A game that took the Adventure/Survival genre by storm, The Last Of Us and the sequel have gone down as the one of the most popular games in recent times. With fans really getting invested in the story with excellent mechanics to help it along the way.
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For a game that's been out for so long, this game still has many tricks and details that remain hidden to the casual player. From hidden items and locations to weapon upgrades that make the entire game a little easier, making an already great game a little more interesting.
10 Infinite Shivs
The first thing players will need is an upgraded melee weapon, grabbed on the roof of a short building before entering Bill's Town. It's needed to upgrade all other melee weapons, something integral to creating unlimited shivs. Once players have the weapon, simply trade it for one laying around in the area and then swap it back, this will replenish the shiv materials.
This will come in handy when things aren't looking too good, guns aren't useful if there's no ammo to shoot. It also lets players keep their bag empty without feeling the need to fill it up with blades for hard times. Finding the materials any time a shiv door needs to be unlocked is a waste of time when you can just switch out weapons.
9 Easy Ammunition And Supplies On Hard
A feature that lets the player switch difficulties in game doesn't sound like a good one, making the experience a little cheaper than being locked in to the drama. However, players can switch back to easy mode for the gathering of supplies and ammo before jumping back into the action if they just want the combat experience.
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Turning a scurvy feature into a useful one with a little self control, players can take the benefits without cutting any serious corners in the game. Scouring for ammo and resources isn't an impressive skill anyway and can prove to be a taxing challenge when every wandering infected can take you out with a couple of hits.
8 O'Sullivans Irish Pub
Anyone who's a fan of Naughty Dog will see references littered throughout the game, especially when it concerns Uncharted. When Joel goes to Pittsburgh and hits the bridge, he'll stumble across O'Sullivan's Pub, one that looks very similar to the one at the beginning of Uncharted 3.
Not only is the pub a reference but the name O'Sullivan is a call back to Victor Sullivan, Drake's partner throughout the game. Inside players can pick up little shout outs and escape the infected future for a little while, instead inhabiting a chaotic treasure hunt that somehow seems a little better.
7 Abandoned Territories
The first DLC for the multiplayer mode of the game, the Abandoned Territories include 4 separate areas that have been left empty after the outbreak. Going through a Bookstore, the Suburbs, a Bus Depot, and the Home Town.
Each area provides a unique layout and will challenge players in different ways, without the constant fear of mushroom infested zombies sneaking out at any moment. Ranging from up close, tight spaces to sprawling areas that will require a little more long range ability.
6 Load Screen
One of the more unique features in the game, even the loading screen had some effort put into it. As players wait for the chaos, they're lulled into a false sense of security by the floating spores that drift across the screen. What some fans missed was the control they have over them, being able to change the direction when moving the controller.
Whether it's a nice, relaxing way to calm down after the hair-raising story or preparing for what's to come, the loading screen is a subtle touch that puts a simply cherry on top of one of the best games of the decade.
5 Shiv Doors
These doors are located throughout the game, filled with all the goodies we spend the whole game worrying about, ammo, parts, and supplies. However, they do require a shiv to get inside, one that will break once the door opens.
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While this isn't the steepest price for what's behind the doors, many players will focus on the big guns and leave their shivs behind. A cost that players will find annoying if they don't have the above cheat to get them through. If players come prepared then they have access to 13 treasure troves of supplies that will help in the worst of situations.
4 Reclaimed Territories
The final DLC that was released for The Last Of Us, Reclaimed Territories not only gives maps but another difficulty level for single player, Grounded Mode. The hardest possible way to play the game, this mode will make the enemy AI ruthless and strips away almost all ammo and resources for the player.
On top of that, players get 4 extra maps to take down the opposition, providing a unique set of challenges. Blending indoor and outdoor combat, these maps also tighten down on the advantage areas. Not only are the mechanics harder to navigate but they add some harsh weather to cap things off.
3 Naughty Dog References
All the references in the game would take more time than most players have, planted in almost every random room or building that Joel can walk through. From subtle to blatant, the creators have managed to squeeze most of their big titles into the experience.
Naughty Dog fans will love the shout outs to games that came out almost 2 decades ago, proving that the classics will not be forgotten. Putting them in one of the most successful games on the market was a great way to keep the catalogue in the limelight while giving players a few laughs along the way.
2 Safes
Another surefire way to get supplies is to discover one of the 4 safes located in areas throughout the game, each one containing supplies that people stored away, never to return. It's not free though, each safe will require a combination that has to be found somewhere in the general area and they're not always the easiest to find.
The Outskirts, Bill's Town, Pittsburgh, and The Suburbs, these are the areas you have to search before unlocking the supplies. Usually in a secluded area that has to be searched for, players that tend to run low on supplies will have to put in the extra effort, even earning a trophy if all are found.
1 Collectibles
Probably the biggest task you can take on in the game, having a total of 140 collectibles in total. This includes artifacts, pendants, manuals, comics, and tool upgrades. The best part about the collectibles in this game is that they actually have a use, making weapons stronger and upgrading items.
It also provides a break from the heavy tone that makes this game great, every chapter having multiple items to find without the dramatic flair that runs through the rest of the game. As players get closer to the finish line that rare trophy starts to look mighty fine, one that few put the effort in to claim.