Uncharted: Golden Abyss Video Review (PlayStation Vita)

this game deserves at least an 8.0. the visuals are good and so is the gameplay apart from slightly complicated controls and predictable story

I was going to buy a Psvita for this but I after seeing this review I'm just going to buy a 3ds for Icarus and Kingdom hearts 3D.

Gamespot. I don't like your new video loader. It's lagging and not working properly.

I don't know if this dude reviewed the game using a Beta version on a pre-production prototype VITA, but I just finished the game last night and had NONE of the stuff he complained about. No frame rate issues, perfect response of touch controls and, to disagree on the subjective side, I found the "spark" he says is not present to make it feel like a real full blown Uncharted game. The gameplay is pretty varied with plenty of stuff to do. The action is as awesome as it is on the PS3 versions and it ain't shorter than the others, not with 34 chapters. To me it was a solid 8.5 with just some characters feeling a bit superficial, like the guerilla war lord. Other than that, an awesome game.

Ok so after thinking about it more and playing the game twice, I agree the touch controls are a bit much at some times but over all I still think it could have received at least a 7.5 to a 8.0 score.

I do agree with this review in most aspects. I would also give it a 7.0-7.5. Following this game when it was first announce, in interviews, the developers promised that the touch controls would be optional and I put them up on their word, which sadly they didn't deliver. Not having the option to use a regular control scheme really hurts them. The touch screen stuff breaks the pacing, the characters introduced are hard to care about, and the story portrays Drake in a way that makes him unintelligent and gullible. It has a lot and I mean a lot of dialogue which at some points I just wanted to yell "shut the F up" and there was times in the middle where I wanted to put a couple of bullets in peoples legs so I wouldn't have to see them in the end game. All in all this game is NOT better than the first game. Fans of the series you will probably like this game enough to defend it and give it an 8.0 - 8.5, but when it came down to it, I, myself was disappointed.

Wait right there, what was on your mind to score this 7 gamespot? If it was Uncharted Nintendo Abyss it would have received 9 at least. Oh yeah, the spot is missing, The gamespot minds have gone missing...

I rated the game a 8.5, I really liked this uncharted game. It's right below uncharted 2 to me and better than 1 and 3 would be the highest rated.

lol gamespot rated this 7.0, when will their hatred for sony end?

After finishing the game, I feel that this game does not deserve this score. Its my opinion and according to me it deserves a 8.5 for sure.

7.0 my ass (or arse since everything seems to be UK now). This game is way underrated. Put Mario or Zelda on some piece of crap and it get 9's and 10's.

@unaminous I have a Vita and I love it but I do agree with you. Mainly because I'm dying waiting for some new games!!!

lalalalala a peaceful canoe trip with old man Sully, lalalalala BOOM BAAM AHHHHHHHH RUNNNNNNN DEATHHHHH BOCHHHHHHH. So much for a peaceful trip.

@ Rheinmetal: I see your point regarding does this justify a purchase of a Vita. No it doesn't. But I own the Vita and this game + UMvC3, Ninja Gaiden make it all worth it. Plus I get to play my psp games like final fantasy iv and tactics, disgaea, persona, etc. Will the price drop piss me off? Yes but it is needed. Does the proprietary card annoy? Yes but at least Sony is upfront with what you need to play. Xbox comes cheap but a parent later finds out you need to buy a hard drive, then get an xbox live gold account to do what the ps3 does multiplayer wise. So many hidden costs. That being said, I think Sony is repeating their mistakes i.e. PS3 price. But they survive and I am happy with the Vita. Now if only there was an AV out.

It's a launch title doing what handhelds could barely match on console until now. Sure I am a fan of Uncharted and yes this game didn't engage me on the first hour. Just not the same pacing of the usual Uncharted, but as a launch title the score is harsh. In fact, for a handheld this is harsh. Aside from Deadspace on iOS, there were few handhelds that attempted this console complexity. I personally enjoy using stick controls on this uncharted over dead space ipad screen controls. Harsh score but I see the reviewers point. Uncharted is about story and pace, which is not really here. However, still too low of a score IMO

This looks like a fun game but I have a stomach feeling that it would get boring after awhile. And I think they made the PS vita a little too pricey considering you have to purchase a memory chip at a highway robbery price.....

@unaminous yep im doing the same. but if they anounce bioshock with the batch of new games im sold if it comes befor a drop in price.

You're just being too fussy.

I think 7.0 is rather harsh for an impressive launch game. 8/8.5 would be better.

I really want a Vita, but it's probably best to wait until the price drops and it gets some more games.

@Rheinmetal vita+demon souls O_0

I might get a Vita in a year or two.

yeah it's buying the vita to play it's an amazing game although the game does have some of the issues mentioned it's still a great game worth experiencing

@Bilal100 Maybe. But still they have given their GOTY awards to Sony exclusive titles, like Metal Gear Solid 4, or Demon's Souls.

Golden Abyss looks like a fine game. The question is: does Uncharted justifies the purchase of a PS Vita at this moment?

Its good how Gamespot is not buying into hype and reserves highest scores only for few most special games that are very rare nowdays.We are in 2012,and I have certain standards I expect from gaming,and it seems Gamespot thinks the same. Good review this one,a 7.0 sounds about right,a good game,but nothing more.It looks like it was rushed to become Vita's launch title for a release outside of Japan.Had it spent some more time in development,it would've been much better... Also,some nice lulz in the comment section ;)

nice!!!!!!!!!!

