By and large, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End has prompted a pretty damn positive response β but not everyone is in love with the PlayStation 4 exclusive. But while criticisms of its pacing and platforming may be more than fair, comments about the gender of some of its characters are less reasonable. However, that's something that Naughty Dog had to put up with while focus testing the title prior to release.
There are major spoilers for the ending of Nate Drake's latest adventure below, so make sure that you exit this article immediately if you don't want to know anymore. Everyone else, scroll past the oversized picture of the stubbled protagonist below to find out exactly what p*ssed one tester off.
Speaking with Glixel about the importance of diversity and representation in games, director Neil Druckmann said: "When I'm introducing and describing a new character to our lead character concept artist, constantly she will ask, 'What if it was a girl?' And I'm like, 'Oh, I didn't think about that. Let me think, does that affect or change anything? No? Cool, that's different. Yeah, let's do it.'"
This resulted in the gender of several characters changing: the old lady in the mansion, and Cassie β Drake and Elena's daughter. "Initially, in the epilogue, it was Nate's son," Druckmann explained. But not all of these decisions went down well with the foray's focus testers.
"You have some sexist focus testers who were really upset by Nadine beating up Nate, and really upset at the end when it was Nate's daughter," the director continued. "To the point where we had to ask one guy to leave. In his core, it just affected him. He was cursing, 'Not you, too, Naughty Dog! Goddammit. I guess I'm done with Uncharted, if you guys ever make another one, with his daughter. This f*cking bullsh*t.'"
It's absolutely insane to think that people react in this way. Personally, we already love Cassie, and hope to see much more of her in Uncharted 4's upcoming story expansion. And we reckon that Nadine is one of the better villains that's featured in the series to date. Why would anyone get upset about things like this? Surely it's good that developers are beginning to think beyond the archetypal straight, white male?
[source glixel.com, via kotaku.com]
Comments 32
Madness!
I liked both Nadine and Cassie. The moment we see Nadine removing her heels, we know someone is going to get his ass kicked and I liked that both of the super Drake bros where needed to even have a chance against her. Not every protagonist have to be over powered and beat everyone else.
"hope to see much more of her in Uncharted 4's upcoming story expansion"
wait Uncharted 4 is getting a story expansion? SWEET!
also that guy they kicked out is a a**e
@FullbringIchigo It is, yeah! It'll be a full story add-on like The Last of Us: Left Behind. We'll probably get some kind of teaser at E3.
You get a few close minded idiots who desperately cling to the idea that the way they were born (gender, race, sexuality, etc) makes them superior. I guess up until recently their main refuge has been video games. Must be a sad existence for them.
Nadine for me has been one of the most interesting antagonists to date in the Uncharted games. Well done Naughty Dog for giving us some much needed diversity and kicking that guy out. Hopefully for his sake this wil be a major reality check and a much needed change of perspective.
@JoeBlogs perhaps and i'm all for that
Cassie certainly seems like the future of Uncharted - IF Naughty Dog opt to return. Obviously her back story could be a little less 'complex' than Nates as it appears she has grown up in 'relative' comfort with her parents. My only concern would be parallels with Lara Croft and Tomb Raider - especially if her 'gender' is used in similar ways as 'Tomb Raider's' reboot (the bit where she is assaulted - that wouldn't have happened if she was male but still relevant to her 'growth' and strength). Whether it is or not though, I have absolutely NO issue with any of the gender's of any of the characters. At no point in my playthrough did I feel that the characters didn't belong or would have been 'better' as the opposite gender. Nadine, I think was actually better as a Woman and fitted the way the story played out overall.
I really don't understand why people have this blinkered opinion about their characters and their gender. Horizon: Zero Dawn had issues with making Aloy a female lead too. Sometimes I wonder if we are living in the 1910's instead of the 2010's. In most games, the lead character could easily be replaced by the opposite gender and could still work. In a a few cases, the lead works better as a 'specific' gender because of the story development.
Absolutely Ridiculous!!!
@JoeBlogs She'd make a great duo teaming up with Eddy Raja, lol.
There are some idiots in the world, I thought all the characters were great and really how can you get upset because someone happened to have a daughter and not a son
Nadine is one of the best female characters I've seen in the last years. Naughty Dog can write believable females like it's nobody's business.
Erm I'm pretty sure its a story about redemption and Drake's daughter isn't there for a shamless money grab. Just like his broher isn't there for a spin off series but to represent the person drake used to be.
