Games

Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception

In this third instalment of the Uncharted series we find Nathan Drake pursuing the historic footsteps of Sir Francis Drake’s in search of the fabled “Atlantis of the Seas” in the heart of the Arabian Desert. However as the adventure unfolds his friends question his unyielding obsession to complete this quest and wonder what consequences will befall him and anyone around him.

Both previous Uncharted titles have wowed audiences worldwide with their masterful storylines, breathtaking graphics and blockbuster quality cinematic cut scenes. This time around Naughty Dog has gone one step further in turning Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception into a movie quality gaming experience that compares with some of the all time classic epic titles such as Lawrence of Arabia. This game will stand the test of time and set a benchmark for all adventure games to follow.

From the opening sequence through to the end I was literally riveted to my seat, barely taking my eye off the action. Okay so a little exaggeration there, but only a little. I could not wait to see what unfolded in this tale and some 8.5 hours later I was both rewarded and disappointed to reach the conclusion. I say disappointed only in that the game was over. Of course I am only talking the single player campaign here, and you can certainly spend plenty of time online. But in all seriousness it has been a very long time since I was so enamoured with a game, finishing it in a couple of days, just in time to watch the final of the Rugby World Cup – but it was a close call.

The game spends much of its time developing many of the characters that we have already become familiar with in the series, but predominantly it is about the relationship between protagonist Nathan and Sully. You will be shown where Drake began his obsession with Sir Francis Drake as a young boy, how he met Sully and some of the other key characters both good and bad. I have no intention of giving away any spoilers so I will not go into more detail of the story other than to say it is one hell of a journey.

By now you will realise that I enjoyed the first two instalments immensely but this one really does go up a notch. The seamless blending of the cinematic sequences into the gameplay is truly impressive. There were times when I just stopped to enjoy the scenery believing it was a cut-scene only to realise I was back in control. I don’t really need to say that the graphics were superb, you will quickly see just how good they are, but it’s the visuals, story, and the voice acting as a whole package that makes this game such a dream to play.

Gameplay is very similar to before -- Uncharted 3 is a third person action adventure where you will be rewarded by taking cover and tactically taking out any opposition forces with melee, stealth of brute force where required. The melee has certainly been tweaked and here the fistfights will play like an Indiana Jones movie. Nathan will kick, punch, counter and even use objects around him to take out his foes. Many of the bouts will go into a slow motion dramatic display where necks get broken, crotches get kicked or people are thrown over ledges and balconies.

The scenery in the game is again awe inspiring, I mentioned the title Lawrence of Arabia as an example in comparison to epic quality and it won’t take you long to realise why. The desert is itself both beautiful and truly daunting, travelling through various parts of the globe will have you admiring the depth of detail in the game from the paintings hanging on walls through to the people in markets or vegetation in the forests.

The multiplayer is currently on round two of the beta trials so I have not yet experienced the finished product. But I have seen both beta versions and can see that Naughty Dog has been working hard on updating the game from feedback received and opening up many of the levels that are seen in the game. As far as third person shooters go for multiplayer games I haven’t seen much better. The online will have the usual boosters such as Come Here (where the last opponent that killed you remains on your radar until their next death), Cloaked (invisible to radar), and Back in the Saddle (where you respawn more quickly).

In addition to Booster slots, there are also some medal kickbacks. Medal Kickbacks are similar to boosters, except that they are much more powerful. As a trade-off, you have to earn them during the match by acquiring a certain number of medals; they aren’t just available to you right away like boosters. Some of the kickbacks include Smoke Bomb (throw a bomb then vanish ninja style), RPG (spawn with an RPG), and Cluster Bomb (grenades explode into multiple grenades). Some of the gametypes include Team Objective, Co-op Hunter, FFA and TDM.

As a complete package goes this game truly rocks, the campaign is spectacular and the online will offer you many more game hours of play. It’s the time of year where there are some really great games coming out, and if you are limited to how many you can get your hands on I would strongly suggest this one, certainly if you enjoy 3^rd person adventures. There is no doubt that Naughty Dog has made every effort to make this game top quality, from the animations, attention to detail, soundtrack, and plenty of surprises that will have your heart pounding. It’s a rollercoaster ride you shouldn’t miss.

10/10

PlayStation 3 Exclusive