First published on 7 Nov 2011. Updated on 3 Dec 2011.
Uncharted has been to video games what Indiana Jones was to cinema: an amalgamation of action and ancient history. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception distills the essence further, perfecting the series’ style.
Much like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Deception's plot is initially set during Nathan Drake's formative years. While watching the young Drake jump across rooftops in Colombia, you’ll flesh out the origins of his later partnership with Victor "Sully" Sullivan and witness the start of the bitter rivalry between Drake and Katherine Marlowe that will span continents and decades.
It’s not short on exotic locations. UK alleyways, a French forest and Syrian tourist spots are among the exquisitely rendered environments. While Nolan North’s wry voice performance as Drake perfectly suits the character's dry quips, it’s Naughty Dog's animators that are truly the star of this game, with many levels boasting specific character animations. One memorable moment involves Drake directing a violently claustrophobic companion how to squeeze through a rocky chasm. Speaking of phobias, arachnophobics should reconsider playing this game entirely.
The puzzles are creative but ambitious, and can stretch the player a bit beyond frustration. Sometimes you'll know exactly what you need to do, but stand confused as you figure out how exactly the game wants you to do it. The environments can at times lack clear direction (for example, not standing close enough to a doorway to trigger the next scene), but the hint system means you shouldn't be caught for too long.
Combat can be cruel and repetitive - sometimes you feel like you’re relying more on luck than skill (and even worse, bad AI), as you try and survive your first wave. Often it’s only after multiple deaths that you'll realise you'll need to follow a certain path to a weapons cache or a turret. Fights are ultimately satisfying and contextual melee kills help give them a great rhythm – especially if you can stealth-kill a couple before you kick off.
Multiplayer offers a great co-op experience, where you can play through the early sections of previous game Uncharted 2. Teamwork is a must, and co-ordinated attacks are satisfying. There's also an objective-based mode, where you work together through a single map dealing with waves often with the aid of an RPG or sniper rifle.
The story is rich and involving, yet once you reach the end of the journey there’s a distinct feeling that there should have been a little more, both from the action and the plot. Even still, Uncharted 3 remains a must for PS3 owners.
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