Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune Reviewed

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Release Date: November 19, 2007
Genre: Action/Adventure
ESRB Rating: Teen

Great games, or even any games for that matter, have been relatively few and far between for Sony’s sleeping giant, making those who shelled out a handsome sum of money for it soon after its release, begin to question their decision.

Sure, the promise of great future games like MGS IV and FFXIII exists, and the general consensus still seems to be that the PS3 will eventually have the most games despite its slow start, but this is of little solace to the current stable of game-starved PS3 owners.

One of the lone bright spots thus far for us poor souls has been Uncharted, a beautiful and competent action game from Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter creators Naughty Dog. They’ve shown with Uncharted that they have more than enough talent to conquer genres beyond the mascot platformer genre that’s largely been their bread and butter to this point.

Uncharted puts you in the boots of Nathan Drake, a supposed descendant of the legendary explorer Sir Francis Drake, as he works to uncover the mystery of his ancestor and the location of El Dorado, the fabled city of gold.

The story features numerous twists and is expertly told, with a strong cast of characters and well paced story telling. You’ll be driven to play through the game as much to see what happens to Nathan and his companions next as you will to see the next beautiful environment.

Comparisons were inevitably made with Tomb Raider due to the story and setting, but in terms of game play Uncharted has a much stronger bent on action than the slower, more methodical pace of Tomb Raider. Nathan can equip himself with two weapons at once and has a wide variety in his arsenal. He can also engage in hand-to-hand combat if the need arises, and even pull of stealth kills if he can successfully sneak up behind an enemy.

Uncharted also takes cues from the successful Gears of War in the use of its cover system, an integral element to survival. Nathan can take cover behind virtually any conceivable object in the environment with the press of a button, pop out and take a shot at the enemy, and then retreat behind cover or dive to the next area of cover for a better angle.

There is a smattering of puzzle and platforming elements scattered throughout the levels, but these shouldn’t pose any problems for even casual gamers. These are more like small complements to the otherwise frenetic action, rather than fully fleshed out elements, if for no other reason than the fact that enemies come in unrelenting hordes and battles can sometimes carry on back and forth for good stretches of time.

The graphics are one of the more talked about features of Uncharted, and for good reason. From the realistic character models and fluid animation, to the expansive, gorgeous and varied environments and the amazing water effects, this is one pretty game.

The environments are dripping with small touches that make them truly feel alive. The ancient ruins look just as they should with weathered, crumbling walls overgrown with shrubbery, the lighting is fantastic and the special effects sparkle. All of this comes with no noticeable loading times or frame rate issues.

Uncharted is a disappointingly short game, and relatively linear at that. While there are some hidden treasures to be found, the game does a fairly good job of keeping you on a tight leash without you necessarily realizing it. Many areas are large, but constructed in a very linear fashion, and the environments themselves have little interaction.

Despite the short play length, this is a game that any PS3 owner should play through at least once. It truly displays the potential held within that little black box, but beyond just the graphics, it takes you on a compelling narrative journey filled with plenty of fun gun fights, ancient riddles and leaps of faith.

News: Strong sales and glowing reviews led to the inevitable, the announcement that there would indeed be a sequel to Uncharted, with a 2009 release date probable.

External reviews of Uncharted