Naughty Dogs’s upcomingUncharted: The Lost Legacywill contain the largest level the developer has created for anyUnchartedgame to date. The level, which will be set in the Western Ghats mountain range, will be larger thanUncharted 4’s Madagascar level.
The news comes courtesy of a Game Informer interview with Naughty Dog, where the developer shared a few details about theThe Lost Legacylevel’s size. Designer James Cooper said:
“This is the single largest level we’ve ever done in Uncharted. Geographically, it’s much bigger than Madagascar, which was previously our largest level.”
While the large size of the level is exciting, gamers are undoubtedly wondering if they’ll be relegated to a narrow path through the accompanying mission, or if the vast area will allow for more open-ended exploration. According to game director Kurt Margenau, the team at Naughty Dog is hoping to give players a bit more freedom in thelast game of the franchise. Margenau said:
“We have this really great location with the rural Western Ghats that allows us to get a true sense of exploration, unlike anything we’ve done before where the level design isn’t directing you exactly where to go.”
This is good news and a bit of a departure from pastUnchartedgames, which funneled players down a set path during each mission. Granted, linear missions haven’t stopped theUnchartedgames, especiallyUncharted 4, from receivingstellar reviews for their stories and gameplayexperience. But it will be nice to have a bit more exploration in a franchise that’s centered around treasure hunting.
To go along with the larger area, Naughty Dog will give players more collectibles, weapons, and encounters inThe Lost Legacythan any previousUnchartedtitle. This should hopefully make the game a bit more individualized as players seek out their own experiences rather than be relegated to the same, linear path.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacyis expected to release in 2017 for PlayStation 4.
