Naughty Dog is widely considered to be one of the best studios in gaming at the moment, with the Sony-owned developer consistently releasing standout games that dominate in the award season. Further, considering that Naughty Dog has many announcements planned, the future is looking bright for the highly respected developer. That said, it is all-but-guaranteed that whatever the studio does next will keep one tradition alive.
In every Naughty Dog game released throughout the past few decades, players can find easter eggs both big and small that reference the studio’s past work. While this is common in the video game industry, the way in which Naughty Dog handles its references is truly unique. Including a mix of big and small nods within its games, many of Naughty Dog’s best secrets are directly related to the games it is responsible for creating.
The Power Of Smaller Nods
As far as small references go, Naughty Dog has used the tactic plenty throughout its history. Starting back in Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy with a venus fly trap ripped straight from Crash 2: Cortex Strikes Back, these nods have become increasingly common in recent years. One example is Sully’s plane from the Uncharted series, as its “Hog Wild” name is a nod to the Crash Bandicoot level of the same name. The swimsuits in Uncharted are named “ottsel,” a nod to Daxter’s species, while the strange relic — AKA the Precursor Orb — can be found throughout the Uncharted games as a collectible. Crash Bandicoot’s signature Wumpa fruit can be found within Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End as well, with Nathan Drake able to inspect the unique-looking food item.
The dark and serious world of The Last of Us is not safe from these references either, however. While there are nods to Jak and Daxter, such as a plush toy and board game centered on the game, the main target of choice is clearly the Uncharted franchise. Ellie can be heard whistling the Uncharted theme, a newspaper for an Uncharted movie can be found, and items from Uncharted can be discovered throughout the game. With buildings like O’Sullivan’s Pub referencing Sully and posters mentioning Uncharted 2’s Phurba dagger also seen, Naughty Dog’s love for its games is noticeable throughout The Last of Us as well.
Mastering The Major References
More obvious nods exist in The Last of Us as well, including some alternate costumes for Ellie that reference Jak and Daxter. A sweatshirt, Daxter backpack, and Jak goggles can all be worn by the protagonist, making the developer’s attachment to their classic series even more clear. While The Last of Us 2 includes a well-hidden Precursor Orb as a collectible, Nathan Drake’s iconic ring is much easier to discover. In an optional exploration section early in the game, Ellie can enter a bank to obtain a shotgun. However, one of the lockboxes contains Drake’s iconic ring, with Ellie able to read the “Sic Parvis Magna” inscription clearly. While there are plenty of subtle nods, such as a PlayStation 3 with Uncharted game cases scattered around the console, seeing a spotlight placed on Drake’s ring is awesome.
However, when it comes to major references, none is more clear than Uncharted 4’s Crash Bandicoot homage. A major focus of a cutscene at both the start and end of the game, both Nathan and Cassie Drake can play the first level of Crash Bandicoot to its fullest. Boasting the same visual style, mechanics, and music as the original, playing a Naughty Dog game inside another Naughty Dog game is as big as a reference can possibly get. Guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any Naughty Dog fan, the moment stands tall as one of the better easter eggs in recent years.
While Naughty Dog references films, comics, and other games within its video game franchises, the nods to its own work are often some of the most fun. While it may be a while before something tops the Crash Bandicoot easter egg in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, players can certainly expect to see more collectibles and environmental details that serve as obvious callbacks.