Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was one of the biggest announcements last year. Revealed at the end of the 2024 Game Awards, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet teased a bold new direction for developer Naughty Dog. Following more grounded franchises like Uncharted and The Last of Us, Intergalactic is leaning heavily into the sci-fi genre, which is a compelling turn.
Right now, many of the details regarding Intergalactic are being kept under wraps. Naughty Dog's sci-fi adventure is likely a year or two away at this point, but as time passes, more is bound to be revealed. Based on the announcement trailer, it's clear that 80s-style product placement and pop culture are going to play a significant role in the story. One classic 80s hit was already teased in the short trailer, and it could present Intergalactic with the opportunity to take note of how Returnal uses music as a storytelling device.
How The Last of Us’ Game Lengths May Influence Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
The Last of Us' Part 1 and Part 2 have wildly different lengths, and Intergalactic's own length will also likely be a product of its storytelling.
Like Returnal, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Can Use Music to Dive Deeper Into its Themes
Returnal and "Don't Fear the Reaper"
- "Don't Fear the Reaper" was released by Blue Oyster Cult in 1976.
Blue Oyster Cult's hit single has continued to be a massively popular song over the years. Found throughout TV and movies, "Don't Fear the Reaper" may be one of the most recognizable songs of the 70s. The dreamy melody and borderline psychedelic composition make it both a fun and haunting piece of music. Developer Housemarque's decision to use it as a narrative device in Returnal was a fantastic choice, as pieces of the song haunt Selene's journey until she comes face to face with Hyperion. It's an incredible boss fight that brings "Don't Fear the Reaper" front and center in the encounter's music.
"Don't Fear the Reaper" isn't just a chance for Housemarque to throw in one of pop culture's best rock songs into the game. It's a tool used to deepen Selene's story, and with Intergalactic already teasing retro pop hits, Naughty Dog may be ready to take the same approach.
Returnal's original music score was composed by The Haxan Cloak.
"It's a Sin" by Pet Shop Boys Could Hold a Deeper Meaning
- The song serves as the closing music to Intergalactic's trailer.
Because of the game's title mentioning heretics and prophets and Neil Druckmann already confirming that faith will be a major theme in Intergalactic, it's likely that the choice of "It's a Sin" by Pet Shop Boys is a calculated move. Protagonist Jordan finds herself stranded on the mysterious planet of Sempiria where an ancient religion is believed to reside. Beyond Pet Shop Boys, Intergalactic could use a variety of other 80s hits to play around with these themes of faith and religious doctrine even further.
Intergalactic's original score is set to be composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
80s Songs That Could Be a Good Fit for Intergalactic
- "Heaven is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle
- "Dear God" by XTC
- "Like a Prayer" by Madonna
- "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure
- "Heaven" by Bryan Adams
- "Hell is For Children" by Pat Benatar
When it comes to storytelling, music can be one of the most effective devices to help drive home an idea, and Intergalactic has a treasure trove of great song options to choose from. Returnal was able to reveal so much through just one song, so it would be fascinating to see how Naughty Dog approached weaving popular music into its narrative in a similar way. Intergalactic may be a huge mystery at the moment, but it feels clear that music will play an important role.
As the year continues, there will hopefully be more revealed about Intergalactic. It may be a while before Naughty Dog shines more light on the project, but until then, it's fun to speculate on what songs will help bring its sci-fi world to life.
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
