Why Naughty Dog Understands Multiplayer

CGM Writes: Naughty Dog understands online gaming. Each of its three multiplayer offerings so far (Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, and The Last of Us) have been engaging, fun, and different from the typical Call of Duty and first-person shooter competition. The studio knows what it needs to do to have its online components stand out.

[DarkOcelet]

They make good MP but hopefully they tone down on the Microtransactions. I don't think anybody is thrilled to see them in their games.

[98xpresent]

They also put BS in their Mp. Seeing players through walls

[Wintersun616]

You must be one of those people who don't have any patience to crouch walk in TLoU MP, and then you die. A lot.

[frostypants]

Uh...that mechanic was in the campaign, too. It would have been inconsistent to eliminate it from MP.

[GetSomeLoGiK]

Oh jeez, another person who thinks the DLC weapons and perks were op in TLoU. Tell you right now all the base weapons and perks were just as op as the DLC. Ranked 450 worldwide and the only DLC thing I use is Scavenger and I only use level one of it (50% more ammo) which is probably one of the least op perks.

[Wallstreet37]

I use vanilla weapons and still get gd amount of kills during mp and my team if good wins often. The microtransaction weapons didnt do much to unbalance the game imo.

[illAmpThunder]

Uhhm no the dlc weapons have better stats then most base game weapons yea u can still hold ur own w/ base game weapons because the game weapons are kind of ballanced but the truth is dlc weapons in tlou have better stats then base game weapons

[Thatguy-310]

Meh idk. They nailed it with Uncharted 2 among thieves and The Last of us. The other one not so much. The thing that I don't get is the excuse they use to add all the extra stuff is that teams will be "working together" a lot more. I found that being BS simply for the fact that when you look at how strip back The Last of us multiplayer is one can see that the only way to win in that game is by working as a team. They can do whatever they want with Uncharted multiplayer. That's a sail ship to me but they better not mess up and add all this extra stuff to the last of us 2.

[-Foxtrot]

Even the Last of Us was ruined near the end with their interfering, changing things people don't want while leaving the stuff people do want changed. Then the DLC/MT which got worse and worse splitting the community.

I just don't see why they added the in game store to the Last of Us, the world is about scavenging and surviving. It should have been an online where you start out with crap guns and you either search the map while avoiding the enemy for better weapons or upgrades OR you think you are good enough to take them on with crap weapons giving you a disadvantage.

Uncharted 2 was also ruined by the 1.5 update and never fixed.

The Uncharted 3 first beta was fantastic but the next beta they changed the stuff we didn't ask to be changed.

[Thatguy-310]

Yea I didn't mind the online store. For example while the shotguns were OP one just had to keep an eye out for the player that had it and keep their distance while engaging in combat from far away. I agree in how the multiplayer was a lot better at the start before they added. Even with the added stuff it ain't bad to the point where you just don't play the game anymore. Had more of a problem with the Uncharted 3 multiplayer.

[GetSomeLoGiK]

I swear, it's like you guys played the multiplayer for one day and got rekted and decided "WAHHHH DLC WEAPONS ARE OP". They're not...I can't count how many times I run lobbies with a 9mm only loadout with all base perks. Also the most op weapon in the game is the Burst Rifle and that's a fact but that doesn't mean you can't get around it and that's why I like the MP of TLoU because literally any gun can be good as long as the person whose using it is good.

[-Foxtrot]

@GetSomeLoGiK

How can we play the multiplayer in general for one day when our point is about the DLC/MT they added after release...MORE then one day

¬¬

[SnotyTheRocket]

TLoU is fine. I use a Revolver and a shotgun, and I waste most people. It's not hard.

[Stringerbell]

TLOU was raw. I loved it. Had my little team and the experience was great. Then microtransactions come in and all of a sudden the opposition is doing stuff I cant do unless I pay for it. Poor form, no way around it. It sort of became a little badge of honour to take out ppl that have an 'advantage' but I found myself playing less and less of the game.

Anything I compete in I want base rules that everyone has to follow, you give a leg up on the opposition becasue their pockets are deeper, you can jog on.

[SmokingMonkey]

I loved TLOU's online Multiplayer, so unique.

I always said they should have put TLOU multuplayer on the Vita and called it Fireflies or something.

I always thought they should have put COD zombies on the Vita too.

Either way, I can't wait to try out U4 on FRIDAY!!!!

[Thatguy-310]

Think they switched it to Thursday ;)

[SmokingMonkey]

Wait that's like.....

*checks fingers

...tomorrow?!

[WellyUK]

It could be even better though with bigger maps and more players, basically TLoU style Dayz would be great.

[FallenAngel1984]

All five of Naughty Dog's games that featured multiplayer were great experiences. They sure know how to create a great social experience with friends.

[zsquaresoff]

The last of us multiplayer is soo good.

[Shadow Man]

Tourists!

