Summary
Naughty Dog’s upcoming sci-fi adventureIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetrepresents a significant shift for the developer as it moves away from itsUnchartedandThe Last of Usfranchises towards a brand-new IP and the beginning of a new series. Not just that either, as Naughty Dog has yet to delve into the sci-fi genre with its video games, let alone create an original universe with its own ancient religion to boot. That’s what makesIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetso special and unique, though it may not be able to escape Naughty Dog’s most successful franchises entirely.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophetalready looks like it will be drastically different from anything Naughty Dog has ever done, but its protagonist might not be so lucky as to avoid comparisons to the developer’s past work. Specifically,Jordan A. Mun,Intergalactic’s protagonist, already seems to be cut from the same cloth asThe Last of Us' Joel Miller, based on the very limited amount of information that has been disclosed about her so far. None of these similarities have been outright confirmed yet, but Jordan is nonetheless shaping up to be the Joel Miller of her own story.
Intergalactic’s Jordan A. Mun Feels Similar to TLOU’s Joel Miller
Jordan A. Mun Appears to Have a Checkered Past With the Five Aces Syndicate
Not much has been revealed aboutIntergalactic’s storyyet, but at its heart is a notorious criminal syndicate called the “Five Aces” who mysteriously disappeared after terrorizing the Bluestar Systems. Jordan A. Mun, the game’s protagonist, is a bounty hunter in pursuit of the Five Aces, though it’s not clear whether her intentions are to subdue the group, interrogate them, rescue them, or join them. Regardless of her intentions, however, it is abundantly clear that Jordan is a former member of the Five Aces, suggesting she might have a checkered past.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophetalready looks like it will be drastically different from anything Naughty Dog has ever done, but its protagonist might not be so lucky as to avoid comparisons to the developer’s past work.
InIntergalactic’s announcement trailer, a wall of leads composed of notes, articles, photos, and other documents briefly appears, upon which is also a picture of Jordan and four other individuals. Based on the context alone, this implies that she was once a member of the Five Aces syndicate, considering there are five of them in the picture. More than likely, Jordan has been hired to hunt down the remaining members of the Five Aces due to her familiarity with the group, but that does little to redeem the history she shares with them. She was once a criminal who worked alongside them, and she may very well still be, using her bounty hunter persona as a disguise.
Jordan A. Mun May Be More of an Antihero Like TLOU’s Joel Miller
Considering Jordan’s past as a criminal, it’s doubtful that she will be the perfect example of a heroine inIntergalactic, putting her in league with the likes ofJoel Miller fromThe Last of Us. Joel is arguably one of the clearest examples of an anti-hero in modern video games, as one who is not out to save the day, but to survive and protect what and whom he values most. Joel is a liar, a killer, and a manipulator, doing whatever he deems is necessary for his own benefit and those he loves.Intergalactic’s Jordan A. Mun could turn out to follow a similar set of principles, and the shot of her shaving her head inIntergalactic’s trailer could be symbolic of her rebellion, as she has a full head of hair in the photograph of her with her friends.
The clearest example of Joel Miller’s anti-heroism inThe Last of Usis when he goes on a murderous rampage through the hospital at the end of the game to save Ellie, and then lies to her about the Fireflies and their pursuit of a cure.
If Naughty Dog is indeed drawing from the moral ambiguity that made Joel Miller such a fascinatingly complex protagonist, thenIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetcould make Jordan A. Mun’s journey more than just chasing down ghosts from her past. Instead, it may challenge players, just asThe Last of Usdid with Joel Miller, to make difficult decisions that reveal uncomfortable truths about Jordan’s identity, loyalty, and her redemption. In that case,Intergalactic’s universemight be anything but black and white with Jordan A. Mun flying around in it.
