Summary
Few gaming franchises can definitively say they are the best in their craft, butThe Last of UsandUnchartedcan, with each perfecting the third-person survival horror and action-adventure genres respectively.Naughty Dog has an expansive history of quality titles, but its most recent offerings are the most revered, veering away from cartoonish platformers in search of something more serious and grounded.
Games likeThe Last of UsandUncharted 4had a big impact on the way Sony approached its first-party titles, as many others take cues from the aforementioned games with their tone, gameplay, or character development. The personalities at the heart of each series are incredible, but they aren’t essential, and the reality is that Naughty Dog has proven before that its games aren’t as reliant on characters as many would perhaps believe.
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The Last of Us' Central Relationship Could be Replicated
Though much of the second game’s story doesn’t feature Joel, his presence is felt throughout. In many ways,The Last of Us 2is a stronger indicator of the pair’s reliance on one another than the first was, as the actions of Ellie are shaped by her relationship with Joel, and the exposition after the conclusion of the first sheds light on his fateful decision. It’s fascinating, but Naughty Dog managed to create a bond between the two in 2013, and there’s no evidence to suggest it couldn’t be done again.The dystopian world inThe Last of Usdoes well to elevate emotional moments and character relationships, meaning it’s fertile ground for something new.
AsTelltale Gamesshowed withThe Walking Dead’s 400 Days DLC, more stories can be extracted from one cataclysmic event, and exploring them in finer detail could be the key to bringing a sense of grandeur to the setting thatThe Last of Uscreates. Joel and Ellie are the product of the talent at Naughty Dog, and given how the studio is a leader in both presentation and character development, it’s not a controversial belief to say that the pair are not necessarily essential to the product.
Uncharted has Successfully Abandoned Nathan Drake Before
Though Nathan Drake’s unrelenting charm is one of the pillars ofUncharted, 2017’sThe Lost Legacyshowed that other personalities can take center stage, and fuse with the solid gameplay and storytelling to create something worthy of the name.Chloe Frazer and Nadine Rosshave their own unique character quirks, and the chemistry to carry not just their quest to find the tusk of Ganesh, but also the in-between moments of conversation whereUnchartedreally excels. The game was a strong indicator that the Naughty Dog IP could stand strong without Nate and shows that, while he is undoubtedly the series' best inclusion, his charisma can be replicated or replaced with something equally interesting.
Unchartedis fundamentally about a treasure hunt that is constantly interrupted by villainous presences and unplanned accidents that the hero has to overcome. The quality of said protagonist is vital, but as long as the developer has enough storytelling prowess to forge a character with their own nuances, aDrake-lessUnchartedcan live on, and even exceed expectations. Joel, Ellie, and Nate have each etched their names in gaming history, but extract them from their IP and all is not necessarily lost, meaning bothThe Last of UsandUnchartedcould go in any number of compelling directions if they are to have a future.
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