Uncharted 3 is finally here

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​As you will discover in your time with Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, the story of developer Naughty Dog's PS3 exclusive franchise is one mirrored by the games' protagonist, Nathan Drake. Both Drake and the Uncharted series started out small, surprising everyone with lofty ambitions and a thirst for adventure. As the duo aged, both the hero and the developers became masters of their respective crafts, boggling the minds of gamers everywhere with an intriguing story and death-defying feats.

Yet, despite all of his grand adventures, Uncharted 3's Drake feels like he still has something to prove, an obsession that has taken quite a toll on his life and may cost more than he's willing to wager. After the astronomical critical success of Uncharted 2, Naughty Dog found itself in a similar situation.

Following the release of one of the most-loved titles of the current generation, Naughty Dog was faced with the unenviable task of once again outdoing its previous efforts. So, does Drake's Deception live up to the Uncharted pedigree? Has Naughty Dog once again proven itself to be one of the best developers out there?

 

The short answer is: Absolutely.

As a rule, I do my best to enjoy the games I play. I figure a lot of work goes into making these things, so I should do my part as the player to have an open mind and let the developers try to take me someplace special. As a result, I'm often less critical than some of my peers. I play games to have fun, as crazy as that may sound, so that's usually what I'm looking for when trying to review a title.

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It is that very fact that brought me into Uncharted 3 with what was, I'll admit, an unfair mindset. I didn't want to just fall in love with the game because it was a new Uncharted title. I wanted to look extra hard for those flaws that could hinder my enjoyment and make Uncharted 3 earn any praise I had to bestow upon it. In an effort to be more objective, I realized I was doing the exact opposite, searching for anything to nitpick about based on the simple fact that the series' previous titles were so damn good.

 

Within the first hour of playing Drake's Deception, though, the game forced me to uncross my arms, stop looking down my nose and simply let it whisk me away on yet another unfathomable adventure.

Uncharted 3 picks up shortly after where Among Thieves left off. Nate and his main man, Victor Sullivan, are up to their old tricks, getting into trouble with all the wrong people on a quest for "immeasurable wealth." They bring a few friends (old and new) along for the ride; a globe-trotting trek that proves to be every bit as grand as the previous outings. The story is one of mortality this time around, complete with a not-so-subtle message about knowing which "treasures" are really worth seeking in what little time we have.

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As such, Drake's Deception opens on a more subtle note than the two previous games. Of course, when said games begin with a crashing airplane and a train hanging off the side of a cliff, you would have to work pretty hard to be less subtle than that. What's important about this shift in tone is that it shows Naughty Dog's willingness to take chances with its storytelling, something that becomes more apparent as players are occasionally asked to set aside the firearms in order to experience the story in a whole new way. Like the big set pieces, though, I don't want to chance ruining any of those moments by blabbing about them here.

But speaking of the set pieces, this is where Naughty Dog has really raised the bar--not just for the Uncharted series, but for video games in general. Unlike Uncharted 2, which began with a bang and pretty much kept the pedal to the medal throughout, Drake's Deception instead starts off slowly, building momentum as the story reaches the midway point, then racing on to the finish in a series of events that make the infamous train ride from Among Thieves look tame by comparison. No other game packs in this many "oh, shit" moments, and Uncharted 3 does it while once again elevating the graphical bar to new heights. Technologically speaking, you should prepare to be floored. Sand, rain, ocean waves and crowded marketplaces have never looked this good or been designed with so much detail.

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But few gems are without their flaws. While Naughty Dog has once again delivered an entertaining story filled with the most believable characters in the world of video games, a few super-convenient plot points and lost story threads do hamper this latest tale. Some objectives tried to throw hints at me instantly while others left me running around a single area unable to find an exit and with no indication of where, exactly, I was supposed to be heading. There are also a couple nasty spikes in difficulty in the form of monstrous shootouts and, lets face it, shooting isn't exactly the smoothest part of the Uncharted package.

Still, what snags exist are easy to overlook simply because you'll be having way too much fun to stay upset at a Drake who occasionally rolls into mini-gun fire when you wanted him to take cover.

Which brings us to context sensitive maneuvers. Drake's Deception has about a kabillion more than Among Thieves. All of the characters still react to the environment in realistic ways, but the melee combat has received a huge shot in the arm, providing a surprising amount of variety for those willing to play with their surroundings rather than just mash on the square button. A series of punches, counters and grapples becomes way more interesting once Drake starts opening doors onto bad guys' faces, hitting them with items like coffee pots and fish (yes, fish) and utilizing walls to cave in a few skulls.

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Shooting, too, is a bit more varied. Most areas are littered with a variety of weapons (those considerate henchmen!), leaving the player to decide how to best approach a situation. There are plenty of shootouts, but a generous portion of confrontations also offer the option of stealth. You can always go in with guns blazing, but I found it more rewarding in those situations to clear a giant room of goons without ever firing a shot.

After the credits roll, there's still plenty to do on the disc, including all of the online features from Among Thieves with all the requisite upgrades. The co-op campaign offers a fun diversion for up to three friends, while the Rush mode lets your team take on wave after wave of enemies with various objectives to complete. You'll also have all the competitive options you could ever want, complete with a dozen maps (some updated from Among Thieves), half a dozen modes and a ridiculous amount of customizations for your hero, villain and co-op loadouts.

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Uncharted: Drake's Deception is a total package. While a few areas could still use some improvement, nobody tells a story quite like Naughty Dog, all while giving the player one reason after another to pick their jaw up from off of the ground. Drake may still have something to prove, but Naughty Dog and the Uncharted series has once again managed to move to the front of the pack.

 

The Official Verdict: 5 out of 5

This review is based on a PS3 version of the game provided by the publisher.