Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is set to be the next big thing from Last of Us developer Naughty Dog. The studio’s first new IP in well over a decade, Intergalactic is also taking a different approach with its narrative premise in comparison to other Naughty Dog titles. But while one can expect Intergalactic‘s high sci-fi premise to make for distinct storytelling, it may not be as far removed from the company’s previous releases in terms of tone or style.
Since the release of the first Uncharted back in 2007, Naughty Dog has emphasized high-fidelity graphics, well-tuned character animations, and industry-leading acting, all in the service of creating a blockbuster-like experience. Naughty Dog’s games are often compared to films, and while such comparisons can sometimes be reductive, there’s certainly some truth behind them: Naughty Dog’s stories are evocative and thrilling, and its characters are relatable and affable. Nowhere are these qualities more apparent than in the Uncharted series, which carries the air of an Indiana Jones adventure thanks to witty dialogue, likable characters, and wry humor. Based on what’s available about it so far, it looks like Intergalactic could channel these same strengths.
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Intergalactic’s Small-Scale Approach Could Have a Big Upside
Since Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been confirmed to take place on only one planet, that small scale could very well have a massive upside.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Could Mark Naughty Dog’s Return to Comedy
The Uncharted Games Are Often Relentlessly Funny
While it wouldn’t exactly be accurate to label the Uncharted games as comedies, they most definitely borrow heavily from the genre. Dramatic, high-stakes narratives underpin these games, but the moment-to-moment storytelling is typically lighthearted, almost to the point of aloofness, with characters naturally riffing off each other to provide ample opportunities for jokes. It’s through these tonal dimensions that the Uncharted games pay homage to the likes of Indiana Jones and The Mummy, which leverage comedy to balance out the danger of their swashbuckling plots.
This style of writing may be why Uncharted‘s legacy is markedly different from that of The Last of Us, which is decidedly spartan with its joke-telling. In essence, a game like The Last of Us is more likely to make someone depressed due to the bleakness of its narratives and the acidic qualities of its characters, whereas Uncharted has a tendency to put a smile on one’s face. With Intergalactic, Naughty Dog may manage to find its way back to Uncharted‘s style of doing things, as the adventures of protagonist Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter, could very well hearken back to those of Nathan Drake. The flippant nature of Mun’s interactions with the only other character in the trailer also suggests a return to the buddy comedy angle that Uncharted showcases so effectively.
None of this is to say that the Uncharted series can’t have emotionally evocative storytelling—Uncharted 4 proves otherwise—but the series’ tone is undeniably more frivolous than something like The Last of Us.
A More Lighthearted, Comedic Story Would Be a Nice Change of Pace After The Last of Us 2
The Last of Us 2 is unpleasant in many ways. Regardless of what one thinks of the franchise, it is hard to argue that sheer violence, hatred, and desperation don’t define these games, especially its sophomore release. Characters are far more likely to kill or curse at each other rather than crack a joke, and even characters who are supposed to like each other have a tendency toward strife and conflict.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet could wash this sour taste out of players’ mouths, reminding audiences of what Naughty Dog can achieve when it isn’t taking itself too seriously. No one wants Intergalactic’s story to be shallow, but an injection of humor, which Naughty Dog has already proven is one of its strong suits, would certainly be a welcome throwback.
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.
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment