Uncharted 4: A Thief's End - Review

I recently finished the Drake's Uncharted Collection, so what's next?  Well naturally I need to test the power of the Playstation 4 & a great way to do that is to play the conclusion to the Uncharted Series. I remember the E3 trailers & watching some of the gameplay thinking, damn I want to play that.  For the most part I have enjoyed the Uncharted series, lots of great action, entertaining story & some great visuals.  That being said Drakes Deception really soured things for me,  not as much with regards to the story but the gameplay I felt was rather weak & was hoping a Thief's End would not make the same mistake.


Who likes pizza?  Everyone that's who.  When it comes to pizza I think its hard to have an out & an out bad pizza, mediocre sure but truly bad I don't think so.  Even a plain cheese pizza has it place especially if you have some sides with it.  Then there are truly awesome pizza's like Duck Hoisin. The pieces of meat are soft & both moist & dry, smothered in hoisin sauce, sprinkled with spring onion & cucumbers, even the thought of it makes my mouth water.   So playing Uncharted 4 I had to....sorry I will be right back I wanted to see if there was any Duck Hoisin pizza left from last night. No, no there was not, might have to go to the shop later, hmmm.   Anyway back on track, I had to decide while playing Uncharted 4: A Thief's End was I eating a mediocre pizza or one cover in duck, hoisin sauce & other goodness.

So, let's discuss the story a bit.  Two words; yes, yes - that is all.  Alright fine I will offer a little more detail.  The story is fantastic & as a whole is as close to perfect as you can get.  This time around the games focuses on Nate's past which deals a lot with his family.  The intrigue & mystery that is Nathan Drake's life is revealed more than it ever has before & really helps to answer some questions I had.


After a loss early in the game we see Nate 15 years later working for a salvage company, for lack of a better word he is now retired from his adventurous life.  We get to see what regular life looks like for him playing the chapter 'Normal Life'.  I found this to be great not only because of the story but it also gave you time to enjoy some the visual details that normally running around may cause you to miss.


As you can imagine Nate gets dragged back into the fray.  Unlike previous times it is not just about the glory, but how much is he willing to sacrifice in the process?  Nate is on the hunt for Henry Avery's treasure but he won't be alone,  I can't say much more than that as it would spoil the story for you.  The new bad guy is Rafe Adler, the problem I had with him is that he acted like an insolent child through out the game which made me really dislike him.  Being fair I think that was the idea but I guess I like my bad guys to be more....bad.


The story has a nice sprinkling of comedy from all characters especially from Nate himself & as we all know; once a wise ass always a wise ass.  Overall there were only a few minor bumps along the way.  I really liked the ending, including the epilogue.  Right, that's all your getting from me, story wise anyway.

Where do I begin when discussing the visual masterpiece that is this game?  The back drops are amazing & often breath taking.  The lighting & attention to small details is simply inspiring.  While I expected it to be better visually than Uncharted 3 I did not realise simply how much better it would be.


There are so many great things to discuss about the visuals, let's take for example the scuba diving chapter.  As you majestically traverse the ocean floor schools of fish pass you buy, the coral feels like it is bustling with life & as you glide over the seabed the sand is kicked up around you in a cloud.  It all looks so fantastic.  I really loved the art style used for the opening credits, watching it reveals the adventures Nate has had so far & made me feel nostalgic.  Madagascar was so visually impressive, the mix of terrain was beautiful I could barely believe I was playing a video game.


Normally I worry about revealing too many details about the story in my reviews but being honest this time I worry about discussing too much about how great the game looks.  If you own a Playstation 4 & haven't played it yet go out & buy it now.


This time around Henry Jackman helmed the musical score.  I think as a Thief's End was the conclusion in the series the studio wanted something more epic, well they got it.  Jackman has worked on many scores & has also worked closely with the legendary Hans Zimmer.  His works include; Captain America: Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Kong Island & the Kick-Ass movies.


There is heavy use of strings & horns to help create an action packed score.  Listening to the music again I could certainly hear the influences of some of the larger film scores Jackman has worked on.   Some of my favorite pieces included; 'A Thief's End', 'Lure of Adventure', 'Cut to the Chase', 'The Twelve Towers', 'New Devon' & 'Nate's Theme 4.0' which is a beautiful piece with some great piano work.


Additionally there is some music used during the Auction House mission which was really good & is described by one character as European Dub Step.  I have seen many posts online asking why it was not included on the soundtrack but perhaps they will add this in the future to a definitive edition.


