Uncharted evolves the genre of Adventure Gaming by raising the bar.
I am a long time Tomb Raider fan, and will say that TR: Legend was one of the best in that series IMHO.
So I read all the hype for Uncharted and was thoroughly intrigued. All the comparisons to the TR series saying that Uncharted was hands down the better of the two and even in some instances being called the Tomb Raider "Killer", while not 100% right IMO are not too far off the mark.
50% of the way through the game while I was very impressed with the story and visual elements of Uncharted I still didn't see how it was really much "better" than any of the TR games - however it was definitely never worse either.
A few days ago prior to completing the game I would have said that the two games (Uncharted and TR: Legend) were equal in most regards with neither truly being superior. However...
by the time I had finished Uncharted it had converted me to an all out fanboy!
I still love the TR series and venture a guess that I always will - but I will say that I believe that Uncharted has raised the bar significantly for what we have come to expect from these types of games.
Uncharted is not "perfect" and has a few minor faults but they are quickly forgotten as you delve into this amazing adventure.
Graphics: 9.5
Most people who have played the game (including pro reviewers) will agree that the graphics are nothing short of stunning in this game. The upside is the level of detail seen, especially in forest foliage and water effects. The only downside to the graphics IMO is that the levels are not quite diverse enough to really show the engine off. Maybe I am slightly spoiled by TR because in a single adventure you have a wide range of locales for different levels. One level you may be in ancient ruins and ano9ther atop rooftops in a high-tech city. From a purist's standpoint Uncharted could be considered better for not doing this though as every level is definitely integral to the story. So that's not really a negative that all of the levels are in a jungle setting as it is more accurate to the way the story would truly play out. Drake isn't a man of unlimited wealth like Laura so he doesn't have the capability to just jet set to any place in the world whenever he wants. When he arrives at the adventures location (after one little plane trip) - he is there until the end of the adventure. So while this may not show off what the graphics engine can do across the scope of multiple locations - it is more true to the story and does show off the graphics of those locations, Drake visits, extremely well.
Audio: 10
The sound effects (including voice acting and script) and music in Uncharted are second to none. The bird sounds of the jungle don't sound pasted in like most games - they sound as if you are actually there with ambient noises and all. The music is phenomenal and draws you into the story. Most notable is the scripting/voice acting which are absolutely superb - I would venture to say the best I have ever heard in any game! Not necessarily the way the voices sound, but what is said and at the times it's said actually draw you further into the story immersing you in this other world. I can't remember a game that voice acting has actually on its own merit drawn me into a game - however with Uncharted it does just that. You will find yourself laughing many times as Drake has a grenade land next to him and starts saying "crap, crap, crap" or "oh no" and things of that nature. While you are laughing you soon realize that he is reacting the same way you would if you were in the situation he is in. That adds to the immersion in a new way for me.
Gameplay: 8
The gameplay is great, however it does suffer from some minor glitches and annoyances occasionally. Let me clarify that the "issues" that Uncharted encounters are no more (and possibly even less) prevalent than in other games of this genre (such as TR). However there are still issues that at times, for a brief moment may have you frustrated and gritting your teeth. A couple of the most notable "issues" I encountered are:
Falling for about one story into water should not by itself kill you - even if it takes you off the beaten path of play. Falling into water from a short distance should not equate to you dying.
Sometimes the camera angle locks from a distance on Drake when you are required to complete some task or puzzle - and there is no way to move the camera during these times in order to get a better angle on the ledge you're trying to jump to, etc...
Objects that allow you to climb on them in one area and look identical to some objects in another area but it won't let you climb on those. This was particularly noticeable with stacks of crates. There may be a stack of three crates you can climb on in one spot and right across the courtyard are three more crates stacked in the same manner but you aren't able to climb on those. This unfortunately makes the game feel more linear than what it should feel like.
Jumping mechanics could be better - meaning that if you jump from the exact same spot at the exact same angle you should achieve the exact same outcome every time. Unfortunately there are a couple times during the game that may have you jumping 3 or 4 times from the same spot to grab a chain or ledge and even though you are doing it exactly the same every time, it takes a couple tries before Drake actually catches hold. This wouldn't be so bad if you didn't die after every attempt.
So as I said these are all thing I have also encountered in other games in this genre so all in all not a bad thing - just not much of an improvement here either.
On the upside the combat mechanics in Uncharted hands down blow away any other game I have played in this genre. There are way more enemies to deal with and your heart will be racing in later levels after the effects of El Dorado are discovered.
So I still give the gameplay the solid 8 - which is really good - it is just not as good as the other aspects of the game. If the gameplay mechanics had been improved and the annoying issues I just stated had been resolved then this game would have no doubt been a perfect 10 for me.
In closing...
Is Uncharted the Tomb Raider killer so many tout it to be?
In my opinion no. However it greatly raises the bar in a way that will force the TR franchise to improve.
Uncharted is a MUST HAVE title for the PS3 and should not be missed by anyone who has the opportunity to play it. It is an absolutely fantastic adventure that may not destroy the competition but does in fact improve on the genres formula in almost every way.