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The Last of Us 'Left Behind' review: Memories and motivations
The Last of Us "Left Behind" DLC refers to important moments in the main game's story. As such, this review may contain SPOILERS for The Last of Us. "Left Behind," the first and only piece of narrative downloadable content for The Last of Us, has a strange task ahead of itself. It attempts to tell an impactful story with an ending every player is assuredly already aware of, reaching into the past to tell the story of Ellie and her best friend Riley. Despite the knowledge of Riley's fate – we learned of her death in The Last of Us – I still found myself becoming hopeful for her future, wishing something magical would happen, that I could avert the tragedy. No such luck.
The Last of Us patch 1.06 goes live at 10 p.m. PT, enables Left Behind DLC
Gather your molotovs and modems, because according to a Naughty Dog tweet, The Last of Us patch 1.06 goes live tonight at 10 p.m. Pacific. The update is required for anyone wanting to play the game's story DLC, Left Behind, which comes out tomorrow. Patch 1.06 also tweaks much of the game's multiplayer, fixing spawn locations, lag issues, weapon balance and more. You can read the full list of notes on the official site. About the only thing it won't fix is your heart - Naughty Dog's post-apocalyptic universe is a bit short on warm, fuzzy feelings.
Last of Us DLC, Lightning Returns, TxK join EU PlayStation Store
Yesterday the North American PlayStation Store was updated with a host of new software. Today it's Europe's turn. The highlights of this update include the addition of Jeff Minter's retro-shooter TxK, unexpectedly great roleplaying epic Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 and Left Behind, the final singleplayer DLC release for award-winning zombie apocalypse drama The Last of Us. In addition, European Vita owners now have access to Toukiden and Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. The former is a riff on Capcom's Monster Hunter formula that pits players against oversized beasts drawn from Japanese mythology, while the latter is an anime-inspired visual novel that melds courtroom tension with teenagers murdering one another. It's less grim than it sounds. In less modern news, this update also brings with it the PSN digital release of Atlus' excellent PlayStation 2 roleplaying game Persona 3: FES. While this incarnation lacks certain mechanical improvements added to the PSP's Persona 3 Portable, it still features hundreds of demons to befriend, loveable characters and more teenaged drama than your average inner city high school. A full rundown of today's additions can be found on the European PlayStation.blog. [Image: Llamasoft]
BAFTA nominations dominated by The Last of Us, GTA 5, Tearaway
The Last of Us leads the way in this year's BAFTA Games awards thanks to a hefty ten nominations, and a good thing that is too. It's about time someone recognized Naughty Dog's under-appreciated work. It's not the only one to dominate the British Academy's nominee list, with Grand Theft Auto 5 turning up in nine categories, and papercraft charmer Tearaway in eight. Both those games and The Last of Us are up for the Best Game gong, alongside competition from Assassin's Creed 4, Super Mario 3D World, and indie immigration-checker Papers Please. You can scroll the full list of nominees here, but you'll have to wait until the awards show on March 12 to find out the winners. Spoiler: The Last of Us might be one of them. [Image: Sony Computer Entertainment]
Naughty Dog pondering new IP and what comes after The Last of Us
Now that Naughty Dog has wrapped up "Left Behind," the first (and only) single-player DLC for The Last of Us, the studio is considering new game ideas. "We have started brainstorming some stuff. To be honest, some of them are sequel ideas, and some of them are brand new IP - we've spent the last few weeks brainstorming new IP," Neil Druckmann, creative director of The Last of Us, told Eurogamer. "So we have to get some good steps and see... It's kind of like how we approached Left Behind. Can we tell people a story that's really worth telling, and that's not repeating itself? And if we can't, where can we get inspired - what is something that's really going to challenge us, and push storytelling in this medium forward?" Druckmann's statements imply Naughty Dog is leaning more towards cultivating new ideas than pursuing a sequel to The Last of Us. Naughty Dog already has one confirmed sequel in development: the Santa Monica studio is working on a new Uncharted game for PS4. "Left Behind," a prequel chapter to The Last of Us campaign, is set to be released on Valentine's Day, February 14, for $14.99. The supplemental story follows Ellie and her best friend, Riley, who are both stuck in a military boarding school in the Boston quarantine zone. [Image: Naughty Dog]
The Last of Us takes 'Game of the Year' at 2014 DICE Awards
Naughty Dog's grim post-apocalyptic adventure The Last of Us took Game of the Year honors at tonight's DICE Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada. Protagonist Joel's bag is packed full of trophies, as The Last of Us walked away with an impressive 10 wins out of its total 13 nominations. The Last of Us was Adventure Game of the Year, while BioShock Infinite snatched up Action Game of the Year and another award for Original Musical Composition. Ellie, voiced by Ashley Johnson, won The Last of Us an award for Outstanding Character Performance and World of Tanks steamrolled the competition for Online Game of the Year. The full list of awards has been stashed past the break. Congratulations to the winners (The Last of Us) and better luck next time to the losers (games that are not The Last of Us).