There are some great sound effects in the game, my favorite is example of this is when Kid Drake is sliding down a roof & kicks a shingle loose.  The sound it makes when sliding down the roof & the breaking as it hits the ground is amazing.  These sound effects help give the game a very rich atmospheric feel.


I found the score to be truly enjoyable & is easily my favorite score of the year so far, it has an epic sound accompanied by some pieces that are simply beautiful.

Onto the awesomeness that is the gameplay.  How would I best describe it?  Balls out I think, think of Uncharted 2 but with so many extra balls you could fill 6 meatball foot long subs & still have balls left over.  That is how much balls the gameplay in A Thief's End has.


A lot of the issues I had up to this point with the series & more specifically with Uncharted 3 Drakes Deception have been well & truly quashed.  This time around Kid Drake's movements don't feel over exaggerated &  he even needs help from time to time getting to areas which feels more realistic.  The hand to hand combat is what it should have been previously; balanced, brutal & fun.  The journal this time felt useful & was actually used like one rather than being tacked on there for the sake of it.


There are new weapons & accessories including a grapple hook.  This is great not only for swinging across large areas but also for climbing, dragging objects & looking cool while shooting.  Switching weapons looks realistic & the aiming system is a lot more accurate.


While the gameplay overall is fantastic there are a few standout areas like; during the heist at the auction & the driving sequence in Madagascar - enter the unstoppable armoured truck.  There are less puzzles then before which I feel is a good thing & the ones that are there are much more enjoyable than in previous installments.


The big downer for me was Scotland, nothing against Scotland but some of the gameplay was not great, especially all the unnecessary sliding.  It may seem a small thing to complain about but when the rest of the gameplay was so great it really stood out as the weak link.  All in all though the gameplay was amazing & I am sure I will revisit the game at some point in the future.





So after 15 hours plus of the main campaign & finishing the final chapter in the series what did I think?  I thought it was fantastic & inspiring, it was all I could want from a sequel & more.  I am sad that this will likely be the last adventure I will have with Nate but we will always have El Dorado, Shambhala & Ubar.

Uncharted The Nathan Drake Collection - Review

After months of saving I finally bought the Playstation 4 PRO.  A few people have asked me why I waited so long to buy one as they know how much I love games, the honest answer is that I was happy with my XBOX One & had enough games to play on it.  However, over the last 4-6 months there have not been enough good exclusives to keep me occupied, whereas the Playstation 4 has so many.  I easily have 15 games that I already really want to play on the Playstation 4.  Bottom line, YAY!


So, you buy one of the most powerful consoles on the market & the first game you decide to play is Uncharted The Nathan Drake Collection, why?  Well, I really want to play a Thief's End & wanted a bit of context for the game as I have only really played Uncharted Golden Abyss on the PS Vita.  I also feel playing the other games would help give me a greater appreciation for the not only the series but for the new game as well.


I'm sure at this stage you have got used to me comparing food to video games, I sometimes wonder what that says about me?  Anyway here goes, while playing Uncharted The Nathan Drake Collection I had to ask myself was I eating a tasty KFC meal including sides & a drink or was I eating a kid's Happy Meal?

This time I have decide to do the review a little different, I'm going to discuss the highs & lows of each of the games but instead of giving final thoughts on each title I'm going to do one overall one.
It only makes sense as I am reviewing this game as a collection rather than just three separate games.
Let's get the ball rolling with Drakes Fortune.

How best to describe Nathan Drake (also known as Nate)?  He is a lovable rogue, mixed with parts Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, Prince of Persia & Nathan Fillion.  His partner in crime is Victor Sullivan better know as Sully.  He comes across as a little cold & ruthless to start with but slowly you see a different side to him & you get to see what Nate might become in the future.  Then there is the spunky reporter Elena Fisher, who is fishing for her big story (see what I did there...forget it) & is hoping that Nate' search for Sir Francis Drake's treasure will give her just that. She never shy's away from danger & is never afraid to wade into the thick of things.


The opening scenes show Nate & Elena finding Sir Francis Drake's coffin but what do they find inside?  Is it a body?  No, instead there is a notebook that indicates not only did Francis Drake fake his death but also seems that he may have found the City Of El Dorado.  Que bad guy Gabriel Roman who seems to be looking for City Of El Dorado too.  He is calm, collected, ruthless & British.