Where do they find these people they do not represent us.
Nadine and Cassie were fantastic (and I REALLY hope they continue the series with Cassie). Screw those sexist jerks; I'm glad to see strong female characters become more prevalent in gaming.
I really liked Nadine as a villain. That said I wish the first encounter was a little less predictable and you had slightly more control of how you get your butt kicked. I wouldn't expect Drake to stand a chance against a ruthless, highly trained, psychopathic warmonger especially considering he was out of the game for so long. But seriously I would have thrown a book or two or a lamp at her or something... Not try and hit her with the same punch as I'm repeatedly getting kicked in the head.
It was a little disappointing in my opinion.
I was a bit disappointed by the ending don't get me wrong i love the ending, but wasn't this ment to be the end of Uncharted? You got Sam that goes off with Sully & Cassie that could both make a new Uncharted, but then again Drake & Elena still. They have played it very safe or there is going to be a Uncharted 5, one or the two.
@get2sammyb You think they would tease a Cassie story so soon after launch? It's kind of a big spoiler for people who haven't played it. Does it really affect much, maybe not but the whole lead up to this game was "Does Drake die?" I guess Elena could have been pregnant throughout the entire game and then there's still a possibility of Nate dying. I'm all for some Cassie DLC, but if that's the case I wouldn't expect much more than a dtae.
@Nayrupowerlink Yeah, fair point. Maybe later in the year at PSX or something.
@banacheck It was only meant to be the end of Nates story line - not necessarily the end of Uncharted as a franchise.Nate and Elena seem settled into their life post adventuring - enough to have had a child that appears to be around 12 (give or take a few years) meaning they must have been out of the treasure hunting for a long time.
What this has done is bought Naughty Dog time in effect. By ending Drakes story, it means that fans won't be pestering them for a 'follow up' allowing them time to take stock, have a break away and focus on different projects. It also allows them the opportunity to return as and when they want with a number of possibilities. That could involve Sam and Sully or Cassie when she is a bit older. Of course they could even opt for a whole new cast of characters but either way, they have finished with Drake as a lead. They could of course have Drake returning as a cameo character - not as frequent or integral as Sully has been but as the father of Cassie, offering words of wisdom/advice etc.
Point is, it has given Naughty Dog the chance to leave Uncharted for the time being but an option to return if/when they are ready...
If we're discussing this are we going to talk about how henning was shown the door and her entire UC4 script was scrapped when druckmann took over resulting in the games initial delay?
Also wasn't the issue drake and another guy getting beaten up by her? Like it seemed stupid that a guy who killed immortal soldiers and nazi experiments can't double team her? I haven't played the game so I'm going off second hand info but it all sounds like a dose of suspension of disbelief is needed to buy what UC4 is selling here.
@BAMozzy Wow, Nathan will be the New sully... and Cassy as the lead.
Just finished it... Absolutely fantastic! Im sort off glad that they got a daughter. A Son would be copy paste drake.
@Sanquine Its possible but I think Drake would be more 'stay at home' with Elena and maybe just make the odd Cameo appearance as and when it fits the storyline rather than being someone as integral as Sully...
@sonicmeerkat What is there to discuss? Both Hennig and Naughty Dog parted ways and the Last of Us team took over.
There's idiots on all sides of the gender wars, I won't go any further than that because my opinion on the matter isn't very popular. I'll just say I wish all these journalists would shut up and let creators create the character they want, male or female. As long as the protagonist is likeable and well developed, it shouldn't matter. And it's not like there hadn't been strong females before. Would it be nice if there were more? Absolutely, I believe balance is needed in everything, but a lot of stuff these days feels forced.
As far as Uncharted 4's DLC. Again, I'll have the unpopular, nothing new, but I was hoping to see Sam and Sully's adventure which was teased at the end and one of the main reasons is Sully's connection with Cutter and especially Chloe. Cutter was never developed where he needs real closure but it's absolutely criminal that they wrap up Nate's and Chloe's story arc with nothing more than a note. My hope is she'll show up in the DLC. I guess it could work with her serving as a mentor for Cassie as well but I think it'd be nice to see her and Cutter team up with Sully one more time and meet Nate's older brother.
Literally just finished uncharted 4 and I'm really glad I waited to read the comment section til I beat it!
