If you’re a fan of The Last of Us on HBO, you’re probably itching to jump back into that post-apocalyptic world. Luckily, there’s a game out there that’s the perfect place to start playing after The Last of Us: Left Behind.
Left Behind is a standalone DLC (downloadable content) for the original The Last of Us game, released in 2014 by Naughty Dog. It tells the story of Ellie, the young girl who accompanies Joel on his journey across the United States in the main game. Left Behind takes place before the events of the main game, and it explores Ellie’s past and her relationship with her best friend, Riley.
One of the things that makes Left Behind so appealing to fans of The Last of Us is that it offers more of the same great gameplay mechanics and storytelling that made the original game so beloved. The game still focuses heavily on stealth and survival, as you navigate your way through an abandoned shopping mall, avoiding infected and scavenging for supplies. But Left Behind also offers a new element to the gameplay: a crafting system that allows you to create and customize items like smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails.
Another reason why Left Behind is the perfect place to start playing after The Last of Us is that it offers a more intimate, character-driven story. While the main game had a sweeping, epic feel to it, with Joel and Ellie traveling across the country and encountering all sorts of dangers, Left Behind focuses on a single night in Ellie’s life. The game delves deep into Ellie’s character, exploring her motivations, her fears, and her relationships. And it does all of this while still maintaining the tension and suspense that made the original game so thrilling.
In terms of production values, Left Behind is on par with The Last of Us. The graphics are stunning, with detailed character models and environments that really capture the eerie, abandoned feeling of a post-apocalyptic world. The voice acting is top-notch as well, with Ashley Johnson reprising her role as Ellie and delivering another standout performance.
One of the things that really sets Left Behind apart, however, is its use of music. The game features a haunting, melancholy score that perfectly captures the mood of the story. But it also includes moments where Ellie and Riley dance and sing along to music on an old cassette player, and these moments are some of the most memorable and heartwarming in the entire game.
Left Behind isn’t just a great game in its own right; it’s also a perfect companion piece to The Last of Us. Playing the two games back-to-back provides a deeper understanding of Ellie’s character and the events that led up to the main game. And because Left Behind is a standalone DLC, it’s relatively short (around 2-3 hours) and can be played in an afternoon or evening.
If you’re a fan of The Last of Us and you haven’t played Left Behind yet, there’s no better time to start. The game is available on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, and it’s also included in The Last of Us Remastered, which is available on PlayStation 4. Whether you’re looking for more of the same great gameplay and storytelling that made the original game a classic, or you just want to spend more time with Ellie and Riley, Left Behind is the perfect place to start playing after The Last of Us on HBO.