As always I wont reveal any more about the story but I will say this, it starts out interesting & full of promise but near the end it wains a lot.  Overall a promising story that become a little boring.

I won't be over critical of the visuals as the game is almost 10 years old but being honest it doesn't look bad.  The environments are interesting & colourful but sometimes lack detail. Some of the character movements look a little off, this is especially noticeable when Drake is swimming.  On the plus side the character designs & lighting effects look great.  I also really like how on occasion loose leafs will blow across your path. This may seem like a minor thing but it really helps make the environment seem more organic.


The music is composed by Greg Edmonson who has worked on movies & TV series including; Martian Law,  Lucky Town, Bounty Killer, King of The Hill the animated series & hold your breath, Firefly.  Him being a part of Firefly already makes him awesome, if you haven't watched the series & you like the idea of space bandits/cowboys/pirates then you will love the show - also watch Cowboy Bebop & Outlaw Star.


While listening to the soundtrack again the other day I could definitely hear the influence of Firefly. There is nice use of brass & pipe sounds to give a jungle like sound, it also helps to create a great feeling of action & exploration.  My favorite pieces included; 'Nate's Theme', 'Uncharted Island', 'Plane Wrecked', 'Drowned City', 'Treasure Vault'

Onto the tasty meat that is the game play.  I really liked that there were so many difficulty options to choose from, it reminded me some of the old school games & immediately made me think of replaying the game through at a later date on higher difficulties.


The weapons were fun but I wished there had been a greater variety of them. Grenades were easily my favorite weapon.  Explosions looked awesome & I love how enemies are often launched into the air from the force of them. While it may seem like a minor detail I really liked that some cover was destructible, I felt it added an intensity to the gameplay.  I liked the over dramatic deaths especially when enemies throw themselves in different directions.


There were however some negatives to the gameplay. Some areas looked climbable but aren't & often made the game feel very restrictive & linear.  Shooting while driving the jet ski I found to be a giant pain in the behind & was very happy when those sections were over.  As a whole though some very solid gameplay & I genuinely had fun.

by XMenouX on Deviant Art

The sequel doesn't pull any punches & had me hooked straight away, from the opening scene it's clear to see that Drake is already in a bad state.  Of course misery needs company & Sully returns, this time he feels a lot more fleshed out, he can be wise cracking & seems like he is a bit of ladies man. The bond between him & Drake is much more apparent than in the first installment & helped me invest in both characters more.  New comer Chloe Frazer help adds to the team dynamic; sassy, cheeky & maybe a little untrustworthy.  Of course I couldn't not mention Harry Flynn, who provides Nate with an offer he cannot refuse.  He is overly confident & I found him no where near as likable as the other characters.


This time you are on the hunt for Marco Polo's lost fleet, but why?  Well it's turns out Marco might of found the city of Shambhala (also known as Shangri-La) & perhaps may have take the Cintamani Stone which is a really massive sapphire - who doesn't want one of those?  Naturally Nate is not the only one looking for it, our bad guy this time is Zoran Lazarevic a badass to the extreme & makes Gabriel Roman look like a teddy bear by comparison, a really small one not those six foot tall ones, they are scary.


The darker story of the sequel is balanced well with light hearted moments & comic relief from the characters.  The story is very engaging & has a pretty good ending apart from the slightly annoying boss.

Without a doubt Among Thieves is a lot more visually impressive than Drake's Fortune.  This time around you get to experience Mountains, Jungles & Nepal.  The character designs look more refined, the snow looks realistic as you walk through & it is one of the many details like this that really make the game immersive.  It's hard to believe that Among Thieves was only released just two years after the original, the improvements on the visuals is remarkable.


Greg Edmonson brings his musical talents back for Among Thieves & this time with a more broader sound.  I found the music to be more noticeably present than in the original but this is not bad thing especially during action sequences.


The music this time around often had a more serious & somber tone which works well with everything that is happening in the story.  I really liked the heavier use of strings used this time around which was great for creating different atmospheres in the game.  My favorite pieces include; 'The City's Secret', 'Reunion', 'The Monastery' & the 'Gates of Shambhala'.

The game play was much improved over Drake Fortune, Nate is in the thick of it from the beginning & the action is definitely more frequent. The paths that can be taken aren't as obviously highlighted as before, handholds for example don't look as artificial & look more part of the background.

