Every Real World Reference in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

Every Real World Reference in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

As a die-hard gaming enthusiast and 80’s pop culture aficionado, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgic exhilaration when Naughty Dog unveiled their latest masterpiece, “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet” at The Game Awards 2024. With its stunning blend of retrofuturism and cyberpunk aesthetics, the game is shaping up to be a love letter to my formative years – complete with a protagonist who seems to share my penchant for collecting iconic brands!

At The Game Awards 2024, the highlight and the climax of the show was unveiled as Naughty Dog’s upcoming Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. With its cosmic backdrop and futuristic style reminiscent of the past, it was instantly recognizable as a Naughty Dog production due to their unique talent for character development, scripting, and attention to detail. What’s still shrouded in mystery is the gameplay mechanics of Intergalactic, but the snippets from the first trailer hint at the protagonist being a bounty hunter with an amazing collection of “NASA-punk” tools at their disposal.

The first glimpse of the game, titled Intergalactic, was overflowing with nods to well-known brands and innovations from our world. Right from the start, Jordan, the main character, flies a ship adorned with a distinct Porsche emblem, sports hi-tops reminiscent of Adidas shoes, and utilizes Sony audio gear in a clever wink towards Naughty Dog’s corporate family. The game skillfully incorporates licensed music, real-world branding, and a talented ensemble, making it a blend of Naughty Dog and the charm of Guardians of the Galaxy. Its retro-futuristic design places it among titles like Ridley Scott’s Alien or Bethesda’s Starfield.

Every Real-World Reference in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet‘s Reveal Trailer

Every Real World Reference in Intergalactic: The Heretic ProphetEvery Real World Reference in Intergalactic: The Heretic ProphetEvery Real World Reference in Intergalactic: The Heretic ProphetEvery Real World Reference in Intergalactic: The Heretic ProphetEvery Real World Reference in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

In the spirit of the influential 1982 science fiction film “Blade Runner”, the game “Intergalactic” paints a future image that combines elements of cyberpunk and heavily features corporate branding. This theme is typical in the genre, stemming from the consumer culture and rapid technological progress of the 1980s, which has been a defining aspect of cyberpunk literature since its inception by authors like Bruce Bethke and William Gibson. Notably, “Intergalactic” seems to be filled with numerous real-world brand references, even featuring a protagonist who appears to collect items from the 1980s pop culture scene.

The Porsche Spaceship

In the movie “Intergalactic”, one clear real-world reference can be seen right from the start. This is when the camera gradually zooms out, showing a spacecraft emblazoned with the logo of the German automobile brand, Porsche. Known for their luxury sports cars, particularly the 911 Turbo, Porsches were a significant part of the 1980s cultural landscape due to their frequent appearances in films, TV shows, and music videos. The spaceship in the movie, piloted by Jordan, is a clever wink to the brand’s influence during the decade that the protagonist appears to admire.

Jordan’s Adidas Sneakers

In this scene, a swift glimpse at Jordan igniting the spaceship discloses that she’s donning trendy Adidas hi-top sneakers. These shoes, although not an exact replica of actual footwear, are undeniably one of the most recognized and sought-after brands during the ’80s, often mentioned in Intergalactic. Notably, Adidas has teamed up with various properties to launch real-world versions of their shoes (like Star-Lord’s famous hi-tops from the Guardians of the Galaxy game). So, it’s plausible that they might collaborate again, this time to create Jordan’s stylish sneakers.

An Onboard Sony CD Player

Just as the trailer intensifies with the shocking revelation that “Intergalactic” is the latest creation by Naughty Dog, Jordan swiftly enters some codes and chooses an album from a revolving collection of CDs on her spaceship’s stereo, adorned with the Sony emblem. Since “Intergalactic” appears to be a first-party Sony game, and presumably exclusive to the PlayStation 5, it is quite obvious branding to emphasize that this game is exclusively available on Sony platforms.

An Iconic Pet Shop Boys Song

Before the interstellar trailer’s music begins (from a licensed source), the camera focuses in on the CD that Jordan has chosen as the soundtrack for her voyage to Sempiria, revealing it to be the 1987 album “Actually” by the renowned synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. The trailer continues with “It’s a Sin”, one of their hit tracks, playing in the background. This choice of music might hint at some relevance to the game’s subtitle, “The Heretic Prophet”. Additionally, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ original score for “Intergalactic” will be part of the game, and it’s plausible that other licensed tracks could also be included.

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2024-12-13 22:35