Naughty Doghas experimented with a wealth of different thematic tones over the last few decades. While Naughty Dog has made some incredibly bright, energetic, and joyous mascot platformers, it’s also made some exceptionally dark and mature games that explore some weighty themes. But regardless of tone,Naughty Doghas always gone out of its way to put Easter eggs and references in its games.
Based on its reveal trailer, it seems as thoughNaughty Dog’s upcomingIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetwill be no exception to the rule, with it embracing a retro-futuristic aesthetic that already references real-world brands. These references will likely only be the tip of the iceberg forIntergalactic, and there’s one long-running Naughty Dog Easter egg the Sci-Fi game not only needs to include, but elevate.
Intergalactic Could Take Naughty Dog’s Precursor Orb Easter Egg to New Heights
A Brief History of Naughty Dog’s Precursor Orb Easter Egg
Naughty Dog’s longest-running Easter eggcan trace its roots all the way back to 2001, with the release ofJak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. In classic mascot platformer fashion,Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacyrequires players to collect a certain number of Precursor Orbs (egg-shaped artifacts) to progress. These Precursor Orbs appear throughout the rest of the series, usually taking the role of a currency that’s used to buy secret stages and other unlockables.
In 2007, a Precursor Orb found its way to the firstUnchartedgame, where it was described as a “Strange Relic.” The Strange Relic then appeared in every subsequentUnchartedgame, including the PS Vita-exclusive,Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Under a similar name, “Strange Artifact”, the Precursor Orb also made an appearance inThe Last of Us Part 2. The Precursor Orb also has a chance of appearing inRatchet & Clank: Rift Apartwhen players firethe RYNO-8 weapon.
Intergalactic Can Take The Precursor Orb Easter Egg One Step Further
Jak and Daxter’s Precursor Orbhas appeared in almost every Naughty Dog game since 2001, so it seems fairly likely it’ll appear inIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetas well. But the Precursor Orb shouldn’t just show up as a one-and-done collectible, it should just be one part of a much granderJak and DaxterEaster egg.
Precursor Orbs could be scattered acrossIntergalactic’s world of Sempiria, and once players find them all, they could unlock some kind of hidden gateway. Inside could be an even more overt reference toJak and Daxter, such as a brief appearance from the eponymous duo, complete with new voice lines from the original actors (Jak technically has two VAs to choose from). Alternatively, these Precursor Orbs could unlock a more tangible reward, such as a fully functional Morph Gun fromJak 2and3.
It’s pretty unlikely thata newJak and Daxteris on the way anytime soon, so it’d be a welcome surprise for Naughty Dog to acknowledge the beloved series, especially asIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s Sci-Fi setting would make any references feel fairly natural.
