I personally don’t like the direction Naughty Dog have taken for the past decade or so because their games have become less “game-y” (for lack of a better term). Yes the shooting/traversal is mechanically competent and the story is well directed, but I think that they are hewing much more closely to a long-form television show format. The fact that Last of Us was able to be adapted into a tv show so seamlessly also suggests this is the case.
The colourful worlds of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter were Rare-esque and much more to my personal taste. This isn’t because they are aimed at younger audiences per se; games can aim at adult demographics without aping another medium. Some personal favourites would be series like Souls, Resident Evil and God of War.
I personally don’t like the direction Naughty Dog have taken for the past decade or so because their games have become less “game-y” (for lack of a better term). Yes the shooting/traversal is mechanically competent and the story is well directed, but I think that they are hewing much more closely to a long-form television show format. The fact that Last of Us was able to be adapted into a tv show so seamlessly also suggests this is the case.
The colourful worlds of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter were Rare-esque and much more to my personal taste. This isn’t because they are aimed at younger audiences per se; games can aim at adult demographics without aping another medium. Some personal favourites would be series like Souls, Resident Evil and God of War.
I have a Jak and Daxter sized hole in my heart. Love those games. Been playing them on the Steam Deck a bit.