GAME REVIEW: Smiles, laughter and tears abound in ‘The Last of Us: Left Behind’

 

 

Two separate, yet connected lives

 

“Left Behind” is not a sequel to “The Last of Us”. It serves as both a prologue and a vehicle through which a specific gap in the original story is filled, and is therefore better played after completing the main game.

 

The portion of “Left Behind” that takes place several months before the events of “The Last of Us” does what no other game has done before: it allows players to experience life as an ordinary adolescent girl living in not-so-ordinary times. We are reintroduced to Ellie, but it soon becomes apparent that this is a different person from the one that embarks on a journey with Joel in the future. There is little anger in this particular Ellie, no grim resolve to affect change, only a childish hope as bright as her smile.

 

The game then introduces us to its second most important character, Ellie’s best friend Riley. Together they sneak out of the military-controlled quarantine zone and enter a vast, dilapidated mall. It is here, amidst the dust-choked, rust-covered remains of a world they had never known, that they make their playground. It is also here that we see these two for what they are: regular kids with a passion for games, dinosaurs, and silly jokes.

 

As you progress through “Left Behind”, you will realize it is as much an expedition into the game’s stunning locales as it is an exploration of Ellie’s relationship with Riley – a relationship whose impact on the former’s psyche will continue to echo through time. When juxtaposed with her friendship with Joel, these revelations demonstrate exactly why this DLC is so important: it explains how these two distinct types of relationships – one with a best friend and another with a father figure – are interwoven. By making us experience a pivotal moment in Ellie’s life, “Left Behind” shows us how the bridge is formed between her two different selves, in turn giving us greater insight into her motivations in “The Last of Us”.

 

Girls, they just wanna have fun

 

Gameplay in “Left Behind” is generally the same as in “The Last of Us”, with some noticeable tweaks and some fun, fresh additions.

 

Combat is sparse in the DLC’s opening minutes, instead making way for heavy helpings of exploration. The aforementioned mall is chock-full of things to see and interact with, such as toys, books, and other items that would make any child giggle.

 

The wonderful thing about “Left Behind” is that, unlike other games, it does not rely on fully-rendered cut scenes to gloss over or speed through the smaller, simpler moments, such as those shared by two teenage girls having fun. Instead, we are made to experience these moments firsthand through minigame-type diversions.

 

While this may sound like a recipe for disaster, the truth is these interactive, seemingly inconsequential events never feel forced or out of place. In fact, they’re not only enjoyable, they also accomplish two other things. One, they gradually move this character-driven story forward. Two, they have the side (or perhaps intended) effect of making us reconsider what we take for granted in our own lives. Here we have two girls finding joy in each other’s company and in old, broken things, whereas we of a world untouched by the apocalypse can never seem to find contentment despite being surrounded by people and the veritable treasures of our age.

 

Naughty Dog’s underdog

 

Combat still entails a lot of sneaking around. Because Ellie is shorter, weaker, and less knowledgeable in the art of fighting than Joel, she cannot punch her way out of a scuffle. Go toe-to-toe with a foe, and you will end up on the floor, bloodied and beaten. Ambushing your enemies from behind is your best bet. The enemy A.I. remains spectacular, however; hide in one place for too long, or make too much noise, and they will eventually find you. So you will have to strike a careful balance between staying out of sight, keeping quiet, and never sitting still for extended periods of time.

 

A most entertaining dynamic in the DLC is playing your enemies off against each other. Though the original game had you confronting both humans and the Infected, these two distinct enemy types never had the chance to meet. In “Left Behind”, there are several cases in which the two factions will occupy the same scene simultaneously. With a well-thrown bottle or brick, these scenarios provide ample opportunity for you to trigger events that will lead to both sides tearing each others’ throats out. This could, of course, work wonders for you, as the ensuing chaos can whittle down enemy numbers, or help you slink through entire places unnoticed.