Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Review - PS3

9

Gameplay: 9
Graphics: 9
Audio: 9
Innovation: 7

Introduction

Uncharted is Naughty Dog’s first foray into the world of next gen gaming. Well known for their Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter games, many were expecting to see a PS3 version of either of these two franchises. Instead they decided to start from scratch and come up with a new IP, Uncharted is the result. The series bucks the trend of the other, cartoony franchises by being a very down to earth, realistic game, set in the real world. What does this new approach mean for gamers everywhere? Very good things, I assure you.

Gameplay

Playing Uncharted is like playing a movie at times, there's even a scene selection on the main menu (I kid you not!). It really is a cinematic experience, the story is well thought out and interesting, with some twists and turns throughout to shake things up a bit. The reason I mention the story here is because of how story based the game is, there is a strong narrative going at all times, a series of events that are playing out over the course of the game.

Your job is to navigate through each scenario or “chapter” in the shoes of Nathan Drake, a treasure hunter who believes he is the descendant of the great explorer Sir Francis Drake. He’s on the hunt for El Dorado, the lost city of gold which Drake supposedly discovered, but there’s a whole heap of modern day pirates who are after the very same thing. Things are going to get messy. However, Drake isn’t alone. Elena, a somewhat pesky reporter from an unnamed TV network has come along for the ride; Nathan has promised her a big story in return for helping him fund his expedition. She’s not your average reporter though, sure, she carries a camera, but she’s also tough and can hold her own in a firefight. She regards Nathan as her ticket to a huge ratings boost, and is quick to remind him of her priorities. She guards her camera with her life.

Also in on the adventure is Nathan’s knowledgeable, middle aged friend Sully, who owns a sea-plane and a small boat, and is after the treasure of El Dorado to help him settle his many debts. He’s not as young as he used to be, and is unable to engage in any overly physical activity, so Nathan has to accommodate for this, changing the gameplay at times. One such example is where Nathan climbs across a large pit, then jumps to the bottom, with Sully unable to follow him due to his age. Nathan must then find a way for Sully to get down as well, in the form of a ladder which is currently hidden behind some rubble. Now all you need to do is clear the rubble (with some help from an explosive barrel) and he is able to rejoin you. This is an example of the game’s puzzle solving sections, and they work rather well since they (continued next page)