

Mission variety is a No Return highlight, though a few reviewers say encounter types can eventually become samey.

Mission variety is generally broad, but one later review warns that some races and missions can become repetitive.

Monetization is generally seen as fair because reviewers repeatedly accept or praise the $10 upgrade price.

Movement feel is praised for nimble combat, large arenas, smoother movement, and improved melee animation.

Multiplayer design is effectively absent because the Factions or live-service project was canceled.

Multiplayer is broad and improved, with PvP, online modes, group play, and easier linking, though competition depth is debated.

Narrative quality remains the most divisive area: many reviewers call it profound or powerful, while others criticize cynicism, pacing, or its framing.

Narrative quality is mixed, with several reviews calling it thin while later coverage notes a more personal campaign tone.

Onboarding is decent through difficulty settings and hint prompts, though some guidance can feel artificial.

Onboarding is usually exciting and fast, but some reviews mention content bombardment or mandatory account friction.

Online stability is a recurring caveat, with reviews noting server connection issues, lag, and flaky online behavior.

The open world is consistently praised as massive, gorgeous, varied, and one of the best racing maps in the series.

Originality is mixed: the core game remains singular, but No Return is described as fun without being a unique roguelike structure.

Originality is limited because one review says the series cannot do much new at this point.

Pacing is the most repeated story concern, with reviewers citing excessive length, elongated sections, and short lost levels cut for pacing.

One review found the abundance of interruptions and prompts could make the game feel scatterbrained.

Performance optimization is generally good on PS5 and PC, but PC impressions vary with some stutter and texture-glitch caveats.

Performance is generally strong on consoles and newer hardware, though some reviews mention hardware-dependent issues or PC crashes.

Platform-specific feature support is strong, spanning DualSense, 3D audio, VRR, FOV, ultrawide, HDR, PC options, and save carryover.

Platform-specific support is strong on PS5 through DualSense, adaptive triggers, and enhanced graphics features.

Polish is generally high, with reviewers citing Naughty Dog polish, top-notch PS5 optimization, and a strong PC definitive version.

Polish is a core strength, with multiple reviewers describing the game as highly polished or nearly flawless.

Progression is praised in No Return through unlockable characters, cosmetics, bosses, modifiers, and an overarching progression track.

Progression is broadly praised for steady rewards, accolades, unlock choices, cars, and a constant sense of advancement.

Protagonist appeal is mixed: Ellie is praised as carrying the sequel, but one reviewer says the character became harder to relate to.

Puzzle design appears mostly in Lost Levels and optional environmental sections, with reviewers calling out light or water-based puzzle elements.

Remaster quality is strong as a special edition, not a remake: reviewers praise the package while noting visual changes are modest.

Replay value improves through No Return, daily/custom runs, unlocks, and extras, though a few reviewers question long-term staying power.

Replay value is high because the campaign leads into ongoing discovery, car collecting, seasonal goals, and repeatable races.

Sandbox freedom is strongest in No Return, where custom runs, modifiers, and route choices let players tune combat scenarios.

The sandbox lets players set their own goals, roam freely, and create their own fun with minimal pressure.

Seasonal and weather content is mostly praised, but later playlist reuse becomes a concern.

Side character depth is supported by praise for supporting performances and scenes involving characters beyond Ellie and Abby.

Skill depth appears in No Return through supplements, upgrade trees, skills, and temporary build decisions rather than a deep RPG system.

The skill tree is criticized because upgrades remain tied to individual cars rather than the driver profile.

Social features are limited but include friend comparisons on leaderboards for Daily Runs.

Social features make playing with others easier and more seamless through Forza Link and online grouping.

Sound design is a major strength, especially stealth audio, clicker/stalker cues, and anxiety-enhancing headphone play.

Sound design is repeatedly praised for revamped car audio, engine detail, and improved spatial/vehicle sound.

Soundtrack quality remains strong, with reviewers praising the score and music's emotional impact.

Soundtrack impressions are mostly positive, especially licensed and Mexican music, with one reviewer finding the stations less memorable.

Stealth mechanics are praised as improved, tense, and central to both campaign and No Return.

Tutorial and guidance are present but mixed, with hints and commentary explaining scenes but some prompts feeling artificial.

EventLab’s lack of tutorial guidance is called out as a weakness for creators.

Upgrade systems are praised within No Return through weapon upgrades, skills, recipes, and character unlocks.

Upgrade and customization systems are a major strength, with extensive tuning, swaps, visual options, and shared designs.

UI is mixed: the Extras menu is feature-rich, but one PC review notes a mouse/UI frame-rate issue and guitar free play clunkiness.

The interface can feel overloaded, with one review describing the experience as information overload.

Value for money is usually positive, especially at $10, though one review argues the package may not be worth every player's time.

Value is strong through Game Pass and content breadth, but PS5 pricing is more mixed for a four-year-old game.

The vehicle roster is consistently praised as huge, varied, and still expanding through updates and DLC.

Visual effects remain strong, with praise for lighting, scenery, pop-in improvements, and environmental effects.

Voice acting is consistently praised, with reviewers calling the cast superb and the performances central to the story.

Weapon balance is supported by scarcity and weapon tradeoffs, where having ammo for one weapon often means lacking it for another.

World-building is praised through Seattle's detail, environmental storytelling, and the expanded world of the sequel.

World-building benefits from Mexico as a cultural setting, car stories, and small character/environment details.

World interactivity appears in optional encounters, environmental clues, and small interactive moments that deepen the setting.

World interactivity is mixed: destructible foliage and objects impress, while disappearing NPC traffic hurts believability.

Writing quality is mixed but high-impact, with praise for intentional storytelling alongside criticism of some script choices.