Established developers exploring new IPs are always exciting, imo. So I hope it turns out to be a new IP.
Hate them or love them, Naughty Dog always turns heads and create buzz with each new game.
The fidelity in their games are some of the best in class, I would say that's hard to argue.
I wonder if this gen will be another watershed for Naughty Dog.
Crash Bandicoot era -->
Jak & Daxter era -->
cinematic action games era (Uncharted + TLOU series) -->
????
I would to love to see them take more risks in terms of game design and mechanics.
I expect to see an evolution of many of the ideas and techniques introduced in Uncharted & TLOU games as well.
Ideally for me, with this next title, I hope Naughty Dog will implement impressive physics and interactivity in their level design. Something that rivals the interactivity and physics of Rockstar.
Where as Rockstar work with larger teams on relatively vaster maps seeing Naughty be as focused, but with small, denser maps would make for some pheneomal gameplay imo.
Finding a way to better marry the narrative with the action and participation of the player in that role. Less reliance on cutscenes and more story telling through gameplay. The way scripted set piece moments serve the main narrative drive of a Uncharted or TLOU title. These more level based or mechanic based story telling would serve to provided flavoring to the setting, world building, and narratives in their games.
For example, the variety in the form of traversal in the TLOU II is pretty impressive, considering it is still a linear title.
From motorboat to horseback with a lot of impressive realism as well.
The physics involved in rope climbing mechanics in particular left an impresssion on me.
Not because I haven't seen it before, but precisely because I've seen it in previous titles like Uncharted.
It was pretty cool to see how they've evolved that mechanics over the years to the most recent iteration in TLOU II.
Imo, realistic movement and physics based mechanics seem to be a prime component in current era Naughty Dog's design philosophy.
There's been this persist pursuit in wanting to refine that idea within multiple titles developed by them over the years.
It's extremely impressive work imo. Hats off to the designers /team that contributed worked to those mechanics.
