Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

As Uncharted 3 hits shelves, the title is in an odd position. The only game that it’s looking to emulate is its predecessor. Uncharted 2, was and still is one of the best 3rd person action adventure games not only of this generation, but ever. It is by no means an understatement to say that Uncharted 3 has a lot to live up to if it is going to achieve the same dizzy heights of its older brother.

The third installment of the Uncharted series looks to wrap up the plot and underlying themes of the last two games. Drake and his friends set off on a globe trotting adventure in an attempt to follow the steps of Sir Francis Drake, after he was sent by Queen Elizabeth the first to seek out a fabled lost city housing a treasure of unimaginable wealth. Unfortunately for Drake though, there are others that seek the fortune as well, so he embarks upon a race around the world, to solve the clues and discover what could be Sir Francis’s greatest secret.

Beat for beat, this is easily the most accomplished game in the series. Looks wise there isn’t much difference from the last outing, but there is some improvement there. The most impressive aspect of how it looks is that players will see as much detail on the wall in the corner as they will on Drakes face. Drake feels, and controls the same as ever, and fans of the characters will enjoy the ride. Drake’s friends are all back, and ready for another adventure.

In the way that snow was the order of the day in Uncharted 2, sand is the big player in Uncharted 3 and what a job they have done. Sand moves and reacts in the way you would expect, and Drake’s movements adapt and change depending on the surface he is walking on, which really brings the game to life. In a medium that is constantly striving towards cinematic experiences, Uncharted 3 easily sits atop the pile. Not only is the game beautiful, but camera angles, cut scenes and environments have been implemented in such a way that at times it really is like watching a movie, coming as close to a cinematic experience as we have yet had in a game. A real achievement for the developers.

Disappointingly though, the cinematic experience is as much a fault in the game is it is an asset. All too often, the perspective is switched so that Drake is moving towards the camera. Not only is this done too often, but it also limits what players can see and restricts the movements they can make, which becomes tedious. The story is also very predictable. A game that strives towards a cinematic experience must be judged alongside cinematic storytelling, and in this respect it feels a little bland. Players know what is going to happen, the characters are a too safe, and theres only a certain amount of times that we can see Drake nearly fall off a cliff before it loses its edge (sorry bad joke).

Annoyingly, the relationships between the main characters are also becoming tiresome. Sully is the same loyal follower to the extent that he will blindly dive into any situation, as long as Drake says so, and once again Drake and Eliana have gotten together previously only to run into problems before the start of the next game and have broken up. There are ways to create conflict between characters without regurgitating the same thing over and over. Naughty Dog had the opportunity to break from the mould and create a story that would be remembered for years to come, but for some reason they shied away when it came to the crunch.

Remaining on the topic of story a while longer, there are a few plot points Uncharted 3 raises that it fails to conclude. The enemies are also a disappointment. Enemy types repeat themselves over and over throughout the game to the point that fighting them becomes mechanical rather than dynamic, and Drake’s evil foes are set up in a brilliant way that create depth and intrigue, only for them to fall flat as their potential fails to come to fruition.

The multiplayer modes are back and have been built upon. Maps are varied and interesting and there are more game modes to keep people busy. Building up your characters, buying them load-outs and earning XP will grab a few, but unfortunately, like many multiplayer modes, there are better experiences out there and it’s unlikely to capture the imagination in the way that the first person shooters have. Co-op mode is also there and, although fun, it feels as if it’s there to check another box rather than having had any thought put into it. Providing a nice throw away experience, Uncharted multiplayer works and plays well, but it is nothing at all special.

When all is said and done though, Uncharted 3 is still a fantastic game. New fighting mechanics are a lot of fun and there are incidental moments that really bring the experience to life. If you have followed the series from the beginning, then it may not break new ground but it ties things up nicely in a way that will leave the major points concluded in a satisfying manner. Liked the previous games? Then buy this for sure, you will not regret it. The Uncharted games have, in the past, been reasons to go out and buy a PS3 and thankfully Uncharted 3 is no different. Polishing what has already been done to a high standard, it really is a fantastic experience. Its biggest flaw is that people have already played Uncharted 2, to which it hits many of the same notes. Were it not for its predecessor, this would easily have been one of the defining games of the generation. Unfortunately though, Naughty Dog have fallen just short, leaving the game just inside the shadow of Uncharted 2.