The announcement of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was one of the biggest surprises of The Game Awards, as Naughty Dog revealed its new original IP to the masses. It was known that Naughty Dog had been working on a new franchise, but Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet shocked many, due to it being a huge departure from its most recent ventures, Uncharted and The Last of Us.
When it comes to Uncharted, Nathan Drake’s story came to a close with A Thief’s End. While there was a spin-off with The Lost Legacy, the Uncharted franchise as a whole has been wrapped up. However, The Last of Us Part 2 left its story completely open-ended, leading many to have hopes of a Part 3 announced at The Game Awards. Now that the event has come and gone, no Part 3 awaits gamers for now, but there is a silver lining. Intergalactic looks like a compelling change of pace, and most importantly, a potential melee combat dream. Fans of TLOU Part 2‘s melee mechanics may have something special in store, as Intergalactic is being co-directed by one of the designers responsible for that portion of gameplay.
Related
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet May Feature Legendary Game Director as an In-Game Character
One iconic game director shares a cryptic post, hinting at a possible collab with Naughty Dog on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Boasts TLOU Part 2’s Combat Designer
Three Naughty Dog Veterans Take the Helm
- Neil Druckmann – Creative Director and Writer
- Matthew Gallant – Game Director
- Kurt Margenau – Game Director
This trio is the leadership of the project, but the most important, for the sake of this writing, is Matthew Gallant. Based on information that can be found in his LinkedIn profile, he served as the Lead Systems Designer on TLOU Part 2. This role held a variety of important duties, but one of the most intriguing is that he was the principal combat designer for WLF and Seraphite encounters.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
follows protagonist Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter.
While there were moments where long-ranged weapons were required in these encounters, TLOU Part 2 boasted a lot of close-ranged melee moments. The combat mechanics are one of the best parts of playing TLOU Part 2. Although the game’s story caused some controversy with its shocking twists, the action and gameplay were praised. Gallant is a big reason for TLOU Part 2‘s strong combat mechanics, and that makes Intergalactic‘s teased melee that much more exciting.
Intergalactic Could Have a Heavy Melee Focus
It’s unclear what types of weapons will be at one’s disposal in Intergalactic, but the game’s announcement trailer has made it known that cool plasma swords will play a part in combat. Unfortunately, Intergalactic‘s trailer had very little gameplay, but one short glimpse of sword-wielding was showcased.
If melee is the main method of combat players can expect, then having Matthew Gallant as a co-director is a strong sign that this type of gameplay could feel incredible. Whether running around as Ellie with her switchblade or fighting a Serpahite with a machete as Abby, Naughty Dog nailed the combat in TLOU Part 2, especially when it comes to melee. Players can feel the impact of every punch or slash inflicted on enemies, and the prospect of having an even more refined version of this makes Intergalactic far more intriguing.
The story takes place on a mysterious planet called Sempiria. No one has communicated with or left the planet’s orbit in over 600 years.
Just like TLOU Part 2, Intergalactic has also found itself in controversy. This is unfortunate, as Naughty Dog trying something new could produce an incredibly exciting game. There’s no telling what Intergalactic will be like, but the first sneak peek promises a retro-futuristic bounty-hunting tale that could have strong melee elements. Whether it’s through plasma sword slashing or fluid dodge maneuvers, TLOU Part 2 fans may get another taste of this satisfying combat in a brand-new IP.
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment