Naughty Dog: Uncharted 3 inspired by ICO

Uncharted developer Naughty Dog has revealed that Japanese cult classic ICO is a major influence on its work - including the project it's creating "right now". You know, the one beginning with 'Uncharted' and ending in '3'.

[PSfan09]

i think im going to pre-order uncharted 3 right now.
Its just that epic

[Stuart5756]

Pre-order, where from?

[LightofDarkness]

Gamestop have it on the list.

[OneSneakyMofo]

If Ico inspired Uncharted 3, expect it to be someplace in the highlands with castles, perhaps Ireland?

[perfectCarbonara]

Well, not necessarily OneSneakyMofo. Inspiration can come from anywhere, the game could be set in space and it could still be Ico that inspires them with the overall emotions or feeling it evokes for instance.

Not necessarily art direction.

[Red_Orange_Juice]

<comment praising Uncharted 3 >

[-Alpha]

I'm hoping they borrow story elements as opposed to setting or anything like that. UC2 had strong dialogue but a better story would be awesome. Lazaravich was a little too bland of a villain for me. If you would borrow from anybody in terms of story Team ICO is the way to go

[crxss]

Anybody smell a marketing scheme? Regardless I'm getting both day one!

[yoshiroaka]

@alpha

yea i agree that Lazaravich was very bland. I think the problem was that they spent almost no time on him. You barley see him for the game so when he comes in at the end he just come off as a genric baddie and made the climatic last battle a little disappointing for me.

I hope in the next one they really develop a really good villan that you could get emotional about. Larz was meh.

[DigitalAnalog]

Where did ND explicitly state they're making Uncharted 3? Is this a cvg quote making assumptions? All I see is project "right now" and has something to do to make it "ICO-like" which Uncharted is completly different. Maybe they're making a new IP?

ICO is one of the most expansive platforming experiences on a console while Uncharted is more of a scripted linearity. It's hard to believe a game like Uncharted can take something out of ICO.

-End statement

[AKS]

Amy Hennig said in an interview around the time Shadow of Colossus came out that she found the original ICO to be haunting and inspiring. Ted Price and Tim Schafer also praised it in the same article. ICO's poor game sales and perception of the game by the general public does not limit the impact it has had on developers. Every developer worth it's salt took a very careful look at ICO when it was released, and that included some of the absolute best in the business. It's not at all surprising that it continues to influence games now, including games of different genres.

When I saw the early pictures of an untitled "Naughty Dog Game," which eventually became Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the FIRST game I thought of looking at the environments and style was ICO.

I dug up my first comments about the original Uncharted from another forum:

"February 8, 2007, 2:48 PM CST by AKS
This game appears to finally have a name to go with the pretty face [Uncharted]. Looking at the lush environments in these screens, I'm getting really eager to see another game from Fumito Ueda (of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus fame) someday, although it will probably take him years to actually release another game."

[Steve_0]

@AKS,
I remember seeing footage of Uncharted back when it was known as BIG... The fluid animation, lush environments, and character details... When I saw Naughty Dog logo, I knew then and there that I was looking at something special.
Uncharted is easily my favourite new IP this gen, and it's up there with my all time classics. I feel like playing some Uncharted: Drakes Fortune now...

[DigitalAnalog]

That didn't answer my question. Where exactly did THEY state they were going to MAKE Uncharted 3? It seems to me CVG somehow just pulled that comment out of thin air.

This is the opening line for the article:

"Uncharted developer Naughty Dog has revealed that Japanese cult classic ICO is a major influence on its work - including the project it's creating "right now"."

No doubt a lot of developers are taking inspiration from ICO, which to say (taking risks and the like) and not necessarily the gameplay. You can pretty much say ND took the subject of "partnership" hence characters like Elena or Sully are so damn memorable. I can pretty much conclude that was a homage to ICO's Yorda or SoTC' Argo. Peter Molyneux took the "holding hands" aspect and brought it to Fable 3.

-End statement

[JUDALATION]

UNCHARTED 3 IS IN THE WORKS OH MY GAWD.... I JUST JIZZED AND SHIT MY PANTS AT THE SAME TIME! ICQ WAS MY FAVORATE GAME AND UNCHARTED MY SECOND... OH GOD I AM GOING TO PASS OUT!

