To many, The Last of Us is one of the finest single player experiences of all time. Joel and Ellie's journey to reach the Fireflies across a post-apocalyptic America is littered with superb story beats and some of the best character development in gaming, so when a remake was announced by developer Naughty Dog, all eyes became fixed on how it will change an experience that is so loved. Visuals have been significantly improved (though the original still holds up beautifully) and gameplay has been refined to closer resemble the sequel, but with many of the franchise's best characters being found outside the main campaign, it'd be a missed opportunity to not feature some of them.
Since its release in the Summer of 2013, The Last of Us has become more than just the sum of one game, as a polarizing sequel and an often-underrated DLC do well to give the world and its inhabitants more context. In the latter, Ellie received the most development she's ever had; the story of Left Behind follows her life before Joel barrels into it, frequently shifting focus between her early years in a military school in Boston and how she deals with the injury Joel sustained at the University of Eastern Colorado. Joel isn't the first friendly face in Ellie's life, though, as Riley was a friend long before the events of the first game takes place.
Riley's Place in The Last of Us: Left Behind
Despite being such a significant part of Ellie's life before Joel, Riley is only mentioned in the first game and has no real impact on the story. It's a shame given how she was one of Ellie's biggest influences, and fans only get a glimpse at their friendship after the first game released. The Last of Us: American Dreams is a comic that sheds light on the beginning of their friendship, showing Riley's ability to bypass Ellie's trust issues to form a bond that feels strong from the get-go. Left Behind continues the tale, and has Ellie and Riley explore an abandoned mall, enjoying all the activities in a much-needed break from the pressure of the world they live in.
Riley is more adventurous and care-free than Ellie, and displays a far more confident personality, which does well to bring the latter out of her shell. Ellie's cautious personality at the start of Left Behind is drowned out by Riley's unwavering self-assurance, and because of this the latter feels like she's making a big difference to how Ellie approaches danger, fun, and hostile situations. The friendship is short-lived, though, as the pair are surrounded by infected and both are bitten. It's a tragic end to Riley's arc, but just the beginning of Ellie's unforgettable journey. The Last of Us: Left Behind is essential development for Ellie, so overlooking it in the remake process would be a shame, and do no favors to Riley's superb character development either.
The Last of Us 2 is Ellie's Story
Though Joel's presence is felt throughout the events of The Last of Us 2, it's fundamentally a story about Ellie's grief process and her inability to grapple with the former's death. Joel's tragic end was difficult for both fans and Ellie to grasp, but the narrative focuses on the cycle of violence and her actions in the face of such overwhelming adversity. It's her story more than any other, and digs into the very core of her character so very well. She's changed, and the context that Riley could bring if she was included in The Last of Us Part 1 would be yet another stark reminder of how Ellie has been shaped by the deaths of the people she holds dear.
The Ellie presented in The Last of Us 2 and Left Behind are very different, and having Riley feature in a game that is so driven by Joel and Ellie's relationship would do well to keep her grounded. When she's consumed with rage and vengeance on the hunt for Abby in Seattle, she's far from the unassuming child she was when Riley was having such an impact on her. Ellie's survivor guilt has only got worse over time, but Joel's death feels more significant in Ellie's story arc than Riley's untimely passing, so having each feature in both the mainline games would bring Ellie's character development into a tighter and more balanced story.
Riley Can Make The Last of Us Part 1 Even Better
The Last of Us Part 1 may not feature any new content, but weaving in the events of Left Behind in the form of flashbacks would not only be a welcome narrative addition, and also do well to bring it closer to The Last of Us 2, which frequently flits back and forth with its time periods. The Last of Us may begin twenty years before Joel comes into contact with Ellie, but it still maintains a sense of linearity with its storytelling. The sequel doesn't, as it includes plenty of scenes that flesh out both Ellie and Abby's story up to their final encounter.
So many moments in Left Behind would perfectly slot into the man story, giving Riley the platform that she deserves. The Last of Us Part 1 promises to be the definitive way to experience one of the industry's finest stories, and leaving out a character that is so well written, performed, and modeled would make no sense, especially as there would be no additional motion capture necessary.
Riley is almost as important to The Last of Us as Joel is, as she has a substantial impact on Ellie in her most formative years. Riley is a friend at a time when everything seems to be going wrong in the world, and to have her stay on the sidelines when the franchise looks to capture new audiences would be a missed opportunity. If Ellie, Joel, Marlene, and Tess are all going to be blessed with a makeover, then Riley also deserves it, especially as her story is still only reserved for a DLC add-on that has become lost in time.
The Last of Us Part 1 releases September 2 for PS5.