The Last of Us scoops Writers Guild of America 2014 award
The Last of Us won this year's Writers Guild of America gong for Outstanding Achievement in Video Game Writing, in case Naughty Dog wasn't happy with its already creaking trophy cabinet. It's the right outcome out of a nominees list with some notable absentees. It's not the first time Naughty Dog has won it, with Uncharted 2 and 3 doing the same in 2010 and 2012. Of course, ND's zombie opera already got the only prize that matters - apart from the OMG Where's That Ladder Award, as previously won by Uncharted 2 and 3. [Image: Sony Computer Entertainment]
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No more single-player DLC planned for The Last of Us
The Last of Us looks to be getting just the one addition to its campaign, after Naughty Dog said it has no plans for further single-player DLC. We knew Left Behind was the only single-player addition of the three in the season pass, the first being the Abandoned Territories pack released in October, and the third previously confirmed as multiplayer too. "There's multiplayer DLC up next," Naughty Dog Community Strategist Eric Monacelli said on the PlayStation Blog, "We don't have any more single player DLC planned." So, beyond the season pass, it seems The Last of Us' gritty adventure is at an end - until a sequel comes along, right? Still, it's a shame to say goodbye to Naughty Dog's emotional story, one that pushed The Last of Us to the uber-honor of Joystiq Game of the Year 2013. Left Behind hopes to provide a loving send-off when it hits on Valentine's Day next month. The prequel delves into Ellie's past, showing her in a more playful light that actress Ashley Johnson described as "like a post-pandemic version of two teenage girls hanging out." According to the PS Store Left Behind is $15, but for just $5 more you can get the season pass that also covers Abandoned Territories and the next multiplayer DLC.
The Last of Us 'Left Behind' DLC opening cinematic riles up Ellie
The Last of Us won't be getting its first story DLC, "Left Behind," until Valentine's Day, but you can get a head-start now by checking out the opening cinematic. Knowing this world and how well things tend to turn out, Riley's return to Ellie's life can only mean good things, right? ... Right?
The Last of Us inspires fine fan-designed shirts
After scouring through nearly four hundred t-shirt designs, Naughty Dog has selected the winners for its The Last of Us-inspired We Love Fine fan art contest. The fan-made and fan- and judge-voted contest slimmed down selections to five winners, each with a unique take on Naughty Dog's award-winning game. The grand prize winner – a navy shirt featuring Ellie's silhouette – was selected by fans, the PlayStation Blog revealed today. The winning shirt was developed by graphic designer Brandon Meier, who walked away with $1160 in cash and a number of The Last of Us-based goodies as his award. Judges Troy Baker (voice of Joel), Ashley Johnson (voice of Ellie), Neil Druckmann (creative director) and Bruce Stranley (game director) selected runner-up winners and special prize category winners, culminating in a variety of designs that range from harrowing to adorable. Shirts are available for men and women in a variety of sizes for $25.
The Last of Us leads 2014 DICE Awards nominations
Nominations for the 17th Annual DICE Awards are led by The Last of Us, which received 13 total nods. The peer-based video game awards hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences spans 24 categories and recognized 61 separate games this year. The five games nominated for the Game of the Year award are The Last of Us, Grand Theft Auto 5, BioShock Infinite, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Both GTA 5 and The Last of Us are joined by Papers, Please, Tearaway and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons for the Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction award. The awards ceremony will cap off the 2014 DICE Summit on Thursday, February 6 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Head over to the AIAS' site to view the full list of nominees in PDF form.