[Apone]

Snap out of it! ;)

[vsr]

WoW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Acquiescence]

Someone get a sick bag. But make sure all the sick is emptied out of it first.

[DigitalRaptor]

This was known months ago!

[BillOreilly]

All uncharteds borrow from ico. Have any of you played it, the platforming is right out of ico. Same thing pretty much. I think people hype games without playing it here. Ico was a an ok game that sold for crap, sotc came out and all of a sudden ico was everybodys fav game. Ico had atmoshere and art design though with good puzzles. It was fun but nothing was memorable until people saw the end of sotc and you become ico or his grandpa or whatev.

[guzman]

I think it's time for you to have a juicebox full of STFU and spend some downtime in the "no spin zone", Billy.

[ComboBreaker]

You just don't understand do you? No matter how much you badmouth Ico and SotC, it ain't gonna change the fact that they're legendary games.

Developers and gamers alike love Ico and SotC. Your badmouthing isn't going to change their masterpiece status anytime soon.

[cmrbe]

Inspire. It dosent mean it will be like ICO which i hope not.

[showtimefolks]

uncharted 3 lol but its gonna be uncharted 3 than hopefully a new jak game made by ND

[Cloudberry]

.
Dare I say...

Announcement at VGA 2010 maybe?

:D

[dosgrtr]

that is very likely since uncharted 2 was shown at VGA 08

[Stuart5756]

Defo, then footage at E3 2011 and the a fall 2011 release, perfect timing!

[showtimefolks]

fall 2011 is booked for TLG

also twisted metal
resistance 3
agent
getaway 3
eight days
etc,,,,

in think uncharted 3 will be in early 2012 like march or something

[BornToKill]

i might just have a heart attack.

[showtimefolks]

i am too pumped to call 911 right now lol

[PR_FROM_OHIO]

Naughty Dog+ICO=GREATEST GAME EVER MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[showtimefolks]

and nothing but the truth

[Idree]

Recipy for greatness right there!

Loved ICO & SoTC, hope they somehow pull it off :)

[Chromer]

I believe Naughty Dog means to create something better than Uncharted 2 that it will transcend the generations and take its place amongst the Gaming Legends such as ICO.

[SaberEdge]

I think the Uncharted games have already achieved their rightful place among masterpieces like Ico and SOTC.

[DigitalAnalog]

Are in it's own league. They do not conform to the "normal" standards in the gaming world. Games like Portal belong to this category as well.

Uncharted can push the technicalities and gameplay to another degree but that is a totally different story.

-End statement

[PimpHandHappy]

how you hype up a game with the user base

I have never played ICO but i know its much loved. Uncharted 3 will be awesome just like 1&2

[LightofDarkness]

I implore thee to play it. Especially when the HD Remix arrives with SOTC.

[Rage_S90]

if you dont play it i wont be your friend :(

[Dude Dutch]

play this wonder called ICO my young apprentice. Thou will not become a wizard gamer if thou notst playest this wonderful game.

Be wise and fullfill your destiny...............

[Rage_S90]

your comment eclipsed mine im not happy about this overshadowing of my commenting ability

[MaideninBlack]

Japanese devs trying to westernize their games while western devs are influanced by Japanese games.

[kasasensei]

I love sotc but hate ico. So boring.

[MisterAV]

ICO hasn't really a story. You're there, helping the girl...
Sometimes you're running in that desert castle or solving some puzzle

Every moment I asked myself why I was playing. You playing because the story is interesting or because the gameplay is interesting. And ico is neither of them... just boring

[Cenobia]

What? ICO is intensely interesting. How could you not be interested in why you were imprisoned, why the woman was held captive, what the shadow monsters are, etc. etc.

The gameplay was also very good in my opinion. It was basically a platformer/puzzle game, and the jumping and puzzles were always fun. Having a companion with you was also pretty revolutionary since the characters depended on each other. If you were expecting some sort of combat system, ICO basically just swung the sword like a person who never used a sword would.

[Si-Fly]

Ico evokes a sense of wonderment colliding with an eerie sadness, when you're a little older you'll probably appreciate the sentiment within it, not really aimed at the gung-ho kids or cod fanclub.

