Over the years, Naughty Dog has built up an impressive resume of stellar PlayStation exclusives. From Crash Bandicoot's wacky adventures on the original Sony system to Ellie's traumatic and vengeful journey in The Last of Us 2, the company has shown its prowess at crafting linear single-player experiences that set the bar for story-driven games. Sandwiched in the middle of its resume is Uncharted, taking players all around the world with the witty and charming Nathan Drake. It has built a legacy of excellence across four mainline games and a couple of side projects.
A big part of a game's legacy is how it influences other titles, and Uncharted 4 has been on both sides of the aisle. It clearly takes cues from the likes of Crystal Dynamics' rebooted Tomb Raider trilogy and even Metal Gear Solid with its more liberal approach to stealth, but everything Uncharted brought has surely been a significant reason why Control,Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Last of Us 2 were so well received. The latter is perhaps the most obvious, as each Naughty Dog title has similar gameplay additions and level design.
Uncharted 4 Changed the Series' Rigid Formula
The first three Uncharted games each built upon the last. A Thief's End was the series' debut on the PlayStation 4, and with the first The Last of Us game releasing between entries - as well as Amy Hennig's departure from the developer - it was expected that 4 would include the most significant revision on the formula yet. Uncharted 4 integrated new mechanics like environmental storytelling, stealth combat, and a darker theme, all while maintaining the heart the franchise was known for.
Those differences were taken in-part from The Last of Us, which was less about grand action set-pieces and more about intimate character moments and strategic combat. It worked well, and demonstrated that Naughty Dog can provide exciting third-person gameplay using two distinctive design philosophies. When The Last of Us 2 released in 2020, it was clear that Uncharted 4 returned the favor.
The Last of Us 2 Owes Uncharted 4's Brave Evolution
It wasn't just Uncharted that benefited from the fourth game's improvements with 2017's The Lost Legacy, as Naughty Dog built upon its successes in The Last of Us 2. Less linear and more open-ended levels like Libertalia, as well as the Madagascar section in the jeep were replicated to great effect in Seattle Day 1, and Nate's journal that helps players along their way was a good template for Ellie's journal.
The open sections in The Last of Us 2 definitely expanded upon the idea with more substantial, but non-essential things to do in the space. For example, Ellie's rendition of Take on Me does well to give curious players something to appreciate. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy took it too far and suffered as a result, but The Last of Us 2 learned from Uncharted 4 that restraint is important, as is weaving diverse levels around something more focused to improve gameplay variety. Naughty Dog will surely keep revising the formula it has constantly improved on with future games, but perhaps its greatest triumph yet has a lot to thank Uncharted 4 for.
The Last of Us 2 is available now on PS4.
