Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Sony PlayStation 3
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Rated: T for Teen
Released: 2011
Completed: 17 May 2016
You'd think that after playing three games in the same franchise back-to-back-to-back I'd be sick of them by now, but you'd be wrong. The third entry into Naughty Dog's cinematic action-adventure franchise had an impossible standard to live up to coming off of the second game, but it still manages to impress with more of what you've come to expect from the series.
You know the drill: Nathan Drake uncovers some ancient clues and goes off seeking fortune with his old pal Sully. Other familiar faces like Chloe and Elena also appear, as well as a few new characters - Charlie Cutter, a Londoner, and Salim, a Sheikh late in the game.
This time around, however, the story is less about the treasure and more about the people hunting for it. Though it was glazed over in Uncharted 2, Nate's obsessive-compulsive need to "beat" the competition and accomplish his goals is called into question. Is it worth risking the lives of his friends? It's a nice touch that adds some emotional weight. Nate's relationships with Sully and Elena are more complicated, which makes them all feel like more than one dimensional characters.
Story has never been Uncharted's strongest suit. It's serviceable, even somewhat memorable, but it's usually little more than a setup for the grand adventure that follows. The first third of Uncharted 3 seems relatively calm by comparison to the immediacy of the second game. Yet it's this change of pace that makes it feel so fresh. The opening levels in London are slower, more methodical than previous games, but they were just as fun to me. It gave me a chance to get acquainted with the new characters, including antagonists Marlowe (who looks strikingly like Helen Mirren) and Talbot.
Eventually the action ramps up. Though it never quite hits the highs of Uncharted 2, there are still some incredible set pieces here. Escaping a sinking cruise ship (though the shootouts that preceded that thrilling moment were a little over-long), chasing a caravan of trucks on horseback, and freefalling out of an airplane are just some of the crazy things Nate does in pursuit of his goals. By and large, it's all thrilling fun.
One of the downsides is that there isn't much new here. Whereas Uncharted 2 improved in every way on its predecessor, 3 feels like an extension of the same game. The only new addition is the ability to throw grenades back when they land near you, which is admittedly incredibly welcome and long overdue, but the overall combat and platforming feels the same.
It goes without saying at this point that Uncharted 3 looks and sounds great. There's no need to repeat my previous two reviews, praising the voice talent or the tech that drives the game. The environments are still stunning, the sound and music are still fantastic, blah, blah, blah.
There's little else to say. By now you should know that the Uncharted series is one of the best franchises in gaming. If you haven't played it, do yourself a favor and rectify that as I have. It's OK if you're late to the party. In many ways, that makes the experience even more fulfilling when you realize that all the hype that has surrounded them is true.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception was completed on a PlayStation 4 via Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection with no cheats.
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