[MisterAV]

Never played cod, i don't like much fps, I was 14-15 that time maybe. Bu I don't think even now I would like it.

@Cenobia: I never finished it but everything's explained at the end? I watched the ending on youtube and there's nothing...

[Cenobia]

Most of the answers you have to deduce for yourself. They don't really spell it out for you, but the questions in my previous comment are definitely answered. Others are purposely left open for the player to decide. It is very much like SotC where you piece together information that you receive over the duration of the game.

I don't know how far you got in the game, but you may have missed the interaction with the queen in the middle of the game. She provides a lot of answers (mostly about Yorda) so it may be confusing without seeing it.

The not knowing is really a cool experience imo, though. The objective to get out of their is pretty simple, but the journey is pretty fantastic. The graphics are also pretty amazing and still 'feel' like the best I've ever seen because of the lighting, architecture, and animations.

[guzman]

MisterAV: You must have been dropped on your head as a kid.

[Strikepackage Bravo]

Uncharted was influenced by Gears of War!!!!

and obviously Tomb Raider.

Hence Uncharteds nick name dude raider.

[LightofDarkness]

And Gears was influenced by Kill.Switch, what's your point?

[guzman]

and RE4, that Cliffy guy even said so.

[limewax]

how does uncharted look anything like gears.....the game your thinking of is quantum theory

[fuckoffodion]

you obviously have nothing useful to say. You sound bitter.

Bravo! You're a troll.

[yewles1]

Wow, such an explosion over nothing... ...bravo? XD

[RIP_Weazel]

Isn't 'Dude Raider' your nickname amongst the boys at the blue oyster bar?

[guzman]

LMAO!! He's into bros icing bros I'd wager.

[Dark-Cloud]

so they are making uncharted 3 ?.. they didn't say they will make it ... could someone tell me ?!!! ... maybe they aree making a new game that will look like ICO , never played ICO but it seems a great game :) , i don't have a ps2 right now -.- , i want to play alots of ps2 games like Dark cloud - MGS 2-3 - jack and daxter - nba street - ICO and alots of games >.< .. i don't know where is my ps2 XD , maybe some one steal it or someone in my house give it to someone >.< ...

[BabyTownFrolics]

of the uncharted games is the platforming, I hope they come up with some truly amazing set pieces to climb. Something tall and vertigo inducing.

I know this might be out of place, but I would love some multiplayer foot races.

[Master of Unlocking]

Er, guys, did anyone read the article? Cause it seems to me it's actually the author of the article who's assuming Uncharted 3 is being made, rather than the ND staff stating it is.
Anyway, it's probably fair to say it's crystal clear that there'll be an Uncharted 3 at some point, especially with a 2nd installment that garnered such (deserved) critical and commercial success. But who knows if ND isn't working on something else right now?

[limewax]

Seems a bit odd that bungie dubbed them 'team totally not working on uncharted 3' in the halo match a few weeks ago though

[Cloudberry]

.
Naughty Dog could be distracting us.

[Next_Up]

OMG! Uncharted 3 is gonna be incredibly epic. It's a day 1 buy for sure.

[StanRaimondi]

This brings tears to my eyes uncharted 3 with a story influenced by ico *crosses fingers* and ico collection in the same year god i hope so. I think im going to need a few more jobs.

[Vinushka]

Uncharted 3 shall be greatness.

However, with this news I'm hoping that Naughty Dog are secretly working on Jak 4. One can dream, right?

[StanRaimondi]

Im hoping that its uncharted 3 but honestly anything they make is going to be a day one buy for me.

[Greek God]

Only on PS3

[Xfanboy]

Anything Naughty Dog makes is day 1 purchase!

If the visuals beat UC2 i will sh!t on my xbox..

[Rage_S90]

im holding you to this :D

[Dark-Cloud]

-

[nycredude]

Hmm an avatar of an xbox with a pile of shit on it. Seems natural and fitting.

[ULTIMATE_REVENGE]

Oh they finally decided to talk about the game, it only took them about 50 years.

Anyway's I can't wait to see it.

[Cajun Chicken]

This oddly sounds more appropriate for a Jak game...

[turgore]

I knew they would make another one...you know, its only the most succesful new IP this generation.

