My favorite of the series with the possible exception of Lost Legacy. I wish I could specify why, but as mentioned in my other two reviews, the games unfortunately run together in my head because I blitzed through them all with no breaks.

What I thought was a gunplay improvement in 2 is nothing compared to 3. Guns feel and sound much more powerful than before, and the gunplay felt more natural and engaging here than previous installments. I remember thinking 2 was working well and being floored when I then played 3.

The setpieces here are insane but memorable, and other than the slightly annoying wander-through-the-desert sequence, the game is totally thrilling. Even the flashback sections are rewarding and fun in their own right. You get a lot more of Drake's backstory from when he was a kid and also from his and Elena's relationship.

The graphics in 3 are also really, really good. The music in the series is pretty even throughout, but 3 had probably the best sound up to this point. The environments are varied and gorgeous. The climbing and puzzle aspects continue to be refined throughout, and 3's are still great.

All told, I came away from the original three thinking 3 is the best, but I just vibed with it. I can't exactly explain why.