[-Foxtrot]

They understood it with Uncharted 2 but instead of focusing on that and continuing to give gamers a multiplayer which stands out from all the same old multiplayer games we have floating around, ones which have the same boring old structures , they lost their way and lost the chance to take the front place of a developer who wasn't doing something different with their online.

Developers have got to get out of the structure COD brought in where they add a bunch of unlocks to please kids that they are accomplishing something and progressing. You don't need that. You can find weapons on the map, randomly generate them around so, in Uncharteds case especially, you wouldn't have people rush to the same spot at the start of a match.

Barebones is where it's at and if they need to add things to unlock then why not customisation. Things which won't make a difference when playing, unlike a powerful weapon mod or weapon in general.

[Thatguy-310]

Yup they weren't even shy about it. Didn't they said they took inspirations from it? Then this time around they name dropped Destiny O.o smh

I remember the good old days in Uncharted 2 where I would take players with just the pistol. Good old times.

[nevin1]

"Developers have got to get out of the structure COD brought in where they add a bunch of unlocks to please kids that they are accomplishing something and progressing. You don't need that."

And that's your problem. When you said "kids" and "you don't need that"

You have realize these companies are out here to make money. These "kids"are the new audience that have no problem spending money on weapons and boosters.

[-Foxtrot]

If they make a good multiplayer they'll get our money regardless

Kids will be too bust playing those types of games and if they are COD will be their first pick...not Uncharted so why bother chasing them

[thricetold]

Barebones ISN'T where it's at. Nothing worse then having to waste time looking for an adequate weapon instead of being able to enjoy the match right from the beginning.

Extremely thrilled they realized they messed up mp in UC2 and moved away from such a crappy design. I do hope they include a more casual classic mode for you all though where you all can play map control to your hearts content.

[-Foxtrot]

Obviously it is when everyone online is roughly the same and doesn't do as well as the bigger ones like COD

Uncharted 2 stood out, Uncharted 3 ended up being engulfed by other online games out there.

Work it out.

[thricetold]

Except everyone isn't the same skilled with the same weapon now are they?

Example, they start everyone off with an ak47 which seems fair until you acknowledge that there are those who more skilled using that weapon than others might be.

Instant advantage for them.

Weapon pickups are garbage and promote camping map control mentality instead of hunting down the other team with skill and reflexes. Loadouts are just more suitable for an mp.

UC2 stood out all right, but certainly not for the reasons you claim and UC3 is STILL highly populated so exactly needs to be worked out? UC2 is dead and that classic mode is a ghost town.

Your barebones design is a dying design that most talented devs are not walking away from but running away from.

[PS4XBOXONEPC]

They also understand games...by far ONE of the best developers around.

[TwoForce]

I can't wait for Friday.

[Shadow Man]

I love the last of us multiplayer, I wish there were more maps.

"Firefly"!

[user9950279]

why? to make multiplayer games, obviously.

[Paytaa]

I think Naughty Dog gets that MP can be simplistic yet fun but they also tarnish their own games with the use of excess MT/DLC that can essentially be Pay2Win since the guns or whatever that cost real money have an advantage.

All in all I loved TLOU MP more than I thought I would and everyone always talks about Uncharted 2 having great MP before a specific patch (I was late into the Uncharted craze) so I think they definitely know how to craft a solid multiplayer component...just get rid of all the buffs and guns behind a paywall and make it an in-game unlockable.

[Skankinruby]

I'm not a huge multiplayer enthusiast but I found very little difference in uncharted 2 vs 3. Last of us was great too, got no concerns going into uncharted 4 mp

[Austin48]

They just need to stick with single player that's what there the king of

[ThatIrishGamer]

As much as I love Naughty Dog they don't understand multiplayer at all.

U2 had the makings of a good basic shooter, but power weapon spamming and auto aim ruined it.

U3 was an absolute shambolic mess. Spawning rpg's out of your pocket. The worst auto aim in history. Ugh disgusting.

Last of Us. Again the makings of a great tactical game, but unbalanced weapons such as bow, and molotovs being spammed along with reviving (which is ALWAYS a cheap and nasty thing) made it poor.

[GetSomeLoGiK]

The bow can be a powerful weapon, I know of two people who can embarrass people with it. Even I can.

Here's my video using it http://youtu.be/mnh0kSvpfJg

And then the real pro using it http://youtu.be/3oJFNYoXF1s

[kingahmad90]

CTR and UC2 were ND's best mp games
uc4 looks like a total mess

[frankdrebin72]

Some games work with multiplayer.
Story driven games are hard to make work, as you get so involved in playing the single player experience, the MP just feels like a slapdash add on.

[CAIp97]

The gameplay for Uncharted 4 MP looks great it's just Naughty Dog once again adding BS to a game that doesn't need it, you can summon a NPC which will help you out in combat for gods sake !!! and those mysticals as well Imo don't belong in Uncharted MP