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Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet – Jordan’s Looks are expected, and we’re happy about it

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Naughty Dog are well-versed in creating diverse looking character, cue Abby from their last offering, The Last of Us 2. Abby, a muscle-bound ticker-busting hard-nut, divided opinion, with many (ourselves included) of the thought she was perhaps too muscular to be believable. Especially, given the hard times people were living in through the plot of the game. We believe this was deliberate rage baiting, and for the most part it worked. People fell for it, hook-line-and-sinker. The idea being, you were supposed to hate the character for what she did, but then by the end of the game have a little more respect for her (or not as the case may be). Cue, Jordan A. Mun.





Naughty Dog just revealed their new IP, the first in what seems like an eternity in the upcoming space-themed action game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Once again, the interwebs are up in arms because of the looks of Jordan, played by the rather lovely Tati Gabrielle who played a villain in the Uncharted Movie (makes sense then), and was superb in the Netflix TV series “YOU”. In the trailer she is seen shaving her head (now completely bald) and sporting some fine biceps and delts. She’s a bounty hunter and it seems as is documented that the Naughty Dog team drew inspiration from the likes of Cowboy Bebop and Akira. All good then.

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Well, not really for some. It’s Abby all over again, with a non-sexualized character and one that loses her femineity on purpose. But why has Naughty Dog tried the rage-bait angle again? Online artist have tried to edit her appearance, which ultimately sexualizes the character. Sure, we think she looks great with long hair, but then we admit to losing something meaningful in the process. It seems some gamers just want the following looks for their gaming heriones:

What Some Gamers WANT!

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Here’s our understanding of Naughty Dog’s choices:

The shaved head is a bold (or should I say bald) look that issues a statement, not only about sexuality, but about being practical too. Tati Gabrielle is stunningly beautiful, especially in TV series “You”, but seems to be getting villainous roles or those that suit her shorter hair.

Women with a shaved-head isn’t anything new, look at Ripley in Aliens, and Furiosa in the Mad Max movie. It’s a way of showing that they can remove the sexualization to focus on the character itself a bit more. It’s also like being reborn and that symbolism (babies don’t always have much hair). A fresh start. Being shaved also removes a lot of personalization, which I assume can be quite useful if you’re blending-in or trying to as a bounty hunter. That said, glorious tats are pretty much like a fingerprint…And, Jordan has plenty of those.

After the debacle with Abbey in TLOU 2, Druckman and co. know exactly what buttons to push and they are doing here on purpose with aplomb. It’s highly likely those who are making complaints about the character will still play the game, because…

Anyhow, as a people who don’t hide our adulation of sexy videogame characters, perhaps it’s refreshing to see someone more grounded in reality, than the large-breasted fanservice models we see in a lot of games. We did dislike Abby in TLOU2 simply because they pushed her muscles too far in an exaggerated unbelievable way (on-purpose). Yet, funny how people complained given the subject matter of that game being drenched in fantasy.

That said, when playing we did feel connected to her character and story and that ladies & gentlemen was as a result of not being distracted by her sexuality (looks). Naughty Dog can focus on more complex and thought-provoking narratives and characterizations with this ~”neutral” looking character. So we’re game for that. And, if we want to ogle videogame females, there are tons of games that offer that, so we welcome the change. It has somewhat become Naughty Dog’s trademark when presenting female characters.



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Banjo64

cumsessed
I don't see why the obsession of having attractive people only
Do people do the same for mario or astro bot?
No, and there in lies the truth.

People aren’t truly bothered by ‘ugly’ or ‘sexy’ characters, maybe some are but I’d guess this is superficial dislike. You can slap a helmet on Master Chief, Doom Guy or Samus Aran and no one cares.

The deliberate ugliness is just one outcome of Neil’s twisted ideology and we already know with certainty what all of the other outcomes look like. As such, it’s funny to take the piss out of it.

ND probably could have saved themselves if they hired competent industry leading writers, but they are operating at teenager level. ‘you’re the boss’. Brilliant.
 

Bernoulli

M2 slut
No, and there in lies the truth.

People aren’t truly bothered by ‘ugly’ or ‘sexy’ characters, maybe some are but I’d guess this is superficial dislike. You can slap a helmet on Master Chief, Doom Guy or Samus Aran and no one cares.

The deliberate ugliness is just one outcome of Neil’s twisted ideology and we already know with certainty what all of the other outcomes look like. As such, it’s funny to take the piss out of it.

ND probably could have saved themselves if they hired competent industry leading writers, but they are operating at teenager level. ‘you’re the boss’. Brilliant.
But in this case the actress looks like that
They didn't make her uglier or anything
 

killatopak

Member
It’s highly likely those who are making complaints about the character will still play the game, because
I'm not so sure about this.

Thinking about some of the successful games that do feature some form of egregious form of identity politics, most came of the back of successful ips and are just their sequels. Original IP with those same ideology largely failed for the most part.

I think I can only think of one IP that was a somewhat successful. Returnal. Even then Returnal wasn't exactly blasting your face with it. It's just a a woman who happened to be of the uncommon gender thrust into something weird. Nothing truly shocking.
 
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Bernoulli

M2 slut
I'm not so sure about this.

Thinking about some of the successful games that do feature some form of egregious form of identity politics, most came of the back of successful ips and are just their sequels. Original IP with those same ideology largely failed for the most part.

I think I can only think of one IP that was a somewhat successful. Returnal. Even then Returnal wasn't exactly blasting your face with it. It's just a a woman who happened to be of the uncommon gender thrust into something weird. Nothing truly shocking.
Why is everyone trying to make everything into woke or identity politics?
The character looks exactly like the actress and her being bald fits the Cyberpunk style
 

killatopak

Member
Why is everyone trying to make everything into woke or identity politics?
The character looks exactly like the actress and her being bald fits the Cyberpunk style
It's not an assumption without basis. It's made by Neil who seemingly gets deeply involved with the stuff the more time passes. Just look at his body of work recently at least post UC2.

Will it absolutely feature identity politics? No. There's a large chance that it does though. I'd like to be proven wrong which is why I didn't dismiss the game entirely when asked if I would buy it in a different thread.
 

Nankatsu

Member
Dear Naughty Dog, just add cosmestics such as costumes and haircuts into the game.

That way, you can mantain your bald MC and players can change her if they want.

Thanks.
 
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EviLore

Expansive Ellipses
Staff Member
idk if she does but when girls take hormones they do look like men, but jordan doesn't look even close to this
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It's okay that you're not well versed in these matters, but you do not have an accurate sense of what a natural female physique is compared to an enhanced one. That influencer you posted before is on a large quantity of male hormones, just not as much as this bodybuilder.
 

Polygonal_Sprite

Gold Member
“Anyhow, as a people who don’t hide our adulation of sexy videogame characters, perhaps it’s refreshing to see someone more grounded in reality, than the large-breasted fanservice models we see in a lot of games.”

John Travolta.gif

Also after doing a quick google the lassie is pretty fucking hot with hair while also not trying to be as obnoxious as possible. A shame they had to go the smarmy, bald, muscular and so obviously lesbian route. At this point it would have been more brave to make the main character sexualised.
 
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