*This is a review of the single player campaign of Uncharted 4, and does not include comments on the multiplayer
*For the purpose of full disclosure, I am a fan of this franchise and may be biased. I do my best to look at this game objectively, but keep this in mind. Uncharted 4 takes you on yet another globetrotting adventure as historian, treasure hunter and occasional thief, Nathan Drake. This time around Nate has finally settled down and hung up his guns to live a peaceful life with his wife, Elena. It is apparent that he still has the urge to explore the unknown. This changes when Nate reunites with his long lost (and presumed dead brother), Sam. Without spoiling too much, Sam has come back into Nate’s life seeking help. Sam is in debt with some bad people and needs Nate to help him find the lost treasure of famed pirate, Henry Every. Nate lies to Elena and gets back to his old ways. Nate, Sam and their old pal Victor Sullivan, set out on an adventure that takes them to a beautiful Italian villa, the snowy hills of Scotland, the badlands of Madagascar, and the fabled lost pirate colony of Libertalia. Uncharted 4 tells a more mature and deeper story than the previous installments of the franchise. It is a story of how far a person is willing to go through for those they love. Throughout this game Nate has a physical representation of the angel and devil on his shoulders. Sully, the angel keeps trying to keep Nate safe and go back to his wife. Sam, the devil, says that Nate is “made for this life”. Throughout the game Nate is constantly lying to himself about his true motivation for this treasure hunt- almost to the point of ending his relationship with Elena. Nate insists he is doing it for his brother, but refuses to admit that he loves the hunt. This makes the narrative take a deeper more cerebral approach and actually creates an odd duality within the player. While the adventure is exciting and thrilling, Nate begins to become like Captain Ahab. Nate, without regard for his friends or family, chases his obsession of adventure almost to the point of becoming a tragic character and losing everything he cares about. Uncharted 4 delves into the past of Nate in a way no other part of the franchise has before. Uncharted 3 revealed that Nate’s real last name is not Drake and that he was an orphan. Uncharted 4 explains the course of events that lead Sam and Nate to change their names and strike out on their own. The scenes depicting the brothers’ childhood, explain why throughout the game Nate is willing to go to any lengths to save his brother, even though the sentiment is not always reciprocated. At times Sam’s obsession to find the treasure trumps Nate’s. Sam will put himself in perilous situations without thinking that Nate will always come to his aid. Because of this, Sam is constantly putting Nate in harm’s way and subjecting him to unnecessary risks. Overall Uncharted 4’s story is a much more engaging and personal narrative that many can relate to and is aided by the phenomenal cast of characters and performances. The writing for Uncharted 4 is also top notch. The script maintains the series’ tradition of comedic release, but has a depth that many modern games lack. There are times when the action slows down and the personalities of the characters shine through. Whether it is a quiet moment between Nate and Sam, while looking over the remains of Libertalia, or Nate and Elena having a sweet moment as husband and wife the performance and writing mesh perfectly and fill you with genuine emotion. One of my main criticisms in the narrative is the weak villains. There are two main villains. Nadine Ross, a South African mercenary leader. Nadine has moments of depth, but in the end comes across as two dimensional. Rafe Adler, a mentally unhinged billionaire, seeks treasure not for the money but the adulation of others. Rafe feels the need to prove he did not inherit everything he has. Rafe has all the makings of a great villain. He has proper and believable motivations and the right temperament (a borderline psychopath who is willing to step on anybody to accomplish his goal). Only in the end does he discard the façade of his calm calculated self in exchange for who he truly is: An insecure rich boy who cannot do anything on his own. The other criticism I have is the predictable course the end game takes. Pre-release I was expecting a darker ending with more finality that would live up to the dark title, A Thief’s End, and the thematically darker box art. Uncharted 4 does not end with a major character’s death or similar tragic events, but does end with a warm hearted ending similar to the previous three games. Uncharted 4 does give Nate’s story a fine bookend, and leaves the door open for future games. Uncharted 4 is the first game in the series to really mesh all of its gameplay elements. It is much easier to combine and flow between platforming, stealth and gunplay. Combat has once again been touched up to create a smooth free flowing experience. This not only creates a more realistic experience, it also gives you more tools to work with. You can sit in cover and shoot it out, run and blind fire or use the terrain and platforming for perfect stealth. Nate’s animations during gameplay emphasize this fluidity. When running and shooting, climbing even reloading it just draws you in and makes it feel as if you’re watching a movie (then you remember you’re holding a controller). The stunning aesthetics of the environments draw you in and make great use of the game’s new camera function. The color pallet is so broad every new area looks like a painting. The lighting also adds a more in depth sense of realism. In Madagascar, the lighting is brighter and extenuates the reds of the mountains and scarce greens of the grass and trees. While in Scotland, the color pallet is not as bright. The dim lighting and slight fog makes the white snow pop against the browns of the foliage and Nate’s jacket. This is, hands down, one of the most beautiful games I have ever played. The design of the actually gameplay is, to put it simply, fantastic. Parts of the game open up and are less linear than the past games in the franchise. These areas allow you to explore and experience the history of these amazing vistas. The more linear sections of the game also have a wonderful design. It feels as if the terrain is a gameplay mechanic in its own right. For example, there is a part later in the game where you start stealth in the jungles of Madagascar. You can use the bushes to hide or the verticality of these cliff ledges to take enemies down from above. Even if you are spotted, the vertical cliffs can be used as cover or you can run and use the grappling hook to swing around and shoot in Errol Flynn-esque style. This game finds a perfect balance between storytelling and gameplay. Uncharted 4 is a fun ride into the sunset for a wonderful franchise. I do not like using the term perfect, especially when talking about games. Overall, Uncharted 4 is a fantastic ending to a storied franchise. There are issues with games that are considered “perfect”, but these minor flaws do not hurt the overall experience of Uncharted 4. I give this game the highest score. I suggest that you play this game. Rating: 10/10
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AuthorI am A.J. Goelz. I'm a gamer first and a writer second. I hope you enjoy the content on this page and check out the rest of my content on YouTube. Archives
April 2019
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