The Uncharted Series: Unveiling Naughty Dog's Ultimate Magnum Opus

Highlights

The Last of Us' success owes a lot to Naughty Dog's Uncharted, which established the studio's ability to create rich character interactions and realistic worlds.

The Last of Us distinguishes itself from other zombie games by its emotionally profound narrative and thought-provoking storytelling, whereas Uncharted offers an exhilarating cinematic experience with thrilling action sequences. Despite both games receiving acclaim, The Last of Us enjoys greater popularity as a franchise today, given its fewer installments.

Prior to The Last of Us Part 2, fans may have had different opinions on Naughty Dog's defining game. The Last of Us has always been highly regarded, but Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and even Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy could have been valid choices. The popularity of The Last of Us has not diminished the quality of Naughty Dog's previous work, but it is remarkable how much success the IP has brought to the developer in just two games. However, it can be argued that without Uncharted, The Last of Us may not have existed.

If The Last of Us had been developed by anyone else, it may not have effectively conveyed the emotional depth and tragic character interactions. It could have easily become another cliché zombie story, focusing solely on "man versus man" conflicts that are common in the genre. However, it is Naughty Dog's exceptional storytelling and writing that sets it apart and prevents it from being derivative. Uncharted, on the other hand, pays homage to action blockbusters but does not attain the same level of fame.

The Last of Us’ Popularity Beats Out Uncharted’s Today

Uncharted, unlike The Last of Us, avoids controversy and divisive themes. However, The Last of Us has always sparked debate among fans due to Naughty Dog's choices. The ending of The Last of Us left players speculating on their own decisions in Joel's situation. The Last of Us Part 2 challenges players to empathize, which can be difficult for those who were strongly attached to Joel.

On the other hand, Uncharted is like an entertaining blockbuster film that players can easily put aside. It offers thrilling action sequences but lacks the emotional depth that is prevalent in The Last of Us. Despite the backlash against Naughty Dog's choices, The Last of Us remains incredibly popular. In fact, it has gained so much popularity that it is now being adapted into an HBO show, with the second game being the focus of future seasons.

Uncharted was the Guinea Pig for The Last of Us’ Successes

Uncharted undoubtedly received recognition, but it is crucial to acknowledge the significant role it played as a foundation for The Last of Us. Naughty Dog's shift from fantastical characters in a fictional world, seen in Jak and Daxter, to ordinary human characters in a realistic setting with Uncharted, sets the stage for the success of their subsequent game.

The timeline of both Uncharted and The Last of Us reveals intriguing connections, illustrating how the release of Uncharted directly influenced The Last of Us. Although the two games differ in gameplay, tone, and story, Uncharted 4's impressive hyperrealistic graphics and simplified user interface prompts found their way into The Last of Us Part 2. Additionally, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy introduced the concept of a mini-open world, which The Last of Us Part 2 implemented in its own design when Ellie and Dina reach Seattle.

The previous work of a developer naturally influences their subsequent work, enabling them to learn from their accomplishments. However, the fact that Uncharted, despite having 10 game releases and remastered compilations, has only recently been given its own live-action movie, emphasizes its deserving of equal recognition alongside The Last of Us for its noteworthy achievements.