Summary
Naughty Dog are one of the most reliable game developers in the industry right now. Whether it’s their incredible take on thesurvival horror genreinThe Last of Us, or the epic action-adventures ofNathan Drake, they’ve come out with some absolute masterpieces in the eyes of many and are consistent in their quality, though not all of their games have been universally loved.
There’s always a chance that a game in any series can end up being a little polarizing if it takes some creative risks, and while there aren’t many in Naughty Dog’s catalog, there are still some which ended up dividing opinion. Whether it’s a split between critics and players, or just different opinions within the fanbase itself, these are the games developed by Naughty Dog that have been received with mixed reception for the most part.
At its core,Crash: Warpedis a great platformer thattakes a lot of the challenge and creativity of the previous gamesand simply builds upon it. However, then there are the endless gimmicks that are far more divisive. InCrash 2, the platforming levels would be split up by areas where Crash would essentially be completing a little minigame while getting around with a jetpack which were called “gimmick levels”.
Since there weren’t too many of them, these missions never felt like they were getting in the way of the amazing platforming experience, but there are so many of them inWarpedthat they felt a little overwhelming for some fans. Players who love the variety in gameplay and being able to experience plenty ofvehicle levelsreally enjoyed this, while others have loathed their inclusion, or at least find them a lot more jarring when playing the game after a few years.
Way of the Warriorwas Naughty Dog’s attempt to capitalize on thearcade fighting game crazeof the 90s, and while the core gameplay is definitely a ton of fun, there’s a severe lack of combos and mechanics when compared to its competition at the time. What really made it stand out was the pretty amazing and brutally realistic animations and sound design which felt like a unique spin on the exaggerated goriness ofMortal Kombat.
Anyone who loves classic fighting games which are a little rough around the edges will adoreWay of the Warrior, but it can be denied that it’s still quite unbalanced which makes it hard to truly get into on a serious level.
WhileUncharted 1and 2were undoubtedly homeruns for Naughty Dog, the third game in this now classic series was by far the most polarizing of the bunch. One of the major points of contention was how much the action-hero style of the gameplay was ramped up inUncharted 3with Drake’s antics going absolutely above and beyond which was considered pretty badass for some people, while for others it was just a tad too ridiculous.
There’s also the fact that Drake would now be tasked with gunning down what felt like hundreds of guards and soldiers in each area which took the attention away from theexploration and puzzles. The fast-paced action-packed nature ofUncharted 3appealed to a lot of players, but also seemed like it was straying too far from the series' roots for some longtime fans.
3Jak 2
Metacritic User Score: 8.3
The firstJak and Daxtergame was known for being fairly difficult in its gameplay, but the sequel really is on a whole new level when it comes to challenge. This difficulty spike came from the fact that every level was far longer than in the original and required a lot more exploration which is something that fans of the more linear platforming experience weren’t too fond of.
Then there’s the brutal checkpoint system which will really trip up the player if they end up acting carelessly and not using all the weapons at their disposal. Similar to theSoulslike sub-genrethough, this unforgiving challenge in the game has actually been seen much more favorably by some players in recent years, so it really depends on how much someone enjoys overcoming a brutal challenge that will sway their opinion one way or the other.
2Jak X: Combat Racing
Metacritic User Score: 7.9
WhileJak X: Combat Racingplays like a completely different game from everything else in the series, it actually turned out being extremely enjoyable for many people. Thechaotic demolition-derby gameplayis incredibly fun, and all the dun-buggy’s are incredibly detailed and visually stunning. There’s also a tremendous number of tracks to race on which adds to the replay value.
This was all a dream-come-true for any fans of fast-paced racing games who wanted something that mimicked the older and more chaotic arcade racers, but it wasn’t well met by longtime hardcore fans of theJakgames who were puzzled by the drastic change in style and gameplay. A lot of people have admittedly come around to the game in modern times, but it’s still considered a rough patch in the series for a lot of people.
The sequel to Naughty Dog’s groundbreaking gameThe Last of Usis not only their most divisive game, but it’s gone down as one of the most polarizing games of all time, though opinions have begun to change as the years have passed. By far, the biggest complaint many had was with the story which took a radically different route to what fans were expecting; instead deciding to focus primarily on new characters as opposed to continuing the journey with Joel and Ellie.
Not everyone enjoyed the main theme of the game being centered around revenge as this also seemed like it was ignoring the survival aspect that made the first game so memorable. Over the years though, a lot of people have come to look more fondly on the risks Naughty Dog decided to take with this sequel, andeven though it’s a few years oldis still one of the best looking games ever made.The Last of Us Part IIreally is a game that players should test out before buying since while it could end up being unlikable for some, it could easily be another person’s favorite game of all time after a playthrough.
