Hopes are high forIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a new science-fiction IP fromLast of UsandUncharteddeveloper Naughty Dog. Even though there has been the expected backlash from a particular sect of the gaming community, centered mostly onthe appearance ofIntergalactic’s protagonist, there’s been little valid reason to be worried about the game’s quality, as it’s coming from a studio with a strong track record, is fully backed by Sony, and has all the makings of an impressive current-gen release.
Intergalactic’s soundtrack comes from famous musical duoTrent Reznor and Atticus Ross, which has audiences further interested in the project.
Another notable reason for theIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophethype is a more nebulous one: uncertainty. While one could argue forThe Last of Us' classification as science fiction, that series is a bit more like speculative fiction with sci-fi elements: there are very few hallmarks of science-fiction, as the story is more about how human relationships are redefined in a post-apocalyptic world. ButIntergalacticlooks to be fully embracing sci-fi tropes and conventions, complete with FTL travel, advanced spacecraft, and deadly automatons. Indeed,Intergalacticseems to adopt many of the qualities of the space opera sub-genre, and this means that it’s even more imperative that it stands out.
Intergalactic Ought To Learn from Death Stranding’s No-Holds Barred Approach to Science Fiction
Love It or Hate It, Death Stranding Is One-of-a-Kind
Although media trends oscillate over the years, science fiction is a consistently popular genre. Perhaps this can be attributed to humanity’s penchant for daydreaming and planning for the future, with speculation being a favorite pastime for many. Sci-fi also allows for a great deal of outside-the-box narrative elements, and with tropes and staples less stringently enforced than fantasy, it can be a good avenue for artists to delve into heady, complex subject matter.
But not every storyteller is suited to science fiction: the best sci-fi stories are helmed by visionaries who aren’t afraid to get creative or bizarre with their ideas. This is why the likes ofDeath Strandinghave been so enduring and memorable, as they present a vision of the world that few others could have conjured.Death Strandingis a particularly notable exampleof the genre in gaming, as Kojima Productions was hardly conservative with its ideas: babies connected to the afterlife, humans who are driven to madness by a desire to deliver packages, and a quest designed around quasi-magical WiFi aren’t exactly what audiences expect from mainstream science fiction, and that’s why the game is so thought-provoking.
Artistic presentation is another area whereDeath Strandingshines. The game’s absurd dialogue, fourth-wall breaks, and complex, avant-garde cutscenes have received criticism and praise in equal measure, but everyone can agree that they makeDeath Strandinga breath of fresh air. In a world where big-budget movies, TV shows, and games are becoming increasingly homogenized, safe, and sanitized,Death Stranding’s panache and flair should be celebrated and encouraged.
Wacky Sci-Fi Concepts Would Help Naughty Dog Out of Its Comfort Zone
Of course,Intergalacticshouldn’t, and probably won’t, be likeDeath Stranding. Rather, it’sDeath Stranding’s bold approach to narrativeand world design that Naughty Dog should learn from. WhenUnchartedandThe Last of Uswere in their heyday, they were unlike anything gaming audiences had seen before. Their natural dialog, movie-quality acting, and blockbuster production value made them feel like interactive movies of the best kind, and their influence can’t be overstated.
But it may be time for Naughty Dog to prove that it’s not a one-trick pony. That is to say,Intergalacticshouldn’t just be “Unchartedin space,“especially since one could argue that’s been done already through various other movie and gaming properties. No,Intergalacticshould learn from the fearlessness of games likeDeath Stranding, leveraging its sci-fi premise to its fullest, craziest extent.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
WHERE TO PLAY
Intergalactic: The Heretic Propher follows Jordan A. Mun, a dangerous bounty hunter who ends up stranded on Sempiria – a distant planet whose communication with the outside universe went dark hundreds of years ago. In fact, anyone who’s flown to it hoping to unravel its mysterious past was never heard from again. Jordan will have to use all her skills and wits if she hopes to be the first person in over 600 years to leave its orbit.
