The Premiere Action-Adventure Game for PS3
To say Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is a great game is a massive understatement. Naughty Dog has done a phenomenal job in crafting an irresistibly fun game by weaving an intriguing tale of suspense, daring and adventure in one beautifully rendered package around a real-life legend. This tale revolves around the fabled city of El Dorado. Indeed, so tightly woven is the narrative that it almost feels real as you play through and bear witness to the events that unfold on-screen for the characters. And much the same as a good movie or book can draw its audience in and not let go, so too does the tale of Nathan Drake on his quest to El Dorado.
Graphically the game is a knockout; from lush jungle exteriors to dimly-lit corridors of a long abandoned English fort. This is one game that most definitely takes advantage of the PS3 hardware. The sound is like-wise impressive with some of the best voice acting in any game to date. Characters deliver their lines very naturally, and their performance is always on par with what's happening around them contextually (meaning it doesn't feel like the voice actors are just standing by a mic in a studio). The story ranks right up there with classic Indiana Jones fare: Take a little bit of history, sprinkle liberally with creative license and exciting, identifiable characters and you have the makings of a great story that includes everything from Nazis to 16th century English explorers, as well as a little supernatural element thrown in for good measure.
The pacing is just right as you uncover clues on your quest. The game is broken down into three segments: Puzzles, combat and exploration, and each one complements the other. If I had to pick something negative it would be the game's cover system, as Nate tends to get stuck all too frequently against whatever object he is behind since the roll and cover button are the same. It's very easy to get drawn onto a cover object; like a tractor beam when you actually meant to roll away. But if that's the worst sin this game commits I'll gladly endure it. Naughty Dog has raised the bar for future action-adventure games. Everything is spot on: Gameplay, mechanics, story, graphics, sound, and the most important, fun. The only truly bad thing about this game is that it has to end. Drake's Fortune is well worth the price of admission and should be included in every PS3 gamer's library.
