In the AAA space there are few companies with the stellar record thatNaughty Doghas enjoyed. WithNaughty Dog’s work dating back to the mid-80s and the Apple 2 computer, its history is varied, but the California-based developer hit its stride when it was acquired by Sony before the release of the firstJak and Daxtertitle in 2001. The relationship didn’t start there, though, asCrash Bandicootwas the first property to capture the hearts of PlayStation fans around the globe, adding to an already impressive slate of previous works.
Naughty Doghas had four major franchises under its belt since the turn of the century.Crash Bandicoot,Jak and Daxter, Uncharted, andThe Last of Ushave each garnered critical acclaim dating back to the original PlayStation. While each have a handful of similarities, they all prove that Naughty Dog can deliver high quality experiences using different hardware and under ever-changing circumstances. Some of them have had success that has been inescapable, and some have flown under the radar in comparison, but plenty are worth revisiting before the inevitable next project is announced.
RELATED:How a PS5 Uncharted Can Revamp The Series Formula
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Taking the fundamental gameplay elements ofUncharted 4and bringing a new, fan-favorite protagonist in the form of Chloe Frazer,Uncharted: The Lost Legacyoffers something that the other games never did. The story remained rigid, but whereas the mainline titles are limited in their exploration,The Lost Legacywas more non-linear in its design. Environments are huge, and secrets can be found in all its corners. This was a welcome change, and did well to show that the mechanics in otherUnchartedgames can also make for enjoyable moments in a semi-open world release.
Where the game truly shines, is also the reason so many players didn’t give it a chance. The absence ofseries staple Nathan Drakewas made obvious by the announcement trailer, and with the game being set after the events ofUncharted 4, his inclusion would have meant unravelingA Thief’s End’sbeautiful conclusion. Despite this, Chloe Frazerand Nadine Ross carry the story with ease, and while Drake is still a top Naughty Dog character,The Lost Legacydidn’t feel like any less of anUnchartedgame without him. It’s an experience that is worthy of more recognition.
Crash Team Racing
A 2017 remake from developer Beenox did well to recapture an audience, butthe 1999 original ofCrash Team Racingstill offers so much fun, even 23 years after it arrived on the PlayStation. It was the first racing game developed by Naughty Dog since the incredibly simplisticSki Crazedreleased in 1986 for the Apple 2. LikeMario Kart,Crash Team Racingtakes a company icon and brings them to the crucible of the racetrack in the form of small, gutsy karts. It takes a lot of cues from Nintendo’s pioneering series, but differs in many critical ways resulting in it amassing a niche, yet dedicated audience.
Most obviously,Crash Team Racingis faster. The gameplay is far more focused on speed and prioritizes delicate, precise racing over frantic fun and party-esque unpredictability. It does have all of that, but the hook that makes it so loved is that it takes so much skill to master, and any items usually only serve to make the game feel less balanced. The racing genre isn’t what Naughty Dog is known for, butCrash Team Racing’s quality could almost convince players that the company could rival Polyphony Digital in the genre.Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueledonly proved thatMario Kartcould have a potential competitorshould it ever return.
RELATED:What’s Next For Naughty Dog’s Jak and Daxter?
The Last of Us: Left Behind
Though the name of the 2020 sequel would indicate that there are only twoThe Last of Usstories to be told, this isn’t the case.The Last of Us: Left Behindis a standalone adventure set before the events of the first game, and prior to Ellie’s introduction to Joel. It follows her journey with Riley, a fellow survivor with whom she sparks a beautifully realized friendship. Set years before her emotionally intense quest inThe Last of Us 2, it presentsa radically different side of Elliethat is almost unrecognizable from the personality players are most familiar with.
WhereasThe Last of Usfeels hopeless at times, and its sequel fully submerges itself in themes of hatred and revenge,The Last of Us: Left Behindis playful, and wonderfully captures the innocence of youth, which is all the more prevalent as the world that Ellie and Riley are in is crumbling around them. There are moments when their antics make players forget that this is from a survival-horror world, and its gut-wrenching conclusionmolds Ellie into the character players came to knowin the original game. It’s essential for anyone who wants to experience the franchise’s bigger picture, as it shows just how severely the world has forged the character Ellie inevitably becomes.
Uncharted Drake’s Fortune
By no means the best in the series,Uncharted: Drake’s Fortuneis the game that has aged the most of all four mainlineUnchartedentries. Nevertheless, it provided the foundations for later games to build upon, and did so in spectacular fashion. That means thatDrake’s Fortunehas quickly become one of the most important games of its franchise, even in the face of well-loved games likeUncharted 2: Among Thieves.
The difficulty is inconsistent, graphics are outdated, and the environments are repetitive, butDrake’s Fortunestill has a lot of potential. Knowing how much Naughty Dog took advantage of that potential makes it a game so many players simply must return to. A game doesn’t have to be exceptional to justify going back to it, but with the newTom Holland-lead film still on the minds of many, returning to the island situated at coordinates UK2642 could be a worthwhile time investment.Uncharted: Drake’s Fortuneshows that greatness truly does come from small beginnings.
Naughty Dog’s strong reputation has been the result of a multitude of fantastic games over the years that it has been operating. It’s earned, and whileThe Last of Us 2presented something polarizing, there was so much to love, and the same can be said of the majority of the studio’s projects. However, while the likes ofUncharted 2: Among ThievesandThe Last of Usare rightfully revered, there are a handful of Naughty Dog games that were largely overlooked or overshadowed, and deserve a second look. Aside fromThe Last of Us 2’sFactionsmultiplayer,nobody knows where Naughty Dog will go nextbut hopes are high, as they should be.
MORE:Why The Last of Us Remake Launching Later This Year Makes Sense
