The story of Nathan Drake comes to a close. All the Uncharted games have been narrative driven, but I would argue this game delves a little deeper than the previous games. Nate has matured after going through the journeys of the trilogy, but he is now contrasted by his brother Sam, who is a constant reminder of how Nate used to be before the events of Drake's Fortune. The personal stakes are a lot higher than before, with Nate risking more than just his life as his relationships with returning characters Elena and Sully are put to the test. With the increased focus on the story, it takes a lot longer for the action to start rolling, but by the end of the game the action is back in full swing. Plus, I think the few hours spent at the beginning building and re-establishing the connections between the characters and where they are in their lives really benefits the narrative that is being told. There is so much to unpack with the story, such as how you begin to realise the journey of the brothers Drake mimics the journey of the band of pirate that stole the treasure all them years ago, or how that Nate and Elena's attempt to live normal lives have put strain on their marriage they didn't even know was there. The plot may seem simple at first, but rewards you the more and more you actually look into it and it finally culminates in a send off to Nathan Drake that all fans should be happy with.

Oh, and the gameplay? Better than ever. The core of it is refined from the previous games, but finally the enemy encounters and climbing reach their full potential to create arenas that allow for the player to climb and swing around to find makeshift cover and vantage points. Stealth has been greatly improved, and has properly fleshed out mechanics this time. The set-pieces are the biggest they have ever been, but still leave the player in control despite how scripted they may be. There a few sections where the player controls vehicles and they feel pretty good to use despite only being in a few portions of the game.

This is the pinnacle of both story telling and gameplay within the franchise.