Uncharted 4 is my favorite. 4>2>3>1
I am completely happy with the characters in uncharted 4. I imagine if there is another uncharted developed by a different team it would be Sam and sully with elena and drake making a cameo, who knows what will happen with uncharted now but I have enjoyed the ride, really great games.
@ReigningSemtex
I'll point to Halo 4 and 5 as examples of why sometimes it's good to finish a series on a high note and be happy with that rather than continuing it just because. Uncharted 4 ends perfectly. I love the series and it's bittersweet to see it go but at the same time, at least it's gone out on an extremely high note. I'd prefer that as to what happened to my former favorite franchise. Under MS and 343's direction Halo has become a pathetic shell of its former self. I don't want that for Uncharted.
@Gamer83 I totally understand what you are saying and I agree I mean look at what happened to crash bandicoot (using a naughty dog example) after naughty dog had finished with it, but the problem is uncharted is a big name just like crash and halo and although I would be happy to see games I love end on a high note there will always be people that don't want them to end and it will still bring in the $'s regardless of the fact it can harm a game series legacy overall.
I am yet to play halo 5 and I know many fans disliked halo 4 but I had some great fun with it I remember thinking 343 had done a good job with the title, maybe I am in the minority.
So I guess I am on the fence about it because while I think they should leave it how naughty dog left it I imagine Sony will be wanting to use the name some more and if I am honest I don't think I would be able to resist going back it.
Uncharted golden abyss didn't quite have that naughty dog magic and polish but it was a thoroughly enjoyable uncharted game regardless so it can be done I guess it's up to the fans to choose to ignore it or not. We'll have to wait and see
@ReigningSemtex
I was a big fan of Golden Abyss but it was another Nathan Drake adventure and Bend collaborated with Naughty Dog. If Uncharted were to continue, I'd buy the next one, not going to pretend I wouldn't. And I expect Sony to continue it with a different studio because there is too much money it'd be missing out on. I hope Naughty Dog is really moving onto other things though. I think ND's best work is when it gets to do new franchises. Imo, Crash Bandicoot was good but bettered by Jak & Daxter (the first one anyway). J&D was topped by Uncharted and many people would argue TLoU is better than Uncharted. Basically, let Naughty Dog make another new IP.
@Gamer83 totally jak and Daxter original is great! And I definitely prefer the last of us over uncharted so yeah hopefully naughty dog are working on something new soon but I want some more last of us first even if it already ended that game on a strong note I need more
@sonicmeerkat It would probably help if we knew why Amy was shown the door before we talk about it. Otherwise there isn't much to talk about other than the fact she was shown the door. Suffice to say, Uncharted 4 was a pretty amazing story. I'm sure Hennig would've made a great story as well, and she was an extremely talented writer, but making any assumptions without any evidence to base them on is pointless and unfair to both parties.
They did give her a pretty noticeable shout out in the credits thanking her for all the work she did on the series. I don't think they were trying to be malicious against her. I also doubt the decision was based on sexism (though it's possible I'm wrong obviously). But honestly, who knows why she got asked/told to leave? I have no idea. Neither does anyone but Sony, Naughty Dog, and her probably.
@sonicmeerkat It would probably help if we knew why Amy was shown the door before we talk about it. Otherwise there isn't much to talk about other than the fact she was shown the door. Suffice to say, Uncharted 4 was a pretty amazing story. I'm sure Hennig would've made a great story as well, and she was an extremely talented writer, but making any assumptions without any evidence to base them on is pointless and unfair to both parties.
They did give her a pretty noticeable shout out in the credits thanking her for all the work she did on the series. I don't think they were trying to be malicious against her. I also doubt the decision was based on sexism (though it's possible I'm wrong obviously). But honestly, who knows why she got asked/told to leave? I have no idea. Neither does anyone but Sony, Naughty Dog, and her probably.
@sonicmeerkat It would probably help if we knew why Amy was shown the door before we talk about it. Otherwise there isn't much to talk about other than the fact she was shown the door. Suffice to say, Uncharted 4 was a pretty amazing story. I'm sure Hennig would've made a great story as well, and she was an extremely talented writer, but making any assumptions without any evidence to base them on is pointless and unfair to both parties.
They did give her a pretty noticeable shout out in the credits thanking her for all the work she did on the series. I don't think they were trying to be malicious against her. I also doubt the decision was based on sexism (though it's possible I'm wrong obviously). But honestly, who knows why she got asked/told to leave? I have no idea. Neither does anyone but Sony, Naughty Dog, and her probably.
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