This installment focuses more on stealth & tactics, sometime this work really well, other times...not so much.  At it's core Among Thieves is an action adventure game.  I found the melee combos were more polished & the combat flowed a lot better. There is much more variety with weapons this time around, they also feel & handle much better.  The new running sections are a lot of fun along with feeling pretty intense.


There were not too many bad points but one of the biggest I felt was Nate's notebook. For the most part it seems pointless, I would prefer they either remove it as a feature or have Drake utilise it more.
While it seems a strange thing to complain about I just don't like things that seem pointless or under developed.  All in all though some great gameplay & a great improvement over the original.

by Nanaga on Deviant Art

This time around you get to see & play as kid Nate & you find out how he first meets Sully.  I like the way Naughty Dog have focused on the relationship between these two characters because in my mind there is no Nate without Sully.  There are familiar faces who return for the third installment there are also a few new ones.  Charlie Cutter is one of my favorite new characters; a geezer, a hard man & he doesn't like small spaces.  Nate opposing force this time is Katherine Marlowe & her right-hand man Talbot, they also seem to have a small army at their disposal.


The story this time returns to Sir Francis Drake & his secret Voyage to Arabia to find the lost city of Ubar.  Nate looks to follow in his foot steps but this time he seems to be more driven & slightly obsessive, something that those around him aren't afraid to point out.  Nate's struggle & need for answers seems more real than in the previous two installments, he isn't just doing it for thrill of it, he needs to do it.


There were some negatives to the story, I felt overall the the bad guys motivations seemed a little weak although they did help to flesh out his back story.  I also feel while it is not always necessary to answer every question it would have nice to see what happens to some of the other characters in the game.  The story is good but I felt Among Thieve did it better.

The visuals in the Uncharted series just keeps getting better & better, it makes me really excited to see what the next installment looks like.  Drake's Deception has even more varied backgrounds than previous installments & the desert areas looking fantastic. While the game looks great there are two areas that really showcase how impressive the game looks. One area is through a set of caves, it looks amazing the way daylight comes through at certain points & some parts are just jaw dropping. The second is later in the game & features a ship graveyard, I won't mention anymore that that but wow just wow.   Once again another visual spectacle.


Greg Edmonson returns for Drake Deception & with a new sound direction.  It is hard to fully put my finger on it but the score this time definitely sounds more deserty? Is that a word? Sounds likes a word.  It feels more fast paced & intense than the games were previously & utilises a more varied arrangement of instruments.


Some of my favorite piece were; 'Atlantis of the Sands', 'Badlands', 'Iram of The Pillars', 'Arachnophobia', 'Sink or Swim', 'Shootout'.  While it was a great score I couldn't help feeling Among Thieves was better.

Hmm what I can say about the gameplay?  Well it wasn't awful but certainly felt like a slight step backwards.  The fighting felt very loose, no real power in the movements & the close up camera angles helped to draw attention to this.  While there are more actions you can preform I didn't feel they greatly improved melee combat.  Kid Nate's movements felt wrong, he almost seems to be able to move faster & jump greater distances than his adult counterpart.  I know what you are thinking 'that is only natural he is a kid', the issue I had is that Nate's movements as an adult were often overly aggregated so the kid version came across as a little ridiculous.  The puzzles are a little annoying, in the previous games they were far & few between but now there is an over abundance of them that just feel unnecessary.  I feel maybe Naughty Dog took a lot of flack about the first two not having many & over compensated in this one.


While there are quite a few negatives there were many positives. Killing enemies stealthy or in close quarters results in a slight slow-mo & Nate stealing the enemies weapons or pulling a pin on their vest & kicking them out of harms before they blow up.  There are a number of new weapons that look & feel great, they have also improved the other weapons.  The drug sequences are pretty cool & are very trippy.  The chapters containing ships are fantastic, not only from an action perspective but also from a visual one.


Overall it was a mixed bag with the gameplay, the parts that were good were really good & the parts that were bad were, well really bad.  Not an unpleasant experience but I was hoping either for more of the same or more improvements but definitely did not expect to go backwards.

by JokerSyndrom on Deviant Art

So after 40 hours plus of playing I came to the end of it all & what did I think?  If I take it as one complete game then I would say that it was really good, with many great characters, stunning visuals, some great musical pieces & for the most part great gameplay.  However if I measured them as individuals games I don't think I would have been so kind.  As a whole the series has gotten better, aside from a few missteps & I'm certainly looking forward to playing A Thief's End.