The Last of Us 'Left Behind' DLC set for Valentine's Day release [update: confirmed]
The first DLC chapter for Naughty Dog's The Last of Us is set for a Valentine's Day release, according to a PlayStation Store promotional image captured by GameTrailers. Pricing the upcoming "Left Behind" chapter at $14.99, the image claims that the DLC will be available on February 14. The pack's Sony Entertainment Network listing has also been updated to reflect the new release date. Actor Ashley Johnson revealed earlier this week that "Left Behind" will star a younger, more playful version of pandemic survivor Ellie. "Left Behind" is included as part of The Last of Us' Season Pass. Update: Naughty Dog, via its official Facebook page, has confirmed the Valentine's Day release date for "Left Behind"
The Last of Us 'Left Behind' will show a more playful side of Ellie
Players will have an opportunity to meet "the real" Ellie in "Left Behind," the upcoming single-player DLC for The Last of Us, actor Ashley Johnson promises. The actor, whose stirring portrayal as a survivor in Naughty Dog's latest game left a colossal impression on critics, told the PlayStation Blog that the prequel will reveal more of Ellie's past and show her in a softer light as she interacts with her similarly-aged friend Riley. "It's definitely different. It's a little bit more 'fun,' because you have two teenage girls going through a mall. It's kind of like a post-pandemic version of two teenage girls hanging out. Definitely not a normal hangout! It's very different - a little more playful," Johnson says. "I loved the idea that it was kind of a prequel, and you'd meet a younger Ellie and find out what makes her tick." Johnson says that her return as Ellie was somewhat of a role reversal in studio as the veteran cast member with motion capture experience, acting as support for actor Yaani King as Troy Baker had when The Last of Us began production. "I was so used to working with Troy and I think a lot of my confidence and comfort on set came from him because he's such a pro," she reveals, adding that her new role as mentor and Baker's absence may have helped her performance portraying a "younger version of Ellie who has her own insecurities as a teenage girl." A first look trailer for "Left Behind" can be found after the break, courtesy of IGN. Make sure to read Joystiq's "Best of 2013" feature, which handed top honors to The Last of Us.
2014 Writers Guild Awards video game nominees announced
The Writers Guild of America announced the nominees for the 2014 Writers Guild Awards Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing today. The writing teams for five games were nominated for the annual award, as follows: Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Batman: Arkham Origins God of War: Ascension The Last of Us Lost Planet 3 Only games that launched between December 1, 2012 and November 30, 2013 were eligible for nomination. The 2014 Writers Guild Awards will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014 in both Los Angeles and New York simultaneously. Past winners of the Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing award were the writers of the following games, who were also part of the guild in order to be considered: Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation (2013), Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (2012), Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (2011), Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2010) and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2009).
Joystiq Discussion: Should there be more female enemies in games?
The Last of Us, Joystiq's very favorite game of 2013, is a mean game about mean people finding reasons to survive when the world's gone to hell. Joel and Ellie, the heroes of The Last of Us, dole out the harshness regularly to all sorts of bad people that are a lot meaner than them. Strange thing about the "hunters" in the game's post-apocalyptic world; they're all men. Plenty of female zombies, but no hunters. Pretty weird that the only people willing to kill other people for food and supplies are men. Women have to eat too. Stranger still is the fact that lady hunters were apparently supposed to be in The Last of Us. Naughty Dog's artists designed them, as seen in the art book, but they never made it into the game. Then again, maybe it's not so strange. In a world of video games about fighting, shooting, surviving, and killing, female enemies are out there, as in BioShock Infinite, but they aren't common. Tomb Raider, another entry in our Best of 2013 list, also pits you against hordes of human enemies, the sinister Scavengers, and every single one of them carries around a Y chromosome. No women shipwrecked on Yamatai have killer fighting skills, only Lara? Our question for you: is this a problem? Does it bother you that women are as under-represented as enemies as they are heroes in video games? We ask these questions and more below. We also invite you to elaborate on your answers in the comments section. %Poll-86544% %Poll-86553% %Poll-86547% %Poll-86556% %Poll-86550%
Sony announces PlayStation Now for streaming older games
Sony President Andrew House has announced PlayStation Now, a new games streaming service that aims to bring older PlayStation games to PS4, PS3, PS Vita and other devices. PlayStation Now, which will stream games from the original PlayStation, PS2 and PS3 eras first on PS3 and PS4, will kick off on PS3 with a closed beta in the US at the end of January, with a full rollout planned for some time this summer. Users will be able to rent games individually or pay for a PlayStation Now subscription. Sony aims to eventually expand the service beyond Sony devices too. The foundation for PlayStation Now is Gaikai, the games streaming service Sony purchased for $380 million in 2012. Gaikai is responsible for a variety of PS4 features, including cloud gaming, Remote Play, Try Anything and Instant Broadcast, and other cloud services expected to launch later this year. Four different PlayStation Now games are currently on-hand at the Sony CES booth: The Last of Us, Beyond: Two Souls, God of War: Ascension and Puppeteer. So far, these are the only supported games Sony has announced.
