Nathan Drake is an asshole. He’s always been an asshole – and a mass murderer, despite being an affable chap laden with roguish charm. Uncharted 4 doesn’t change that – but it does humanise Nathan Drake in ways that I hadn’t anticipated.
Right now, you should be reading a number of reviews for what’s arguably Sony’s biggest game release this year. Mine isn’t one of them. Because we live at the tip of Africa, and live in a world where digital codes seemingly don’t exist, I only received the game on Tuesday. Since then, I’ve managed to put in around 11 hours of game time, and according to the game’s in-game tracker, I’m only about 70% of the way through. Probably because I’ve spent half my time in photo mode, capturing some incredible stills.
While I think I could probably knock out a review, it wouldn’t be fair to the game or consumers to write about a narrative-driven game without having finished it. And then there’s the multiplayer, which I’ve only just scratched.
And it really is narrative-driven. This Uncharted is packed with so much more storytelling than previous ones – and that storytelling, so far, is wonderful. Right from the onset, the game is packed with poignant moments that establish Nathan Drake as person; his motivations, his relationship with his brother. And thanks to some of the very best facial animation and motion capture I’ve seen in a game, it pulls it all off.
Yes, once again Naughty Dog has pushed PlayStation hardware further than we’ve seen it pushed before, and the game is filled with trademark Uncharted “wow” moments that have Nathan and his cohorts caught up in wildly improbable, but terribly exciting scenarios. Each area is a visual marvel, and a wonderful display of how hardware can be wielded in the right hands.
I was worried, with the new creative team behind Uncharted 4, that the new darker tone would somehow lose focus – and the light-heartedness of the series would be lost, becoming another grimdark game in a sea of them. While it is indeed darker, it’s also more grounded and the touches carried over from The Last of Us make everything just feel that little more real, and strangely relatable.
As far as gameplay goes, it also just feels better. I didn’t like Uncharted 3 much when it came to the actual playing of it. Much of it, especially in the second half, felt like a chore as adventuring made way for waves upon waves of unbearably predictable enemy encounters. That’s a little different now. While you’ll still be shooting at hordes of bad guys, the gunplay itself is far improved and stealth has become a viable strategy, thanks to conveniently placed foliage.
Even the adventuring is better; thanks to new tools like the grappling rope, Drake isn’t just jumping from ledge to ledge, sidling up walls and grabbing on to improbable, convenient outcrops. He’s now also swinging to them.
If there is a negative right now, I’d have to point at the game’s fumbling and asinine enemy AI. As with most games that feature any modicum of stealth, it’s far too easy to pile up a mountain of bodies while their still-living friends search as you sit around the corner, waiting to dispense death.
I don’t want to say too much (mostly because I’d love for you to actually read my review when it’s out) but I will say that fans of the series will be happy. I’ve yet to complete it, but right now, it’s my favourite in the series – and possibly one of my favourite modern action adventure games to date.
Last Updated: May 5, 2016
oVg
May 5, 2016 at 09:09
SOLD SOLD SOLD TAKE MY MONEY. ALL R899 OF IT.
3 was my favourite. Then again I play my games on the easiest level in order to enjoy the pacing of the first impression. Nothing worse than meeting waves of 3D space invaders on hard mode while learning a new narrative, Its just frustrating.
11hours in 2 days, bwahahahaha you old man 😉
Geoffrey Tim
May 5, 2016 at 09:12
Got it on Tuesday afternoon, had to do a 5gb patch first – and I have a family and a full day job that runs from 6 in the morning until 5pm. 😛
oVg
May 5, 2016 at 09:18
Exactly :P… Old man.
Greylingad[He Charges!]
May 5, 2016 at 09:19
But what do you do between two and three in the morning?
oVg
May 5, 2016 at 09:20
Download patch
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 5, 2016 at 09:20
He packages boxes of spiders to be delivered to Darryn’s house?
Greylingad[He Charges!]
May 5, 2016 at 09:21
HAHAHA!!! Would those be in the compartment next to the snakes?
HvR
May 5, 2016 at 09:41
He gets in touch with his inner glamasaurus
https://media.giphy.com/media/aAkbwz60cisKY/giphy.gif
Original Heretic
May 5, 2016 at 09:25
Yeah, these young whippersnappers with no familial commitments don’t always understand that finding time to game can be like discovering a Scottish unicorn in the front garden.
