Uncharted 3 was easily the one game that I had been (impatiently) waiting for all of this year.  I’ve been a huge fan of the series from when the first game first released even though I actually only started playing the games this year – you know, being late to the (gaming) party and all…

On the day the game arrived (and Explorer Edition, no less!) *thanks for the hook up, Mighty Ape* it was honestly like Christmas came early.  I blazed through it in about 3 days which was really quick by my standards (sorry for not savoring it, Louise *wink*) but I’m now on my 2nd playthrough in my quest for more trophies.

I have really gotten into games this year and many of you know that I am totally obsessed with L.A. Noire.  However the Uncharted series is pretty much on par with it; I adore both games for many similar but also altogether different reasons.

So the first thing that really drew me to the Uncharted games was that it promised an “active cinematic experience”.  This peaked my interest and intrigued me greatly.  Movies have taken a bit of a backseat in my life in recent years but it will always be my “first love” and this has bled into and influences my taste in games.  I am slowly but surely venturing out and diversifying but currently the games I am attracted to and play are those with strong narratives and are very “movie-like”.

The Uncharted series have certainly come a LONG way; the games have just gotten progressively better through the years.  Game developers Naughty Dog really are a well-oiled machine, in my humble opinion.  They somehow manage to top themselves each time which is mighty impressive since each game is already so bloody amazing that you think, surely it couldn’t get any better?!

Naughty Dog have managed to hit this perfect stride where they know what works and what they do well so they subsequently maintain the tried-and-true elements (with perhaps some tweaks) that make Uncharted the games fans know and love, but at the same time they also have this like “bag of tricks” that they know to pull out at the opportune time to keep things fresh.  They are always looking at ways to improve the experience and surprise gamers which is I think a big reason why the games are so successful.

One of the (many) great things about the Uncharted games is how fantastic it looks.  The graphics are absolutely top notch, even in the early days of Drake’s Fortune.  There was a marked improvement in Among Thieves apart from the rather odd “glassy eyes” the main characters got during the cutscenes (particularly Chloe) – which freaked me out a bit!  Then Drake’s Deception rolls along and WOW.  The Dogs have really outdone themselves this time!

The world and everything in it is about as realistic as something computer generated can be.  The levels are all absolutely stunning – breathtaking views, incredible attention to detail and virtually everything you see Drake can interact with and vice versa.  Background “props” are not just there to fill and decorate the space but have a more defined appearance and presence.  When you are wandering around the cobbled streets of Cartagena, you feel like you are right there – everything looks tangible enough to touch and you can almost smell the air of this little Colombian village.  I liken this a lot to how I felt as I was driving around the streets of L.A. in L.A. Noire.

One of the most realistic environments I thought was the Rub Al’ Khali desert.  You would think creating an endless landscape of sand and sun wouldn’t be too tricky but even before watching any of the Naughty Dog interviews about the making of this level, I could see how much effort had gone into the finished product – because it looks so damn real!  That sand is ridiculous.  It moves with the wind, it changes in form as Drake trudges through it.  Superb effort, Dogs!

In terms of gameplay, like I said before, they’ve kept to their strengths and what the games are inherently about which is a good mix of platforming, gunplay, puzzle-solving and most importantly a thumping good story rooted in real-life legend told through a cinematic lens.  I did feel with this 3rd installment they’d really pulled out all the stops and just gone bigger and better.  I would say there was the least amount of change in terms of the “mechanics” related to the platforming and gunplay sequences however the new locations Drake finds himself in is what kept these two aspects of gameplay fresh and exciting.

One of my favorite moments in the game was the capsizing ship chapter – having to figure out which direction to head in, where to jump to next when everything has rotated 90 degrees was something I did find fairly challenging and confusing at times but it was also very enjoyable all the same.  The most impressive thing about this chapter was that the ship was created on like some kind of special “engine”, I believe?  Sorry, I’m not too well-versed with the actual jargon but essentially in layman terms a program or something similar was made especially for this sequence which enabled the ship and the surrounding ocean to behave exactly like how a real ship out at sea would in real life.

