Summary
Often considered some of the best storytellers in games,Naughty Doghas proven time and again that they are worthy of the gaming industry’s praise. The studio has created some of the most engrossing settings, fromJak and Daxter’s ruin-soaked fictional world toThe Last of Us’s post-apocalyptic takeon the United States.
SinceUncharted: Drake’s Fortune’srelease in 2007, the focus atNaughty Doghas been on cinematic blockbusters withmassive set pieces, dramatic stories with an emphasis on character building, and some solid 3rd person action to seal the deal. Understandably, this has left players yearning for other types of games with which the developer could put their many skills to use.
A New Opportunity to Perfect Gun Play
Games To Take Inspiration From:
First and third-person games share much of the same DNA, which is why a lot of third-person games of late get an FPS mode through official channels or fan-made mods. It’s probably also why Capcom decided to prove the FPS' validity in the survival-horror space with the latest mainlineResident Evilentries. Regardless, it’s proof that a game likeThe Last of Uswould also probably work in much the same way. At the same time, games likeTitanfall 2show that layered, impactful storiescan still be toldin the format.
Where theCall of Duty Zombiesinfluence comes into play would be either a mode or a potentially smaller, standalone game, a laThe Last of Us Part 2Remastered’s Grounded mode orUncharted: Lost Legacy. It would just be a different way to frame theexcellent gunplaythat we have all come to love about a Naughty Dog game.
Zero In On Combat And Atmosphere
From the light melee encounters inCrash Bandicootto the light, stealth-based,third-person gunplayinThe Last Of Us, combat in Naughty Dog’s laundry list of titles is ever-evolving. But what if a new title were to hit the gas hard, changing the entire formula into something likeThe Lamplighters League, or any other turn-based tactical game where combat is at the forefront of the project?
The studio’s interest in mature stories, settings, and themes that have become synonymous with the developer since the release of the firstUncharteddoesn’t have to go away either.XCOM: Enemy UnknownorMutant Year Zero: Road to Eden aretwo mature-rated, gritty games that drop players in some hairyworld-threatening situations. In fact, they’re shining examples of how wellThe Last Of Uswould work in the genre, as players would be able to take care of infected at a more methodical pace.
Narrative Is King In A Naughty Dog Game
The Last of Usdirector, Neil Duckman, is one of those auteur developers that will only continue in the world of his beloved creations if he can tell a good, meaningful story. Luckily, there are genres like point-and-click adventure that deal almost exclusively with story.Siberia, for example, has players solve puzzles in a mostly linear story-telling experience. Or, if the studio wanted to stay in the bloody realm of the apocalyptic, games likeTelltale’s The Walking Deadare perfect examples of well-told stories that have players making some harrowing choices.
Naughty Dog might want to take a lighter approach to a new genre, though. The right idea, then, would be to look back to their experiences in the development ofJak and Daxter, one of gaming’s best-known buddy comedies. The last step would be to follow the blueprint created by an adventure game like Sam and Max that already deals in the comedic antics of its titular duo.
A Great Opportunity To Focus On Exploration
The folks at Naughty Dog areno strangers to exploration, often filling their games with tantalizing collectibles. That exploratory spirit could be channeled into a Metroidvania-style game, and to great effect. It’s an incredibly popular genre, with takes on this type of game varying greatly. For instance,Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderand Star WarsJedi: Survivorare both fairly stripped-back takes on the genre, holding extremely minor secrets back behind ability gates that are easily surmounted with straightforward story progression.
However, if jumping into the deep end is more their style, a look atHollow KnightandMetroid Primewould be in order. These are two masterclass entries in the genre that make the inevitable act of backtracking less of a chore. They also do a very good job at developing worlds that draw players in, holding them in their sweet embrace for hours. Something a good Naughty Dog story can do with ease.
An Experience Built From The Ground Up
WhileThe Last of Ushas many survival elements in its gameplay, it’s not a survival gamein the truest sense. Players aren’t scrounging for every bit of crafting material to make weapons, houses, or even clothes to better survive the game’s elements. They aren’t defending their home from NPCs and other players that wish to do them harm. And yet, these elements would fit right at home in a world made by Naughty Dog.
Survival games likeRustthrive in the simple ask of players learning their systems inside and out to fare better in their worlds. Whereas a game likeValheimprovides some challenging combat that the player has to get used to in order to further explore its interesting setting. Then there’sThe Long Dark, which is a great illustration of how much further a game’s ambiance can take a survival game, and exactly what Naughty Dog should take with them in their attempt.
