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Since the first details of this game where released Playstation supporters have clammored for Uncharted to finally grace their consoles. Ladies and gentlemen the time has arrived and the game is everything we expected and more.
Yes, there will be major headliners coming out in the next few years but until then Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune will be one of the PS3’s flagship games. Make no mistake about it this game is an absolute marvel. Gameplay is tight and responsive, the cover system is implemented perfectly and the story is one of the better ones to grace our medium.
Most excitingly Uncharted blurs the line between games and movies with an increadbly detailed environment, carefully crafted characters and a wonderfully directed script. The narrative follows the adventure of Nathan Drake, a self-proclaimed descendent of famed adventurer Sir Francis Drake, reporter Elena Fischer, and Nate’s partner in crime Victor Sullivan. The characters are all relatable and interesting and they’re what really make this game great. From start to finish the story is filled with action, adventure, intrigue and even subtle gags. I must say however that the first part of the game is the best and purest part of the adventure.
The game plays half adventure, half shoot’em up and in my opinion is at its best while in exploration mode. Investigating the lush and varied environments is just half the fun as well, but the most enjoyable and amazing inclusion is the athleticism and death defying way that Nate traverses these beautiful locales. The gunfights in the game are no slouches, but can grow somewhat repetitive and for me tended to slow the pace of the game. There are some truly exhilarating battles that ramp up the intensity and overcome the tediousness of some of the other minor scraps. My biggest issue with the gameplay though is how unbalanced it becomes toward the end. The game turns from a cover and shoot game to an all out run and shoot. It’s not that big of a deal but makes for a bit of an awkward transition.
Speaking of awkward transitions. the games story, while all around solid and entertaining, takes a major turn for the worst. The “twist” in the game takes a really good story that blends historical fact with believable fiction and goes off into a completely different tangent. The chapters in which said “twist” takes place, are done perfectly eerie, but are in such stark contrast of the rest of the game that in and of itself is more shocking than the dramatic change in the storyline.
While the game isn’t perfect it still stands head and shoulders above the rest of the PS3 catalog. So whether you’re jumping, climbing or sprawling the environments or ducking behind cover in one of the insanely exciting firefights this game is near the pinnacle of what gaming can offer. Uncharted is a game that shouldn’t be missed by any gamer and should provide solace and hope for early PS3 adopters that even more great games are on their way.
Graphics: Simply amazing and hopefully a sign of things to come on the PS3.
Story: The story is woven nicely with some historical fact and believable fiction. However, there is a twist near the end that really was over the top cliche and didn’t enhance the game, in fact in my mind it detracted from the overall experience.
Gameplay: The gameplay is a blast with the platforming sections being the best of the bunch. Gun play is easy and exhilarating with the cover system providing an impressive reprieve from the usual run and shoot.
Music and Sound FX: The music is outstanding and compliments the lush environments with melodic justice. The sound is spot on from grunts to gunfire everything helps make the games environment more believeable.
Game Over: In the end the minor flaws with the game lower the overall score but what really knocks it down from its deserving 9 is the twist in the storyline that really detracts instead of enhancing the experience. Buy this game or throw out your PS3, yeah it’s that simple.
8.5 out of 10
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