Though wholly unoriginal, Uncharted provides a thrilling movie-type adventure that is fun while it lasts.
Uncharted also steals several different gameplay elements from recent hit games. Examples of this would include the cover system from Gears of War and button pushing sequences, which have been seen in games such as God of War. What shines is the platforming though, as it has a level of feel and responsiveness I have never before experienced in a video game. The lack of originality in Uncharted results in a very forgettable adventure, but it is still fun while it lasts. Since it is easy to complete this game within a rental period I encourage trying it out. If you are still undecided though, read on.
***Extensive Review, skip to the Conclusion for an overview of the game***
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Game Play 9.0
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Peripherals (Excellent)
>> The menus in Uncharted are easy to navigate, the in game camera is easy to manipulate, and it was usually easy to figure out where to go next. You can save whenever you want and there are checkpoints placed periodically in case you forget to do so. I have no complaints here, a job well done.
Combat (Good)
>> At its core, Uncharted is a FPS that employs a cover system similar to many other prominent titles (most notably Gears of War) that have come out recently. If you don't use cover (such as ruins, a crate, or a truck) you will most likely die a quick and painful death. So as you might expect, most combat is conducted by poking your head out and picking off enemies from behind their cover. This system is executed quite well as you can use, shoot over without exposing yourself (can't really aim well when doing this), aim out of, jump over, or move to the next cover with simply the push of a button and direction. This is the method you will undoubtedly use to dispatch most of the enemies you encounter, but there are other options.
In certain situations it more effective to dispatch your enemies using close quarters combat or run and gun style. You can choose to run and gun in FPS mode, but it isn't a good idea. In order to enter FPS mode (or "aim") you have to hold a button and it causes you to move much slower. When you aren't aiming you'll be in an overhead third person mode. To shoot an enemy in this mode you just run in the direction of the enemy and press the shoot button (similar to shooting in Devil May Cry). There is a ridiculously accurate auto aim feature in this game that actually makes doing this pretty effective, especially in close quarters. As mentioned earlier, using this against armed enemies in cover isn't the best idea. But it is much easier to dodge attacks like this and is effective in situations when you find yourself out in the open.
When you physically come in contact with an enemy you can revert to close quarters combat. There are several button pushing combos you can unleash on your enemies, but there really isn't any reason to use any of them besides the standard mash the square button. Using the other combos is hit or miss, meaning if you don't push the buttons correctly you could "fail" giving your enemy a chance to hit you. On top of that, these more complex combos don't even seem to do any more damage. The standard melee combo is plenty to incapacitate most enemies in the game. While this combo melee system was a good idea, poor execution makes it feel just like melee attacks in any other FPS, except more drawn out.
It is always fun to have variety in combat and have the ability to kill enemies in a variety of ways. You'll most likely just be using cover and FPS aiming to dispatch most enemies though and the other methods just feel like unnecessary fluff. Being able to move faster in FPS mode or a standard melee attack could have replaced this "fluff" very easily. Kudos to Uncharted for trying to be different (at least in this manner), combat is fun throughout. However, most other true FPS games have a smoother feel to the combat.
Other (Great)
>> The shining star of Uncharted's gameplay is easily the platforming. In between combat, this is usually what you'll be doing and it provides lots of good times. This is because it is the most responsive and has the best feel of any platforming I've ever experienced. You will be climbing ropes, scaling up cliffs, jumping from pillar to pillar, and much more. You have to experience this to really know what I'm talking about, but let's just say I'd take Nathan Drake (the star of this game) over anyone from Ninja Warrior (G4 anyone?) any day.
There are a few puzzles scattered throughout Uncharted which do a good job of adding some variety to the linear gameplay and providing a much needed brake from the frenetic pace of the rest of the game. They were all fun to do as they made you think, but were intuitive enough to figure out without outside help. During the more frequent action sequences, Uncharted features a button pushing reaction mechanic that (as the name suggests) consist of pushing the buttons or directions as they show up on the screen. First seen in many other games such as God of War, this is used to make cut scenes and other action sequences feel more interactive. While it does succeed in its purpose this mechanic is starting to wear out its welcome in games. It is frustrating to die because you accidentally hit the wrong button and it draws your attention away from what is actually happening in whatever said cut scene or action sequence.