[blackburn5]

Ico and SotC trash? That is one of the worse things as a gamer you could ever say. That is an insult to the PS2 generation. You owe us over 100 million apologises.

[Ravage27]

this will be good.....

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Why is it that whenever someone dislikes ICO or Shadow of the Colossus, they get pseudo reprimanded as if they said something vile and offensive? Remember, serious question.

[Studio-YaMi]

Like Halo or half life,I once said I didn't play half life,I did see lots of videos for it,and I didn't think it was THAT big or great like most people think,but I got pinned down with disagrees.

It's just that,well ; since they have such a big fan-base,you can't talk bad about them,or you are asking for it,that's my 2 cents on the dilemma..lol.

[Darkfiber]

I think they mean it's going to be just one big escort mission. As if the Uncharted series couldn't get even MORE derivative. This is the most popular/least original video game series in existence. I will never understand why people like it so much.

[Studio-YaMi]

but it is for many others,so stop hating and go play whatever "you" like to play.

[Lykon]

hmmm, i couldn't get into ico...the girl and the constant sqauking sounds were quite irritating...love the two uncharted games though ...i will have another go at getting into ico again though when it's released on ps3, there was obviously something i missed

[PirateThom]

It's not trying to be original, no one ever sat down at development and said "let's make the most original game of all time" no, they said, "let's make a fun game with a good story and set pieces with awesome graphics."

If you want an original game, you better look elsewhere. If you want an amazing action adventure game, you've got it.

[R_aVe_N]

If any game is inspired by ICO it is a win for me. One of the greatest games I have ever played. The story elements in that game were just spot on. I look forward to what Uncharted 3 brings. I still want ND to make an RPG I would like to see what they could do with it.

[PS360PCROCKS]

Awesome. Never played the ICO series but I plan on it when the remastered games are released. But anything with Uncharted and 3 is a win for me. I'd like ND to make another franchise or revive an old one this gen as well.

[HOSe]

so. more intense co-op?

[orange-skittle]

is the fact that Uncharted 3 will never get Halo numbers. I used Halo because it is a 360 cult classic just as Uncharted is for the PS3. Uncharted has the potential to have people waiting in line for it's release but it will have that draw. That's so unfortunate considering HOW AMAZING THIS GAME IS. I for one would've bought a PS3 just for this game if I didnt own one already. I thought Halo: Reach was the best Halo ever created, but it wasn't stellar. They should've done it like that from the beginning. You cared for every character and felt saddened when they all died. That's how much story based games really matter. If something happened to Sully, we would have an uprising.

[kesvalk]

dev1: hey we need more hype on uncharted 3, what we're gonna do?

dev2: i know man! let's say we get ispired by ICO!

dev1: wow, awesome plan!

uncharted 3 will be a good game, but please, this is the same as saying i am stupid and will accept anything you say to me...

[nycredude]

Stop hiding under the covers and smelling your own fart. It's obviously having a negative effect on your brain. WTF did you say again?

[Tikicobra]

It could be a new Jak. Jak 3 had lots of vast deserts.

[TronEOL]

Yeah, I'll be pre-ordering Uncharted 3 the second it becomes available at my local EB Games. I only need to know it's coming out to get it. Since I already know (proof being Uncharted 1 and 2) that Uncharted 3 is going to be the best game released in its year.

Uncharted 2 had it all. Now Uncharted 3 just needs to improve upon everything it has already and add some minor new things.

By the way, making the Multiplayer more accessible doesn't make it "OMG FAILBADD CAZUALZ". It makes it so it'll have over 200,000 people playing online at any time and make everyone on the same playing field. Some people hate playing videogames that they don't win within the first 30 minutes or so of playing.

Call of Duty is as big as it is in the MP Department because of how easy it is for everyone to get into it. Which I personally find most dev's need to look at.

[Mr Tretton]

So you're saying devs need to water down their MP so you can see the number 200,000 on your screen?

[saimcheeda]

.

[jhani]

i hope they can release a short teaser of uncharted 3 during or right after christmas. I recall the same timeframe for uncharted 2, it was 1 year after the release of uc 1 that a teaser of the sequel appeared. Exiting months to follow!