Fun, hip and rewarding, Uncharted 3's got it going on!
Nathan Drake sure is an agile fellow! Wicked smart, too. He jumps, hangs, climbs, swings, shimmy's. He can shoot and scrap with the best of 'em. If he needs to solve an ancient puzzle, he simply resorts to his trusty journal. Drake's the perfect man for the job and for Uncharted 3.
Uncharted 3's plot is cliched. It's hard to believe that Drake and his cohorts survive all of the things they do, and yet without them, the game wouldn't be as good as it is. To have an action game that focuses so much on characters and their relationships with each other is a rare thing. None of it feels cheese-balled or overdone. The relationships feel real and natural, thanks to great writing and voice talent, making Drake and his crew the glue in this fantastic adventure.
Nate is in a race with a specter from his past, to unlock the mystery set forth by T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and Drakes own ancestor. The task takes Nate and co. from Europe to The Middle East and Africa. It's no easy task, as Nate's rival has her own army of mercenaries to dispose of.
The action is fast, fun and intense. Gun-play is fun, though it's obvious that Naughty Dog's emphasis is on close-quarter combat. An impressive fisticuffs feature is included and there's plenty of chances to try it out. It mixes real time game-play with quick-time and context sensitive actions. It's satisfying to see Nate mix it up when in a fist fight by sometimes slamming an enemies gun into their chin, or pull the pin on a grenade in their belt and kick them away before they explode. Unfortunately, the emphasis on close quarters shooting makes one or two sniping sequences that much more frustrating. Having a night fight scene shooting at men in black suits firing rockets at you is not fun! Another gripe while I'm whining: all enemies seem to be bullet sponges.
The set-pieces are fantastic spectacles. An old, crumbling, french castle and ancient tunnels look authentic and become characters in their own ways. Fire fights that take place in these locals are often in more vertical areas, allowing diversity and requiring strategic placing to get the upper hand over the baddies.
Enemy A.I. Is a mixed bag, often smartly ducking, flanking and strafing during gunfights, making you stay on the move to keep track. When you close in on them, though, they almost seem to panic, sometimes running in circles to try and get to a point where they fire at you, allowing you to come in and clock 'em. Friendly AI fairs a little better, helping in fire fights, fist fights, and even sometimes throwing their own grenades. It's nice to know that Nate's comrades are there for more than quick quips and pieces of advice.
My favorite parts of the missions are the quiet ones. You spend time talking with your team as you explore. They often give advice, spare some good quips. There are even a couple of scenes where you talk a companion through a tight spot because he's claustrophobic. It all makes for nice contrast against the loud, action heavy moments.
This is one of the most organic-looking games I've ever played on consoles. Environments react to Nate's actions realistically: rotten stones crumble as he tries to climb up, drain pipes bend and break. Puzzles are very diverse and match well with their environs. A stand out moment for me was when Nate and Sully were escaping a burning castle and the floor and ceiling were falling around them, everything ablaze. This was the first big technical showcase for this game. The physics, how real the fire seemed and the environments, as well as the characters animated reactions, made me realize this game is something special.
The character animations are also realistic and impressive. Nate controls as a human being should. He's only able to leap so high or far and is only able to lift so much. It's nice to see him make some mistakes in times of the more desperate platforming sequences, which all control well and give the spectacles of a summer blockbuster. It helps you get to know Nate better as well, seeing his curious gaze as he runs around or puts a hand on a wall for support as you casually trot along, showing off the more technical context system.
I'm more than convinced that being new to the PS3 scene, Uncharted 3 was the right first-choice. It's the best looking console game I've ever played and the summer blockbuster inspired cinematography make them that much better and the game that much more fun. The focus on characters is a welcome and refreshing change over the usual "I'm a grunt with a gun. It goes boom," of most current action games. There's something to say since this is my first Uncharted game and I already feel close to all of Nates friends. Naughty Dog has accomplished something technically and viscerally impressive with Uncharted 3. It may be the end of a trilogy, but it also feels like it's also the beginning of something truly great.
Pros: - Great realistic set-pieces, realistic physics
Diverse puzzles
Great fast-paced action
Strong emphasis on realistic character relationships with help from great writing and performances
Fun platforming and exploration
Cinematography
Wicked purdy graphics
Cons: - One or two frustrating sniping sequences
Enemies are bullet sponges
Predictable plot relies a bit heavily with the gamers emotional connection to the characters