Joystiq Top 10 of 2013: The Last of Us
Team Joystiq is barging into 2014 with a celebration of last year's best games. Keep reading throughout the week to see our assembly of ingenious indies and triple-A triumphs. There's a certain dulling of expectations every time the next big-huge blockbuster game comes together. We've grown accustomed to the tradeoffs inherent in a product that grows and grows until it fits the proportions of cinema, having shaken off its boldest facets to safely stand a chance of earning a wide audience – and enough money to pay for that beautifully rendered jumble of furniture blocking the top of a stairway, not meant to be explored. How could a game like The Last of Us overcome those barriers? It doesn't, not always, but it pushes harder than you expect.
The Last of Us survivor makes GLAAD intriguing LGBT characters of 2013 list
GLAAD, a media monitoring organization promoting LGBT imagery, has recognized Naughty Dog's The Last of Us for introducing a complex gay character to its to its post-apocalyptic narrative. "[Bill is] an unstable loner in the town of Lincoln with a talent for fixing things. Through dialogue and backstory, the player learns that Bill once had a partner named Frank who he loved, but the plague drove them apart and led Frank to a bitter end," notes GLAAD in its list featuring characters form other mediums. "Both helpful and contentious, Bill is as deeply flawed but wholly unique a gay character found in any storytelling medium this year." Other instances of LGBT characters in 2013 included a plot line in Gone Home, a playable character in State of Decay and ... well, there is a debate to be had about Animal Crossing: New Leaf's Gracie the Giraffe – a male character in the Japanese game, who is designated female everywhere else.
PlayStation Blog reveals Game of the Year winners, as chosen by readers
It's that time of year again! No, not when we gather with our loved ones and take a break from working. It's Game of the Year season, meaning we've got a great excuse to look back on games we played in 2013 and tell everyone about our favorite experiences. The PlayStation Blog finished tallying up votes from its readers yesterday, announcing the Platinum through Bronze-worthy victors in a blog post. In regards to their shiny new PS4s, readers most enjoyed their relaxing, sing-along journeys on Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag's Caribbean seas. The Last of Us won over the hearts of PS3 users, presumably for the knee-slappers that came out of Ellie's joke book. Vita fans were most enamored with Tearaway, Media Molecule's crafty platformer made out of paper. Lastly, Housemarque's voxel-jumbling shooter Resogun was voted as the year's best digital release. Looking forward to 2014, fans are most anticipating Infamous: Second Son, the smoky super hero story based in Seattle, which you can expect on March 21. If you're curious about more than just the winners, the full post also lists runners up for each category as well as personal picks from the PlayStation Blog staff.
PS Europe closes Christmas sale with The Last of Us, Persona 4 Golden
PlayStation Europe saved the best til The Last of Us, ending its 12 Deals of Christmas sale with Naughty Dog's PS3 apoco-sim and the Vita delight that is Persona 4 Golden. The enhanced Atlus JRPG goes down to £15 (€20/AU$25), while Joel and Ellie's feel-good adventure for the holidays is just £20 (€30/AU$40). If you want, you can go all in on The Last of Us by chucking in the season pass; the game and pass bundled together are priced £30 (€37.49/AU$55.47). The pass grants access to three major DLC packs, including the already released Abandoned Territories map pack for multiplayer, and the Left Behind single-player prequel episode which is due in 2014. Two things to add: Firstly, there's an extra holiday bonus for PS Plus subscribers, 'cos they get a further 10 percent off all those prices. Second, the deals are active for 48 hours, so you have until the end of tomorrow to ensure you're a happy camper come Christmas Day.
