At this point in time there should be no need for a detailed introduction or explanation of this game. Not only is it lauded by most people and plenty of critics as being one of the greatest games ever made, it's also been made into wildly popular and critically acclaimed television show so unless you've been living under a rock then chances are that if you're on Amazon looking at this game then you probably know what it's all about. Yes the game is about a deadly global pandemic and the downfall of the world as we know it. Yes it's about surviving and scrounging for the things that you need to survive, but at its core the game is really a story about love, loss, hope, and perhaps a redemption of sorts for one of the greatest anti-heros ever created in gaming (yes, Joel is a mass murdering anti-hero to me ).I've been playing video games for most of my life. My first experience playing a video game that wasn't found in an arcade came by way of a friend's Intellivision system (circa 1980 IIRC) that he received as a Christmas present. I remember being in awe and also being bright green with envy at his luck. Little did I know that same year I'd be getting my very own Atari 2600 just for getting good grades at the end of the school year! Ever since then video games have always been in my life. Now, I'm not one for hyperbole - I'm simple guy, I just say what I mean and I mean what I say. I don't use adjectives like "Amazing" or "Masterpiece" unless I truly think those words are fitting. My local hole in the wall grimy pizza spot? Yes, their pizza really is AMAZING. Monet's Waterlillies? For me, an otherworldly masterpiece that's nothing short of jaw dropping when seen in person. Valentino Rossi? Absolutely the GOAT for me. All of that said, in my decades of gaming going all the way back to that Atari 2600, no other game has enthralled me, shocked me, and moved me more than TLOU (at least until TLOU2 came out seven years later). This was the 3rd time that I've purchased the game. I first bought the game back when it was originally launched on PS3 then I bought the PS4 remaster when it was available digitally at a deep discount. I played through those games so much that playing on Grounded almost became too easy (almost). And finally I bought this PS5 remake while it was on sale. Though this game is most definitely in my top 5 of all time (seriously) I figured $70 was too steep a price to pay because I know the game inside and out from all my play throughs. And now that I've finally started playing this remake for myself..?I rated this version of the game five stars for a few different reasons, but it wasn't because of the game itself. let me explain... The game is a 5 star game no matter what version you play or on what platform that you play it on. Though I was clearly gushing about the game in the previous paragraph my rating is based on the following elements that for me made the game a whole new experience despite me knowing the game so well. Admittedly the gameplay mechanics do feel a bit dated but that's to be expected since the game is over a decade old now. But rest assured no matter how dated it might feel this rebuilt version looks, feels and plays silky smooth thanks to it being able to play at 4k60fs. I kind of think that the devs made the right call here as far as not modernizing the gameplay - neither Joel or Ellie can jump, go prone, or dodge melee attacks in this remake which for me keep maintains the integrity of the game. Had we been able to do any of those things the game would cease being TLOU and it would be something else. Yes, the graphics are simply stunning (not being hyperbolic). Yes, the combat feels and plays faster and smoother than the older iterations of the game. Yes, the haptic feedback on the triggers are great for immersion. As an added bonus the game also translates well to a Playstation Portal. In fact Part 1 and part 2 play really well on the Portal. Super smooth, rich textures, and everything feels as it should on the smaller screen unlike some of the other games I've tried to play on there without much success (success meaning "fun"). But what really "sold" me on this remake? The audio. The audio is STUNNING (again, not being hyperbolic). The 3d audio in the PS5's Tempest engine provides players that have played the game before a whole new experience. Though it's been years since I played the game last, I did mostly play on Grounded difficulty, as such there is no listening mode by default. With this remake's 3d audio it's basically like having listening mode which was a welcome comfort during my first game back. It feels like cheating. You know exactly where you're hearing things - to your left or right as well as above and below you. Listening to the footsteps, to the environment around you, to the audio cues, to the bumps and scrapes, the wind all goes a very long way to immersing you in the game because it builds so much tension. Had I known that the audio would be such a game changer - literally and figuratively - I think I would have been willing to pay full price. I tried a few different devices for the audio - a pair of Anker Soundcore VR P10s (wireless earbuds that use a dongle to connect to the PS5, a pair of Steelseries Arctis 7P+ (wireless over the ear headset that also use a dongle to connect to the PS5, and finally an older pair of wired JBL earbuds (wired to the controller). Though there were varying degrees of sound quality they all were able to give me that great 3D audio that this game has taken advantage of. If you're on the fence about buying this version of the game, especially if you're like and already have older versions of the game, I can honestly say that you ought to make the leap and just buy it already.