This game is a real summer blockbuster, offering plenty of laughs and twists along the way.
The game's hero is Nathan Drake, a charismatic treasure hunter. He's related to the world famous Sir Francis Drake, and sets out to retrieve his ancestor's coffin. Along for the ride is Elena; a dogged tv journalist who hopes to record this important discovery. The bad guys however, lead by Gabriel Roman, have their own plans for the booty. With Nathan's old friend 'Sully', the trio are soon led to a long abandoned island.
This game is a real summer blockbuster, offering plenty of laughs and twists along the way. The plot might not be very original, but will guarantee a big grin on your face. The one liners and the chemistry will keep you entertained.
The graphics are textured, and exude real depth and character. Everything is set in gorgeous weather, with shafts of sunlight breaking through the trees, to long shadows being cast in the historical ruins. The water sections alone are impressive, with roaring waterfalls and snake like rivers to traverse.
The characters have a distinct and mature appearance - no cartoon renders here. The voice talent provides full motion capture for their on screen counterparts, making the action really fluid.
Facial expressions are deep; with a subtle glint in the eye or a wry smile on display. This level of realism is a joy to watch, and makes the player care for these heroes.
The colour scheme is an explosion of vibrant tones, which is a refreshing change to the bleak, gritty backdrops of other game worlds.
Sometimes, the HDR quality may be a little distracting. The bloom can make surfaces appear too shiny, or textures a little cartoonish. This is a minor issue, and it isn't hard to be amazed at the overall production value.
The cut scenes blend nicely into the levels, and there are no cumbersome loading times.
Game play is a mix of third person shooter and puzzler, much in the same vane as the Tomb Raider franchise. There are, however, distinct differences. The player will mostly shoot from behind cover, throw grenades (which can be thrown back at you) and blow up explosive barrels. Fallen weapons are picked up with the triangle button. Other sections require the player to swing on ropes, or shuffle along ledges to reach the next part.
The enemy A.I is intelligent, constantly flanking your position. On occasion, they come packing with RPGs, requiring a good knowledge of your surroundings.
In all, gun battles will be challenging, requiring several bullets to take out an enemy. On the downside, it's possible to completely run out, especially with bad guys who can seemingly sidestep your fire.
However, powerful combos are at Nathan's disposal. The player can punch and kick their way through a level if they wish to conserve ammo. This is a tricky prospect, as Nathan will always be outnumbered.
There is A LOT of shooting involved, which some players may find repetitive. This is a minor niggle, in what are fun, tense battles overall. Especially, as there's no armour or health pick ups to fall back on. When the screen turns red in a COD fashion, it's time to run for cover.
Nathan Drake is just a regular guy, wise cracking his way across the island. He isn't Solid Snake or Nathan Hale, but is firearm efficient and quick on his feet.
There are also a couple of driving sections, which are a total thrill. Whether it's on land or in the water, the action is always thick and fast.
The second part of the game deals with puzzle solving. The player is required to move objects around to unlock a door or flick a lever to reach higher places. Either way, they are fairly straightforward, with on screen clues in the form of a journal.
Scattered throughout the game are hidden treasures. Each item is listed in the menu screen, and there are a lot of them. Not all are collectable in the first run through, offering good replay value.
Bonus items include behind the scenes featurettes, which are unlocked as you progress through the game.
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune came out in 2007, and still holds up to the current wave of titles.
If action adventure games are your bag, then Uncharted is a must buy. Combat issues aside, the characters are likable and the story's conclusion is nicely book ended, with no cliffhanger for the upcoming sequel.