IGN>>>>>>gamesput

When a game gets a lower score than you thought it's a GS conspiracy.When the game gets a rating you like it's perfect.People need to grow up.

@naf456 im not a sony fan i have all consoles except wii and i play anything for fun and i dont care which one..i never compared iphones game with handled games thats just stupid but Gamespot did that!!!! its funny when you read about psvita on IGN and read PSvita on gamespot ..IGN thinks is great with two flaws battery life and expensive but gamespot thinks its the worst handled game ever made and none should buy it and it have many many stupid flaws like 5 seconds to start!!!!!!!!!!! people can be stupid when they talk with hate.

@nevershoutnevea or, your a sony fan boy. Yeah, the game looks great, but there is flakey animations and the controls are naf. yes, if your comparing an 8 core beast of a Console with a crappy 2 core iPhone, then yes, go an play fruit ninja, you really don't deserve to play glorious 133 million polygon a seconds beauty of a game :D And Come on game spot... Graphics? Bloody hell, I thought Golden abyss was a ps3 game initially!

@Goyoshi12 if you have a good opinion and good excuses yeah we love to hear your opinion...but you have lame and stupid to hate a certain system why you made article about it if you have none....lets say i made article about xbox360 and i saied i dont like the avatar thing and its worst system ever cos it take 5 seconds to start and i think iphone is better than xbox games....i bet you going to say she lost her mind and or shes insane ....read his article and you gonna realize he has a stupid excuses for hate or hes a xbox fan boy and he hate sony ....why he bought it if he find his angry birds is better than all handled systems?!!!!! he just a stupid guy filled with hate for sony..im 18 and i feel more mature when i read about haters :] sorry for long reply

@nevershoutnevea Didn't know opinions are now non-existent. What's wrong with not liking a certain system? He's an individual? He can't have a different opinion from the next guy over?

Gamespot is on Microsofts nuts

I loved Uncharted 1 and 2, but I really disliked 3. The series doesn't have a constant story that goes forward and characters are incredibly generic. 1 was impressive as a tech demo, 2 won me over with it's amazing multiplayer. But 3 didn't have anything special. And if you're not gonna make huge improvements or additions to your series, you need rock solid, recognizable characters that aren't "half indiana jones, half marcus fenix", and a grand story that goes throughout the entire series, instead of having michael bay like episodes where you already know what the outcome is before you play. For example: Metal Gear series, Max Payne 1, GTA4, Riddick games...

@ Bilal100 I completely agree! I have already started to use IGN more now because they don't have a hatrid towards Sony! This game is amazing and deserves way more than 7

I have been a gamespot member for years but their childish hate towards sony makes me want to shift to IGN maybe Microsoft has already bought gamespot their love for MS and hate for Sony is obvious in their reviews Im seriously disappointed.

I agree with the score , too much climbing around for me and the right stick is a little hard to get used to for aiming. Glad I rented it though.

Oh come on now people. I adored Uncharted 2 and played Uncharted 3 due to my left over love of its predecessor. Now there is yet another Uncharted with the same story and game mechanics. How many Indiana Jones movies do you really need? The answer is one. Raiders was the only good one. I think this franchise is going a bit stale, and while Sean Connery might be enough to keep some people coming back for more, I am not so easily impressed. My point is, don't be so surprised that the reviewer is not as excited about this game as you might be, and stop constructing crazy conspiracy theories or pretending like you could come up with a better number. If he gave this game an 8 people would complain for a 8.5 or a 9. If he gave the game a 9, people would say he was crazy and Sony was paying him off. Comments are always the same but I just can't help myself. I look at them every time!! XD

seems like the only people bashing sony are all part of the same family (seriously) the same people who attempted to bash the zelda franchise with its first encounter on the wii! who pays your salary, gamespot? Microsoft?

This review is a joke! This game is amazing!

as soon as i saw the touchscreen controls (months ago) i knew vita was taking a few bad steps just gives us bumpers and triggers! but 7 seems a bit low for this game

is this worth buying a VITA for?? please reply to me on youtube, same account name :)

I was playing around with it today..must admit i was impressed. Its not U3 or U2 for that matter. But i couldnt beleive how responsive the game was (and the vita in general). While i dont think this is a perfect game..a 7.0 is lowballing this gem. Its a worthwhile adventure that i highly recommend toward western gamers.

IMHO series begin to die when they have portable only games, with story that origonal fans would like to get in on without dropping a small fortune to do so. Like kingdom hearts 1.5, god of war, zelda. Although its nice that there are qaulity franchises ported to the vita.

Oh god, looks like its Zelda: Skyward sword all over again.

The best thing they did in this game was allow you to use the controls instead of the touch pad. Apparently some of you didn't know that although the tutorial makes it quite obvious. For that reason, this game is a real winner.

Please remember world: Portable will never be Console. Unless of course they make a portable console...uhh...never mind.

I am concerned about using the touch screen during fights, for chopping, climbing and other actions like that. It's to reminiscent of cheap phone and tablet games. I think the touch screen is great for interacting with menus and piecing together puzzles, but they should leave the gritty stuff to the analog sticks and buttons.

This reviewer is a self-satisfied little prat. I've been playing it, and the gameplay felt great. He seriously feels the need to whine because Nate waits for you to imput all the swipes before the character responds? If they did it the other way you'd have trouble seeing what you're doing with the other swipes. If someone is biased against the system from the outset, they shouldn't be reviewing it. 7 is undeserved. It deserves at least an 8 to an 8.5.