I got Dark Souls 3 about three weeks ago and have only clocked about 15 hours on it.
oVg whippersnapper
May 5, 2016 at 09:31
Darn whippersnapper (single) gamers 😛
Original Heretic
May 5, 2016 at 09:52
Yeah man, when my single mates ask me “why haven’t you watched *insert series/movie title* yet?! What’s wrong with you?”, the look of my face would make little villages scurry away in panic.
Avithar
May 5, 2016 at 12:39
Also loved 3, the story in the game is breath taking
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 5, 2016 at 09:18
Seems only PS Exclusives can push the hardware to the limit….
oVg whippersnapper
May 5, 2016 at 09:34
In resolution. This game is still 30fps.
Admiral Chief in New York
May 5, 2016 at 09:37
A very limited limit
Geoffrey Tim
May 5, 2016 at 09:40
I think you would be impressed if you saw it running, meneer.
Greylingad[He Charges!]
May 5, 2016 at 09:42
Something that struck me like bag of cement dropping off of a truck, was the mud flying off the wheels…in an adventure, third person view game… I really am impressed with what I’ve seen so far…
Admiral Chief in New York
May 5, 2016 at 09:50
So, make a plan Senor Tim?
[makes pretty smiley face]
Geoffrey Tim
May 5, 2016 at 09:52
Sure, there’s a display unit at your closest BT games. Go check it out.
Admiral Chief in New York
May 5, 2016 at 09:56
But that is…..outside. Sies, there are people outside!
Nikola
May 5, 2016 at 10:23
Yeah I would not go outside if I were you, you never know could be Albanian somewhere waiting to kill you. Dangerous times we live in:) hahaha
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 5, 2016 at 09:59
LOL
iusedtobe(a)regular
May 5, 2016 at 12:14
Kojima claimed to have pushed the PS3 to the limit with MGS4, best looking console game at the time then ND claimed that U2 was pushed to the limit best looking game at the time then GOW3 came out and SM claimed that they pushed the PS3 to the limit, and then KZ3 came out, GG claimed they pushed the PS3 to the limit, best looking game at the time…….and so on. Finally, ND again claimed to have pushed the PS3 to the limit with TLOU and I think with that game it was the closest to truth. Devs will always say they pushed the tech, although that being said, I dont think ND have claimed to have pushed the PS4 to the limit, I could be wrong though but we have already seen the early build of Quantic Dreams Detroit and it looked damn impressive.
Umar
May 5, 2016 at 09:18
Sounds great…though, I have yet to actually play a single game in the franchise. look forward to the review
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 5, 2016 at 09:19
Bought the remastered trilogy on one disc at Rage last year, should be cheap.
Umar
May 5, 2016 at 09:23
Might get it sometime, but if TLOU 2 gets revealed E3 I don’t give a crap about Smathan Smake
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
May 5, 2016 at 09:25
TLOU or TLG?
Umar
May 5, 2016 at 09:27
Dude, both! Nathan can play with his treasures. Gimme dat Last Guardian and Ellen Page goodness
Loftus
May 5, 2016 at 09:34
Please say you have at least experienced The Last of Us?
Umar
May 5, 2016 at 10:04
Psssssssh. One of the best games ever made!
Greylingad[He Charges!]
May 5, 2016 at 09:35
You know, this is what I love about Lagz, instead of going full steam ahead like all of the other reviewers, you take the time to stop, think about it and, most importantly, give an honest opinion. Bloody well done Geoff!
Geoffrey Tim
May 5, 2016 at 09:39
To give the chaps from SA Gamer props, they went the same route.
Admiral Chief in New York
May 5, 2016 at 09:40
Hero Tim
LOL I’M A HERO TOO?
Greylingad[He Charges!]
May 5, 2016 at 09:46
Hehehe, well, you’ve revived me enough to be…
Greylingad[He Charges!]
May 5, 2016 at 09:45
Awesome!! It’s a much more matured way of doing it, never mind getting closer to the community, brilliant execution!
Loftus
May 5, 2016 at 09:47
So Gamespot already has their review out and they gave it a 10/10. IGN is also still in review in progress, but they say at this stage its an 8.8/10. Best to trust an Onion on this one.