My first vita game might just be one of the best handheld experiences ever.
The game starts out as what turns out to be a flashback two weeks after where the game really starts out. It's not long that you meet, Dante and Chase. Dante is a complicated character, the very first scene in the game he has an army that tries to kill you, but at the real beginning of the game he is your friend. Chase is your main companion in the game. Chase is a young, adventurous woman that is trying to finish what her grandfather started, finding the "Golden Abyss". You obviously play as Nathan Drake, and later in the game you will meet the main antagonist Guerro, and a friend Sully.
It's hard to chose a point where this game becomes such a massive success. But one of the first things you will notice is how beautiful the graphics are, the game seems to be almost as good looking as Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, but not quite. The game looks excellent for the most part, but there are some noticeable low-res textures, more specifically the fire effects, they are incredibly pixilated and they remind you that you're still playing a handheld game, though that is only a very minor setback. The controls work well, the dual joy stick makes it feel more like a console experience, which is very nice, though I have a love-hate relationship with the touch screen. There are moments when the touch screen adds a layer of precision in the excellent platforming in places where it could get frustrating. But using the touch screen for combat can get just flat out annoying.
The combat and platforming elements are very well done and are extremely polished. There are a few moments where the platforming gets a little frustrating trying to use the motion sensor and the touch screen at the same time, but it still works beyond that. Some puzzles have been added that add a nice mix to the pacing. The puzzles are pretty easy, but at the same time enjoyable, and you will find a few different ones throughout the course of the game. The soundtrack is also incredible, adding some nice suspense to areas of the game which it calls for, and as you would probably guess, the voice acting is top-notch.
Uncharted: Golden Abyss isn't only a great game overall, but it's also the best handheld gaming experience I have ever had. That's coming from a person who isn't even a huge fan of the action/shooter genre.
Pros:
+ Fantastic Graphics
+ Great Voice Acting
+ Excellent Combat
+ Top-Notch Platforming
+ Nice Puzzles
+ Awesome Soundtrack
+ Lovable & Relatable Characters
Cons:
- Story isn't anything amazing (Though they tell it well)
- Some touch screen annoyances
- Some completely unrealistic moments (Usually when Drake becomes superman on steroids and can jump insane distances)