This means it will feel different each time too which I think is great in terms of replayability.  The end result is pretty freaky, like you actually do feel like you are on a real ship – suffice it to say this really adds on to the game playing experience.  I recall actually feeling quite seasick throughout that whole chapter – I kid you not!

I thought the puzzles in the game were really interesting and challenging enough without being too tedious.  As for the melee I thought that probably had the biggest improvement; Drake’s movements were more fluid and you could do extra things like throw someone up against a benchtop (or out a window!) and use nearby items as weapons to help you knock out an enemy – there’s even a trophy if you use fish to hit a baddie when brawling in a market, which I think is pretty funny!

The one thing that really sets the Uncharted games apart from a lot of other similar games is just how real the characters are, in particular Drake.  He doesn’t feel like a 2D computer-generated figure which you merely move around on-screen; the way you’re able to control him, how he interacts with everything and everyone around him – he actually does feel like a real person.  Thanks to the amazing technology that Naughty Dog have at their disposal, Drake is actually created with weight and mass which is why he feels real when you play him.

And of course let’s not forget the extremely talented Nolan North who is responsible for breathing life into our hero!  For the uninitiated, Nolan North is the games equivalent of an A-list Hollywood star – he has lent his voice to MANY games although he is best known as Nathan Drake.  He really embodies Drake so perfectly – and it really is like he literally has given Drake a beating heart because I feel like I know him, that he’s not “just a character in a video game”.  You totally rock, Nolan!

Gameplay aside, I have to say I was completely captivated by and engaged with the story.  I loved that we were (finally) told the story behind Drake’s and Sully’s relationship.  I loved that you got to explore Drake more intimately, really delve into his past and learn why he is the way he is.  I felt the narrative arc was just spot on; it was paced extremely well and each character’s individual story had a point and purpose and fit perfectly with the overall plot.  Major kudos to Amy Hennig, you are such an inspiration to me and I can only hope I can learn to write like you one day!

I think some of the best bits in the game were the action sequences, hands-down.  Naughty Dog really took the “active cinematic experience” to the next level, I thought.  And they definitely had a mammoth of a task in front of them because Among Thieves had some really awesome action sequences.  I won’t give any specific examples as I want to keep this post as spoiler-free as possible but what I will say is many of the action sequences got me screaming/swearing and my heart racing!  As terrifying as it is at the time, they are also an absolute blast – and of course rewarding as hell when you come out of it on the other side!

There are many people that are quite purist when it comes to games like Uncharted that blur the lines between game and cinema.  I personally do not have a problem with this and anyone who has had a conversation with me about games will know my thoughts on this.

I think what makes Uncharted so appealing to me is that it really is escapism in it’s purest form, isn’t it?  In a movie, you passively watch the action unfold before your eyes.  But in a game, specifically a game like Uncharted, not only do you see what happens unravel, you get to be a part of the action, and (sometimes) influence the course of the story.  As much as a game can look and feel like a movie, it’s the interactive aspect of games which is not possible in film that is what I find most unique and intriguing about this entertainment medium.

Overall, Uncharted 3 was SO worth the wait.  Not a dull moment; thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.  I have the utmost respect for everyone at Naughty Dog because what they have achieved with this franchise is nothing short of phenomenal.  IMHO they have made the “perfect” game in the sense that Uncharted has all the right elements that make for a fantastic gaming experience – stellar graphics, brilliant cast, great soundtrack, exciting action-packed sequences, engaging and immersive gameplay and an amazing well-written story.

Whimsical Banana rates Uncharted 3: A well-deserved 6/5 Bananas! 

Thanks for the thrilling ride, Naughty Dog!  I look forward to reading about the many awards and accolades you will no doubt be receiving for this epic masterpiece.