Driving a Jetski Upstream, Shooting Explosive Barrels
I had 2 pretty strong reasons for wanting to play through Uncharted again, when my PS3 backup corrupted and I couldn't continue:
- I said I wouldn't buy any more PS3 games until I had finished Uncharted
- My first playthrough was really fun
Having already experienced a good 3/4's of the game previously, I was happy to skip cutscenes and blaze through the game a little. But I was really reminded that Uncharted is one big great adventure, in the truest sense.
The various jungle settings do the game alot of favours. Borrowing extensively from Indiana Jones, any kid (Or full grown man) who ever had any aspirations about being a full time adventurer have their needs catered for in Uncharted. You get rollercoasted along and the anticipation for what comes next is ever present.
Firefights are pretty fun, when the AI thinks for a second and works as a group to make sure you are nothing but a place to rest bullets. The platforming aspect of the game is really refreshing. Whilst not being much to it at all, it kept me holding my breath in many places and the puzzles make you think enough, whilst not keeping you off track from the emerging adventure.
That said, the game has problems.
Bad hit detection and area damage are a big pet peeve of mine, and Uncharted peevs in spades. One enemy might be taken down by one headshot, whilst others might insight being socked in the kisser 4-5 times before dropping. I got one housemate to vouch for me that I wasn't going insane and he too couldn't believe how many beads various bad guys would take before going down. 3 loads of shotgun is 2 too many at some points in the game.
There are also a few sequences that just ramp up stupidly. I never again want to ride a Jetski in a game (sorry Waverace), nor navigate stupid waterfalls, unforgiving barrels, all the while engaging bullet sponges in rediculous gun battles at the same time.
My big frustration, with added anger.
Later on in the game there are some action settings, that when you die you go back way too far. It feels really unforgiving and I am constantly reminded of older times when it was ok for repetition to come hang out.
The zombie setting at the end was also pretty unecessary.
All this bad mouthing can be put aside and it can be plainly said that I really enjoyed myself. I get the feeling that Uncharted was a turning point on the PS3, when a few titles really realised the potential the console had, and so therefore good gaming experiences flowed forth.
