Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

Those familiar with the Uncharted series will be at home with the blockbuster action, ancient treasures, and witty dialogue of Uncharted 3. This is not to suggest that all is the same, as this third installment swings harder than its predecessors on all accounts. The game's story opens strongly and provides an impetus for globetrotting, while its characters, writing, and performances are the highlights of the show. The narrative has its missed opportunities though, namely supporting characters that receive little time to develop. The game's attention to detail in animations and backdrops is staggering, and is highlighted by locales such as London, Eastern France, and the Rub' al Khali Desert. Platforming sections are responsive, enjoyable, and show off the beautiful vistas and rooftop views that the coulrophobic Nathan Drake frequently dangles over. Occasionally, these segments take place within exciting and tense confines, such as a burning castle and a sinking cruise ship. In hand-to-hand combat, Nate is more fluid and dynamic than ever, utilizing his surroundings to best his foes. Uncharted 3's gunplay remains cover-based and fairly enjoyable, yet unnecessarily difficult. Enemies soak up bullets before succumbing to death, and foes with heavy firearms such as shotguns and rocket-launchers appear in frustratingly large numbers. Additionally, wide-open combat areas paired with seemingly x-ray-spectacled A.I. combatants make the player feel somewhat helpless and reliant on luck. Quiet, puzzle-focused challenges serve as more than just a change of pace from shooting and climbing; they are clever, diverse, and make for eye-pleasing set pieces. On top of it all, a fully-fledged multiplayer suite rounds out the single-player experience. In contrast to its highs, the lows of Uncharted 3 seem like substantial oversights. But, when all is said and done, Uncharted 3 induces grins, chuckles, jaw-drops, and genuine wide-eyed amazement like few video games can.