With Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet finally announced as potentially the first game in Naughty Dog’s latest franchise alongside The Last of Us and Uncharted, the new IP seems to strike a balance between the two in terms of tone and style. After extensive speculation about a new sci-fi game in the works at Naughty Dog, the reveal of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet at 2024’s The Game Awards was long overdue. But now that the game has been officially announced, players have been able to get a better sense of what to expect from Intergalactic beyond these earlier rumors.
For instance, in addition to Intergalactic‘s reveal trailer, Naughty Dog has confirmed a handful of details about the story, main characters, and overall themes that have helped shape players’ perspective of the upcoming game. However, something that was also emphasized in Intergalactic‘s reveal trailer, Naughty Dog’s successful legacy of past and current franchises will likely draw comparisons to its new upcoming game. As a result of this contrast, it seems that Intergalactic has intentionally sought to establish a middle ground between Naughty Dog’s two most recent series, with a colorful, retrofuturistic style contrasted by a potentially dark story.
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Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Leaves The Most Important Question Lingering
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s reveal trailer from The Game Awards 2024 was exciting, but it was lacking in one key area.
How Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Compares to Uncharted and The Last Of Us
Between Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End appearing to conclude Nathan Drake’s story for the series and The Last of Us receiving criticism regarding fatigue with multiple remasters and remakes, official news about Naughty Dog’s new Intergalactic IP is a welcome change of pace. As noted by Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann in an interview with The New York Times, the studio was aware that working on Intergalactic in secret placed pressure on its other franchises, especially for The Last of Us. However, even with the official announcement potentially relieving this tension, it does put Intergalactic in direct contrast with these past franchises.
But whether it was intentional or not, it seems that Naughty Dog has smartly balanced Intergalactic‘s characters and story between Uncharted and The Last of Us, providing players with elements of both as the studio moves forward with its new IP. On the one hand, Intergalactic‘s protagonist, Jordan A. Mun, shares a rebellious and roguish attitude with Uncharted‘s own Nathan Drake. On the other hand, Intergalactic‘s story about a mysterious planet, religious themes, and creepy robots evokes The Last of Us‘ more mature, darker narratives. Ideally, with this balanced contrast between these two franchises, Intergalactic could build on the best of both IPs.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Channels Uncharted’s More Lighthearted Vibe
From both Intergalactic‘s trailer and details provided by Naughty Dog, the game’s protagonist appears to be a new take on the charismatic rogue that Nathan Drake had been in Uncharted. The trailer alone offers an insight into Tati Gabrielle’s Jordan and her character, such as her fashion sense, her daring nature, and even her taste in music, as well as some potential details of her backstory related to Intergalactic‘s “Five Aces.” Since they’re already so similar, Jordan may also channel Nathan’s comedic wit and bravado in the face of danger, swapping dangerous tombs and ruins for the abandoned, inescapable planet of Sempiria.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Wears Its TLOU Influences On Its Sleeve
Yet this choice for Intergalactic‘s setting and the story that Naughty Dog has teased so far comes as a stark contrast to its cavalier protagonist, seemingly reflecting the darker tone of the studios’ The Last of Us franchise instead. Similar to the brutality of The Last of Us‘ post-apocalypse, Intergalactic‘s Sempiria backdrop is just as dark and dangerous thanks to its seemingly possessed robotic enemies attacking the player with laser swords. Between being stranded on the planet, hunting bounties, and fending off threats, Intergalactic shares The Last of Us’ approach of exploring humanity at its most extreme.
Source: The New York Times
Intergalactic: The Heretic Propher follows Jordan A. Mun, a dangerous bounty hunter who ends up stranded on Sempiria – a distant planet whose communication with the outside universe went dark hundreds of years ago. In fact, anyone who’s flown to it hoping to unravel its mysterious past was never heard from again. Jordan will have to use all her skills and wits if she hopes to be the first person in over 600 years to leave its orbit.
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Sony Interactive Entertainment