The Last of Us Part 1 has gotten people talking, and while not everyone is on board with the concept of a remake, those that are excited cannot wait to go back through the critically acclaimed game or experience it for the first time. The new character models in The Last of Us Part 1 will better match those in the sequel, while gameplay will be improved drastically so that it too is on par with The Last of Us Part 2. However, Naughty Dog also has an opportunity to make some more minor changes.
Alongside small story-focused adjustments that work Abby’s father into the narrative a bit better, as well as a new Trophy list for The Last of Us Part 1, the remake could give players an option that connects its Left Behind DLC to the main game. While there should absolutely be an option to play it separately, something that Naughty Dog has already confirmed, it would be exciting to have a “full story” mode that makes all The Last of Us Part 1’s content playable in one go.
Left Behind Already Fits Perfectly Into The Main Story
For those unfamiliar with the Left Behind DLC, the brief story touches on Ellie’s first romance and the tragedy involving her girlfriend Riley. While much of Left Behind is told through flashbacks that see the pair having some fun inside a mall, players also see Ellie surviving alongside Joel in the present day. With Joel brutally injured and completely comatose at this point of the game, Ellie has to fend for herself, and the DLC serves as a good extension of the game’s Winter narrative.
Considering that the Left Behind DLC could be clearly placed into a specific spot of the main narrative, a game mode that gives players the entire The Last of Us story in one go would be ideal. After Joel gets injured, and Winter begins, Left Behind can start, with players moving seamlessly into the David sections of the game after it is complete. Naughty Dog could even let any leftover items and materials gathered during Left Behind carry over to the rest of Ellie’s gameplay.
Another option for a “full story” mode would see the game told in chronological order, placing the Left Behind flashbacks near the very start of the game. However, splitting up Left Behind would be less preferable than placing the full DLC directly into the main story. While introducing both Ellie and Joel at the start of the narrative would have its upsides, having two tragedies in a row happening via back-to-back deaths could be too much to handle. Further, the combat sections of Left Behind work so well because they are spaced in between long sections of dialogue with Riley.
If such a mode were to be added, it could be a nice option for speedrunners and those wanting to complete a “true” Grounded or Permadeath playthrough. The Left Behind DLC adds more combat sections to get through alongside its powerful story, so there would be new challenges for gamers to overcome. Ultimately, Left Behind is a must-play expansion, so making sure that all gamers experience it is ideal. Some players may be less inclined to keep playing after they finish the main story, so getting Left Behind into their hands during their initial playthrough could be beneficial.
Having an optional “full story” mode would not take anything away from the game, as it would let players choose whether they want Left Behind to be included. If they choose the traditional mode, Left Behind could be accessible from the main menu whenever they want it. Extra features like this would go a long way to making the PS5 remake feel like the definitive version of The Last of Us, so Naughty Dog should consider adding this type of content to the mix.
The Last of Us Part 1 launches on September 2 for PS5. A PC version is in development.