Nov 12, 2011
It’s more Uncharted… and that’s never a bad thing.
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Pros:
+Stunning visuals are among the very best in the business
+Action sequences keep you in the game and play out with cinematic quality
+Excellent musical score
+Wonderfully written script and great voice acting set a new standard, yet again
+Motion capture does more than add realism, but also believability and personality
+Brilliantly done introduction
+Very emotional, and well paced, storyline
+While it’s the same Uncharted gameplay, it still keeps you on your toes
+Relationships and character development span the trilogy
+Multiplayer and co-op extend length beyond single player
+Sand dunes animate beautifully, as does water and other elements
+Great foreshadowing and other nuances within the story
+The game never takes you out of the action, always incorporates you into sequences
Cons:
-At first, aiming controls might take some getting used to
-Some firefights, late in the game, are more frustrating than fun
-Button mapping for grabbing can be troublesome
-New melee combat is fun, but stiff at times
-The antagonists don’t get too much backstory or exposition
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The Uncharted series comes to a close with Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. This game series is nothing short of epic. With its first iteration in 2007, it pushed the PS3 console to its limits and set a new standard for storytelling, action and graphical detail, only to be followed by Uncharted 2 which shattered those limitations. Two years after its second entry, Uncharted 3 comes about to bring a close to Nathan Drake’s adventures and while it doesn’t go beyond that of U2, it continues down the path its predecessor set before it.
If its one thing that takes center stage with the Uncharted series, it’s the characters and storyline. While the games aren’t connected in terms of a branching storyline, as each adventure is self contained, it’s the characters, their development and relationships that span the series. Drake returns in search of Iram of the Pillars, also known as the Atlantis of the Sands. I won’t go into detail beyond that, as I, myself, love to be kept in the dark when it comes to the Uncharted games, learning about different places in the world and key figures in history.
The primary antagonist is Marlowe, a woman that is fairly close to Victor and has ties to him in the past. I was a bit disappointed with the fact that Marlowe’s cult didn’t receive much backstory and/or exposition. They were largely left a mystery to the player. Beyond that, its your typical adventure with Drake destroying a vehicle or three, taking down mercenaries and searching for treasure. The story, itself, has very well done pacing and isn’t too drawn out, at all. It also delves deeper into the relationship dynamics between Elena and Drake, as well as more between Drake and Sully which I greatly enjoyed. It really brings these characters to life beyond the motion capture and great voice acting.
When it comes to gameplay, its your standard fare, as far as the Uncharted series goes. You run, you jump, you take cover and leaps of blind faith across various dilapidated ruins. The fact that its done so beautifully, the controls are so tight, and the experiences are entirely unique is what keeps it from being stale. And, while U3 doesn’t have the same impact as U2 did, its mainly due to the huge step up Drake’s Fortune took to get to U2.
U3 looks as gorgeous as each game before it. This time around, Naughty Dog went and mastered the animation of sand, where Drake’s Fortune crafted water beautifully and U2 animated snow realistically. Beyond that, enemies, along with Drake and company, respond to the environment around them, as well as stimuli placed upon their character from opposing forces.
You’ll also explore a broad range of environments from a jungle in France to the shifting sands of Yemen. Again, I won’t reveal the other locations to avoid the thrill of discovery, but each location is brought to life beautifully as is each action sequence that takes place among them. In Uncharted 2, I still remember being inside of a building and leaping out of it as it fell to the ground – it was at that moment that I realized how involved I was in this game. U3 is no different. There were multiple times where I would get lost in watching the action sequences play out, only to realize I was still in control of Drake and I had better start haulin’ ass to get where I needed to be, outrun what I needed to, or simply survive. Its that kind of involvement that I love in this series and U3, in particular. Many sequences could have simply played out in a cutscene where I sit back and merely observe, or with quick time button presses occasionally appearing at important do or die parts. But no, Naughty Dog kept me gripping my controller, white knuckled at times, with anticipation of what was happening next. They kept me in the role of a player, not merely an observer.
Upon completing the entire single player campaign, on Normal, I clocked in at roughly 9 hours. It’s a hair shorter than previous adventures, but still very well paced and isn’t long winded. Multiplayer is largely the same, but every bit as fun as it was in U2. And, co-operative returns unchanged. The former will provide several hours of enjoyment, as there are many levels to gain, items to unlock and medals to earn. The latter is a great mode to enjoy with friends that recaptures what the single player feels like. All in all, the game has a lot of content and is well worth the asking price.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is a thrill ride, every bit as much as its predecessor. Naughty Dog put out yet another high quality title that surpasses 90% of what’s out there in terms of audio with its compelling soundtrack and phenomenal voice acting, when it comes to cinematics in regards to its beautiful animation, action sequences that keep you playing while refraining you from observing, and its storyline with its memorable cast of characters that are so believable, so deep, so well realized that you can’t help but become attached to each and every one. Uncharted 3 isn’t just a game you play, but one you experience.
RATING: 9.5/10
This review is based upon completing the single player campaign and clocking in at 9 hours, 19 minutes with a few rounds of multiplayer and co-operative finished.
Developer: Naughty Dog, Inc.
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Platform: PS3
# of Players: 1 Offline, 2-10 Online
Online: Yes
Trophies: 53 Offline/2 Online
Install: Yes; 22MB