PlayStation 3
owners have been dreaming of that console exclusive that justifies the reason
for plucking down their hard-earned cash for such an expensive console and so
far, there haven’t been many games that truly feel like they belong on Sony’s
latest system. Of course, games like Resistance: Fall of Man and
Heavenly Sword have shown us that the PS3 exclusive titles can be
wonderfully appealing, it’s Naughty Dog’s Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune that
will make you glad you bought Sony’s console.
Uncharted
has a plot
that fits comfortable in the action-adventure category and it’s the stuff that
expensive Hollywood blockbusters are made of … or at least what the really good
ones strive to be on the big screen. It will conjure up that warm spot we have
for Tomb Raider games and that affection we have for shoot-’em-up action
games that have us dodging bullets, diving for cover like Gears of War
and tossing a grenade in the general direction of a group of bad men. It has the
feeling of a huge production complete with a likeable cast of character and a
grand story that makes the adventure really worthwhile.
You assume the
role of treasure hunter Nathan Drake, quite possibly a descendant of the famous
Sir Frances Drake, who is on the trail of his ancestor’s quest for a real
fortune … the treasure of El Dorado. Capturing his exploits on video is Elena
Fisher, a television reporter who senses that Nathan is on to something really
big. Along with their friend Sullie, the small group travel to uncharted
territories looking for the treasure. Guided by the journal of Sir Frances
himself, Nathan discovers that this particular treasure hunt will be his most
dangerous adventure yet. It isn’t until the arrival of Nathan’s nemesis, Gabriel
Roman, and his collection of cutthroat pirates that the adventure really begins.
The game’s story
is fueled by a great number of memorable scenes as well as the pairing of Nathan
and Elena. Both characters are not only engaging but they show more personality
than many characters in most other games. It’s actually fun to watch them
react to each surprising situation and their banter is lively. Speaking of
surprising situations, the game is never short of them and we’re talking from
start to finish. Even the game’s opening has Nathan and Elena fighting back
pirates trying to board their ship and on the tropical island there are a number
of moments that have Nathan making some daring escapes. There are even chapters
(the game is broken down in a series of chapters) where you will be driving
vehicles from a jeep to a watercraft, but those come later in the game.
The Tomb
Raider-styled platform jumping is also done right and scaling crumbling
walls to keeping your balance on fragile beams is challenging fun. There is some
trial-and-error platform jumping but each time Nathan dies (whether it’s by
gunfire or falling to your death) he bounces back quickly. Also, like the Tomb
Raider games, there are puzzles to solve. Even in the game’s medium difficulty
setting, though, the puzzles aren’t hard to solve thanks to hints found in Sir
Francis’ journal. Sometimes, Nathan himself will automatically turn his
attention to certain objects if you take too long solving the puzzle. It may
seem like handholding but it doesn’t mean it solves the puzzle for you.
Combat is
actually intense and there are moments when you will be overwhelmed by the
number of pirates who are armed to the teeth. Nathan can perform a dodge roll to
avoid bullets but his best bet is the lean against an object and pop up only to
squeeze off a round. While there are a pleasant number of weapons, the shootouts
can get slightly repetitive and the enemy AI can sometimes cause enemies to
blindly run out into your line of fire. Aside from the fun yet slightly flawed
combat, there are extras aplenty and the unlockable bonuses are really worth a
look.
When it comes to
the visuals, Uncharted is a gorgeous-looking game that manages to display
some impressive backgrounds and character models. The lush, green environments
are better than any I’ve seen in a long time and the locale really does seem
alive with exotic birds and other wildlife. It’s equally impressive to see that the characters move naturally in the
game. Nathan not only rolls and runs realistically enough but watching him climb
up or down stairs just drives home the feeling that these characters aren’t
unwieldy puppets like, say, Lara Croft. It’s also great to find a game where you
cannot really distinguish between when a cut scene ends and the in-game action
begins because in this game it’s practically seamless.
The game’s sound
is also the icing on the cake and it’s mainly because the voice acting is superb
and the game’s original score is as good as any blockbuster movie. A good
voice-acting cast definitely plays a pivotal role in making good dialogue work
and it’s one of the reasons the characters are so endearing. There are also some
nicely detailed sound effects that make this a game that deserves to be played
on a good sound system. The soundtrack definitely gets big points as well and it
never repeats itself.
Uncharted:
Drake’s Fortune
is the reason you should own a PlayStation 3 and one of the most
gratifying gaming experiences you’ll play on Sony’s console. A few
action-adventure games seldom pull you into its world, savoring its most
exciting moments and appreciating its cast of characters that come off as real
rather than just cheap caricatures but Uncharted manages to pull it off
famously. There are a few issues that keep this from being a perfect game but in
the end, there are just way too many good things going for it. Buy this game and
you will not regret it one bit.
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Gameplay: 9.0
There’s never
a dull moment in all of the game’s chapters and the story is actually well
written and fun. Combat is entertaining and there is plenty of variety
in the exploration and puzzle department. There are even vehicles to drive to
add variety to the gameplay.
Graphics: 9.0
This is a
visually stunning game that takes advantage of the PS3’s graphics power and it
will not fail to drop some jaws. Then again, there are some funny pop-up
problems and a few minor clipping problems as well but they’re forgivable thanks
to a number of great visual feats.
Sound: 9.5
There’s a
gorgeous soundtrack that plays throughout the game and it really deserves kudos
for making the game feel like a true Hollywood blockbuster. I would not even
mind buying the soundtrack if they sold it. The voice-acting cast is another
bright spot and the actors do a great job of making both Nathan and Elena very
endearing and likeable characters.
Difficulty:
Medium
The enemies
range from bright enough to take cover to dumb enough to run into your line of
fire. There are some interestingly challenging puzzles but nothing that will
really stump you. The action really picks up later in the game and thus adds
more challenge at the end.
Concept: 9.0
Uncharted
is one of those games that really drives home the feeling that you’re playing a
next-generation game. Its cast of characters are unforgettable and the chapters
will hook you from brilliant start to mesmerizing finish. There are secrets
aplenty and bonuses worth unlocking so that alone will have you playing this one
again.
Overall: 9.0
Thanks to its
charming cast of characters and great production values, Uncharted plays
like a really good Hollywood blockbuster that’s never short on memorable moments
and action-packed scenes. It’s easy to forgive the game’s few weaknesses mainly
due to the dazzling visuals, exotic locales and diversity in action that will
make gamers glad they bought a PS3. Trust me … you kick yourself if you miss
this one.
