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THE LAST OF US: LEFT BEHIND (PS3)
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Publisher: Sony.
Developer: Naughty Dog. Released: February 2014. Genre: Action/Adventure. Posted 30th May 2025. By Shane Battams © 2025 |
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Following the launch of The Last of Us, a small team within Naughty Dog would began work on a standalone story, and eight months later, Left Behind was the result. While many of the characters could easily have benefitted from more exploration, Ellie was wisely chosen as the focal point, offering more depth to her character while exploring threads teased in the base game. The pricey experience likely won’t convince those who aren’t enamoured with the original game, but fans will find this side story well worth a look.
A dual narrative focusing on Ellie, Left Behind reveals how she fended for herself during a key time in the main game, while also shedding light on a notable event in her life a few weeks before meeting Joel. In particular, it focuses on a briefly-mentioned friend Riley, as Ellie spends time with her in an abandoned mall. Each chapter sees you jumping back and forth, often with clever transitions, lending it a decent pace. Ashley Johnson returns as Ellie, while Yaani King voices and motion captures for Riley. Both do a tremendous job, with Riley making for a likeable addition and the bond between the two teenagers proving compelling. Even though our time with the duo is brief, you feel the emotional connection between the two. The DLC offers an enjoyable preamble to Ellie’s development that occurs after the events of this expansion.
Riley and Ellie's trek offers an thought-provoking expansion to the events in The Last of Us
In terms of everything else, Left Behind sticks closely to the base game. Gunplay, stealth and crafting function almost identically, albeit with fewer weapons, items to craft and no skills to unlock for Ellie. There’s a stronger focus on narrative here, with some chapters omitting combat encounters entirely. Luckily, the strong thread keeps the experience glued together. You’ll experience emotional resonance, humour and terror as the story progresses. A few easter eggs and friendly challenges against Riley are also welcome, such as a brick-throwing contest. It’s fairly brisk, with the first run taking around two hours to polish off. However, you can attempt the story on the difficulties present in the TLOU. There’s a lot to like here for fans of the original, though its few combat moments do feel a bit rigid in comparison to the main game. A trek through a locked shop almost demands stealth lest you get wiped out, while the final encounter frustrates due to minimal opportunities for stealth and feels drawn-out.
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Its £7.99 price tag feels somewhat steep, but Left Behind should please fans of the base game. A satisfying expansion to Ellie’s story, a likeable addition to the cast and plenty of memorable moments will prove enjoyable for those wanting that mix of post-apocalypse and emotional resonance. But those not enamoured by The Last of Us will likely find little to change their minds here.
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VERDICT"Left Behind offers a satisfying expansion to Ellie’s story, though rigid encounters and a steep price tag mean those not enamoured by TLOU will find little to change their minds." OVERALL: 7/10 |
REVIEW OF THE MAIN GAME:
The Last of Us (2013, PlayStation 3)