This review contains spoilers
If you know me and my opinions on Uncharted, then this rating is probably just as surprising to you as it is to me. But it's true; despite all odds, Uncharted 3 is phenomenal. I cannot describe just how much better it is than its predecessors without sounding hyperbolic, but what I will say is that it is literally unbelievable. I'm still in shock.
Every single thing is better here: the puzzles are brain-teasing and satisfying to solve, the melee combat is way more fleshed out and a great pace-breaker to the gunplay (which is also really good here), there are so many more animations for all your actions throughout the game, the score is great, the villains are competent threats while being hatable bastards AND have connections to the characters, and this is the first game in the series where the shootouts all feel memorable, distinct, and follow a smooth difficulty curve throughout the game.
But what I love is how perfect the pacing is. Every chapter flows seamlessly into the next, and the game expertly creates natural feeling ending points for each chunk of the game that always left me feeling satisfied with what I accomplished and eagerly looking forward to my next session.
And WOWZERS is the spectacle here incredible! Part of this has to do with how much more I like the locales here. Never ending jungles and the Himalayan mountains? Eh, not my thing. South America, the middle east, and A PIRATE SHIP GRAVEYARD!!!!! Yessir. But beyond that, everything that happens is mind-blowing; the chases through rooftops and crowded city streets, the burning chateau, the caves full of spiders, the drug trips, the sinking ship, and of course the plane. Every sequence is spectacular, and they finally feel thrilling and not like they play themselves. After chapter 15 I had to put the game down and just sit with my thoughts for a long time, and I don't remember the last time a game made me do that.
But the absolute best part of all is how the game focuses so sincerely on the characters. The core of the story is about the relationship between Nate and Sulley, exploring their origins as well as the depths of their trust. It's a story about loyalty that finally turns these stupid, tropey, archetype husks into compelling characters. When Sulley said he would've shot Charlie "like a rabid dog," that moment hit, and that moment would've felt so unearned with just the first two games, but this game does such an outstanding job of establishing that relationship.
And my favorite part of all, Drake finally faces the consequences of his actions. His companions constantly tell him that this treasure hunt isn't worth it, a point that would be so superficial in the other two games, but feels earned here. Drake's pride becomes apparent as he tries to shrug off the question time and again, and for the entire second half of the game, the treasure is the last thing on his mind as he finally humbles himself and looks back on how he's dragged everyone in his life into such a mess. It's brilliant. This is finally an actual character-focused story, with actual character arcs and real stakes. I can't believe it took three games to get to this point but I also can't believe that it's this good. My only gripe is that there are a few contrivances that move the story along, but its only like three that I recall sticking out, and I don't think that they're so egregious that they take me out of the game in any way.
I only have one question: how the hell can Uncharted 4 top this?
Every single thing is better here: the puzzles are brain-teasing and satisfying to solve, the melee combat is way more fleshed out and a great pace-breaker to the gunplay (which is also really good here), there are so many more animations for all your actions throughout the game, the score is great, the villains are competent threats while being hatable bastards AND have connections to the characters, and this is the first game in the series where the shootouts all feel memorable, distinct, and follow a smooth difficulty curve throughout the game.
But what I love is how perfect the pacing is. Every chapter flows seamlessly into the next, and the game expertly creates natural feeling ending points for each chunk of the game that always left me feeling satisfied with what I accomplished and eagerly looking forward to my next session.
And WOWZERS is the spectacle here incredible! Part of this has to do with how much more I like the locales here. Never ending jungles and the Himalayan mountains? Eh, not my thing. South America, the middle east, and A PIRATE SHIP GRAVEYARD!!!!! Yessir. But beyond that, everything that happens is mind-blowing; the chases through rooftops and crowded city streets, the burning chateau, the caves full of spiders, the drug trips, the sinking ship, and of course the plane. Every sequence is spectacular, and they finally feel thrilling and not like they play themselves. After chapter 15 I had to put the game down and just sit with my thoughts for a long time, and I don't remember the last time a game made me do that.
But the absolute best part of all is how the game focuses so sincerely on the characters. The core of the story is about the relationship between Nate and Sulley, exploring their origins as well as the depths of their trust. It's a story about loyalty that finally turns these stupid, tropey, archetype husks into compelling characters. When Sulley said he would've shot Charlie "like a rabid dog," that moment hit, and that moment would've felt so unearned with just the first two games, but this game does such an outstanding job of establishing that relationship.
And my favorite part of all, Drake finally faces the consequences of his actions. His companions constantly tell him that this treasure hunt isn't worth it, a point that would be so superficial in the other two games, but feels earned here. Drake's pride becomes apparent as he tries to shrug off the question time and again, and for the entire second half of the game, the treasure is the last thing on his mind as he finally humbles himself and looks back on how he's dragged everyone in his life into such a mess. It's brilliant. This is finally an actual character-focused story, with actual character arcs and real stakes. I can't believe it took three games to get to this point but I also can't believe that it's this good. My only gripe is that there are a few contrivances that move the story along, but its only like three that I recall sticking out, and I don't think that they're so egregious that they take me out of the game in any way.
I only have one question: how the hell can Uncharted 4 top this?
RandomContent
1 year ago