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Graphics 9.6
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Rendering (Excellent)
>> Uncharted features some of the most detailed character models I've ever seen. It is hard to see this when the camera is drawn out, but the closer it gets to the characters the better they look. When you think about it, that is quite extraordinary. In past games zooming the camera in only revealed the flaws in character models. In Uncharted, zooming in unveils the level of detail portrayed in the character models. Needless to say, graphics have come a long way and Uncharted is a great example of this. The same level of detail in also present in the environmental rendering and objects.
Artistic (Great)
>> Uncharted features many exotic locals riddled with droves of beautiful and seemingly ancient ruins and overgrown wildlife. Everything is very colorful captures the appropriate feel for the game. Some of the character models look a little plain (detailed, but plain), but this is just a small blemish on a beautiful game.
Special Effects (Excellent)
>> The cut scenes in Uncharted are rendered in the games real-time graphics and not FMVs, but this is fine because the games real-time graphics are amazing. And this is something that is probably going to become more commonplace as graphics continue to improve. It is really cool when the game is able to seamlessly transition from cut scene to gameplay because the graphics are one and the same. There are also a ton of interactive environments in uncharted such as ledges that crumble if you stay on them too long and pillars that shift under your weight. Amazingly you can't tell what object is going to break or move until you make contact with it. This element of surprise creates an increased sense of realism that makes the every part of the game feel more intense.
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Sound 9.3
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Music (Good)
>> Following the Indiana Jones adventurer type mold, you'll be hearing a lot of up beat and intense tunes that attempt enhance the epic feel of situations encountered. Again, while not too original these songs fit and are put together nicely.
Sound Effects (Excellent)
>> Uncharted has very good overall production values and it is reflected here. All of the sound effects are very good and create the appropriate atmosphere to the setting of the game when things quiet down.
Voice Acting (Excellent)
>> The flow of conversation in Uncharted seemed very real and is comparable to real actors, and good actors at that. This is due to perfect lip synching, well-animated body language, and excellent timing of the lines. Definitely one of the better voice acting jobs I've ever seen.
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Story 7.5
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Plot (Adequate)
>> In this action adventure game you play the role of Nathan Drake who is, no surprise here, a treasure hunter. And you're searching for the treasure of Nathan's ancestor with the only clue being a hand me down relic Nathan wears around is neck. The game starts off on a boat with Nathan, a female reporter brought along to fund the trip, and your trusty old (yet feisty) sidekick. You are minding your own business when suddenly you get attacked by pirates (shocker), which kicks off the non stop action adventure that is Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.
There are many twists and turns in Uncharted, but much like the rest of the game none of them are very original. It is enough to keep you guessing though (probably correctly most of the time) and thus hold your interest through the adventure. I found the twist at the ending to be a little lame, but the game does end on the good note that you'd expect from this ironically risk less game.
Presentation (Good)
>> The story is presented in the standard format laid out by most games of this time period, that being through cut scenes between action sequences. They are very well executed though and do not overstay their welcome, striking good balance between gameplay and story. This does a good job of retaining the movie feel and keeping you involved in the nonstop action.
Characters (Decent)
>> There isn't a whole lot of starring roles in Uncharted, but the primary characters that are present are interesting and fit the mold perfectly. All of the characters in the main cast are similarly reckless thrill seekers whose personalities fit together quite well. Some variety in the cast would have made the story a bit more enthralling, but these characters fit the no holds bar, no looking back action presented in Uncharted. Your antagonists are the typical greedy rich guy and righteous native that you've probably seen before, just in different roles.
Script (Great)
>> As I mentioned earlier, the character interactions in Uncharted felt very real. This was in part due to well-written dialogue for all the characters, especially Nathan. It is witty and fresh, and seems like what actual people in their situations would say. When you encounter enemies on the field they will yell stuff out in what I can only guess is an authentic manner (or racist depending on how you look at it, as most enemies are minorities). For me, the realistic dialogue was the most memorable part about Uncharted's story.
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Value 6.7
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Main Story (Decent)
>> The main story in Uncharted takes approximately 8-12 hours to complete. This is pretty short for a game that only features a linear single player adventure and can easily be finished within a rental period.
