*DISCLAIMER: One more disclaimer to give. Promise my next review (of the "Legacy of Thieves Collection") will be the end of it for now. This review lists the PlayStation 4 version of the game, but the opinions expressed here will be based on my experiences with the PlayStation 5 version, played through the "Legacy of Thieves Collection." Some may not care, but I think it's worth bearing in mind, as said version does offer 60 FPS gameplay that the PlayStation 4 doesn't. Thus, I thought I'd mention it.*
Finally, we have reached the end of the "Uncharted" marathon (well, outside of the review I'll be doing for the "Legacy of Thieves Collection," but that'll come later). Honestly, you'd be forgiven if you didn't think there'd be another game after "Uncharted 4: A Thief's End." With series protagonist Nathan Drake's story being wrapped up, plus Naughty Dog focusing on "The Last of Us" as the new franchise, would there be any reason for a new "Uncharted?" Well, they certainly tried, as 2017 gave us the release of "Uncharted: The Lost Legacy." This was a standalone expansion to "Uncharted 4," starring Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross (though you only play as Chloe). I knew going in that it was going to be on the low end for the series because of its "expansion" status, so I just hoped to be entertained in spite of the caveats. And yeah, even though it's my least favorite in the series, it's still a pretty good time.
By way of being an expansion, "Uncharted: The Lost Legacy" succeeds in a lot of the same ways that "Uncharted 4" did before. The writing still feels very compelling, even without Nathan Drake around, largely because the two lead characters are great. I've always enjoyed Chloe, and I think given the initial polarizing reception to Nadine, the game takes a lot of steps to make her a character that players can care a bit more for. Visually, this is "Uncharted 4" but with some new characters, so of course, it's a gorgeous game. As a pure graphical showcase, this is as impressive as the game it expands on, which should come as no surprise. Plus, with the gameplay basically being "Uncharted 4," it still carries all the polish of that title. Be it in the gunfights, the puzzles, or the platforming, all the things that made that game good are here.
All that said, it's definitely got its flaws, one or two of which come in the form of the obvious "expansion" caveats. The gameplay does kind of feel like "more 'Uncharted,'" and I know it's because it was supposed to be a DLC, but the fact that there’s a new playable character that plays no different from Nathan Drake is disappointing. This doesn't feel like "Spider-Man: Miles Morales," a game that I personally enjoyed even more than the original, and that may be because of Chloe not feeling too different from Drake. I also think the action set pieces can feel like hand waves to old "Uncharted" in a way, and the open-world section in Chapter 4 is bland and feels obtuse. Also, VERY minor gripe but I wish we could play as Nadine. I mean, she's featured on the cover (first character on an "Uncharted" cover that you can't play as), and the game does a lot to improve her character from "Uncharted 4," but it could've done even more with that if she was playable. Subconsciously, it may be easier to connect to a character in a game when you play as them, so while it doesn't make or break anything, it could've just added a little extra to the overall product.
Overall, "Uncharted: The Lost Legacy" is a good game, though it's best intended for players who don't mind more of the same. More than any previous "Uncharted" game, this offers nothing that hasn't been seen before, which may have been bound to happen given its status as an "expansion." Plus, without Nathan Drake around, your mileage may vary depending on whether you want to play a game centered around Chloe and Nadine. All in all, it's far from essential, but if you're a fan of the series, you should enjoy it. Plus, it's probably not too much money, so if that tickles your fancy, give it a try.
Final rating: 7 out of 10 "Good"