Extra Content (Bad)
>> Along your adventure you will find treasures off the beaten path and earn awards for completing certain tasks. However, the only thing you will receive in return is a good ole pat on the back. This material provides some goals for the completeists out there, but is otherwise insignificant. I personally didn't do much of it at all as there was little motivation to do so.
Replay Value (Poor)
>> The only reason you would replay Uncharted would be to experience the story again or maybe try a higher difficulty level. In my opinion the story is solid at best and fun to see once, but not good enough to drudge through twice. Uncharted is short though and playing through it twice would not be a huge time commitment if you wanted to attempt it on a higher difficulty setting.
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Tilt 9.0
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Immersiveness (Good)
>> Nathan Drake is a pretty easy going, witty, and likable character making it easy to get into the role of playing as him. And the environments are very well built. The ruins, caves, and nature are epic in feel and seem as if they really have been untouched for ages. There are no extended stopping points, cities, or vast areas to explore in Uncharted, which makes sense as you are usually in uninhabited areas and this is just the type of game it is. The linearity of the explorable environments stops one from truly appreciating the world you are in. However, the game constantly throws insurmountable odds at you, which helps retain the feel that you have to push forward in order to survive. It does feel like you are in a non stop action adventure movie.
Fun Factor (Great)
>> As stated earlier, what makes Uncharted fun to play is the combination of different gameplay elements presented. Each element on its own is pretty unoriginal, but the pacing and balance of the elements makes this a fun experience throughout. The difficulty is also balanced pretty well. Shooting sequences will be tough, but always doable as long as you stay protected. Platforming, as stated, feels great and is very intuitive. And the relatively easy puzzles make you think just enough to give you a brake from the action.
This isn't to say Uncharted isn't without its frustrations. There are some ledges and other objects that look grabable, but really aren't, causing you to plummet to your death. And some of the shooting sequences can be unnecessarily long with what seems like endless streams of enemies. I died a few times just because I got impatient and ran out of cover to rush the enemy, never a good idea. Being able to save at all times does help alleviate these frustrations though as you can always save if things seem to be getting hairy. There is nothing more frustrating than having to restart from a checkpoint and redo a bunch of tasks every time you die.
Feel (Excellent)
>> There are many subtle nuances that grant a very realistic feel to the world of Uncharted. This ranges from all the ways the environment interacts with you to the way your cloths are wet after you get out of water. Of course, you can't interact with everything and you dry unusually quick (especially your hair...Nathan must have some awesome gel), but these are just reminders this is a video game. Compared to other games, Uncharted pays a very high attention to detail.
In terms of technical issues, Uncharted is a near flawless game. Loading times are short, the frame rate is always great, and I can't recall ever running into any bugs within the game. It is always great when a game executes well in this department because it causes you to focus on what matters, the game.
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Conclusion
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Pros
+Platforming is responsive and feels perfect
+Top notch voice acting with witty and believable dialogue
+Great all around production values
+Wonderful blend of gameplay elements keeps things fresh throughout
+Little to no technical issues
+Ability to save whenever combined with checkpoints limits frustration
Cons
-Few to no original ideas, plays it safe
-A short and linear game with very few extras
-Forgettable story that again, takes no risks
Gameplay (20%) – 9.0
Graphics (15%) – 9.6
Sound (15%) – 9.3
Story (20%) – 7.5
Value (15%) – 6.7
Tilt (15%) – 9.0
Total Score – 8.5
>> In the end, Uncharted achieves what it set out to do, create a fast paced action game that feels similar to a blockbuster movie. The graphics and sound are amazing, the acting is believable and entertaining, and it is filled with intense moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. Uncharted takes no risks in terms of originality, but it executes a variety of different gameplay elements very well. This is especially prevalent in the platforming, which allows you to pull off the greatest of feats with the utmost of ease. Despite its thrilling presentation, the story in Uncharted is standard fair and ends quickly. For this reason, Uncharted is a fun game while it lasts but an experience that is unlikely to stick with you.
My recommendation is to rent it; this is one of the best options for the PS3 at the moment and the perfect short-term prescription for boredom.