Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Review
Despite hanging up his treasure hunting boots after the events of Uncharted 3, there was no way Sony and Naughty Dog would let their flagship franchise sail off into the sunset without having one final adventure on the PS4.
In a twist, no one saw coming, Nathan’s long lost (never before mentioned) brother comes back from the dead. The opening few hours establish a close bond between the two, from growing up and getting into childhood scrapes, to the early portions of their treasure hunting adventures.
Having played such a pivotal role in Nathan’s early childhood and adolescence you would have thought this might have come up before, but if you can look past anomalies like this, and just enjoy the game, then you are in for a treat.
Essentially the game gives you exactly what you expect from the series. The same third person cover based shooting, with sections devoted to climbing and solving puzzles. This is all mixed with great voice acting and heartfelt storytelling. You would also expect some evolution with the gameplay, and of course a big boost in physics and graphics due to the extra power of the PS4. And you would be right on all counts.
Combat always came in for some criticism as it was quite limited. In an effort to move away from the liner shooting of the previous games, Naughty Dog has opened up the playable area and style options. The biggest introduction being stealth, this mechanic (influenced heavily by The Last of Us) allows you to sneak around and quietly take out enemies. You do always have the option of “going loud” and blowing everything to bits. But it is having this balance that keeps the combat from getting stale.
Visually the game is stunning, not only one of the best looking PS4 games but one of the best looking games period. Naughty Dog previously worked wonders to push the PS3 to its limits and again have set the bar for PS4 titles. But it isn’t just the majestic landscapes; it is the subtle little things. The way the characters have quirky facial tics and interact with the environments around them and with each other, the physics behind falling gravel/stones, the flowing water and billowing vegetation. It all works together to create a breathtakingly beautiful experience.
But all that is pointless if the story isn’t there to hold it all together and push you through the almost 20 hours of gameplay. Despite the earlier mocking of the “previously unmentioned brother” premise the story works, from Nathan and Elle’s new settled lifestyle, the back from the dead brother, and the one last final big adventure. Yes it is very Hollywood, but isn’t the series really a video game rehashing of Indiana Jones premise anyway, so why not use these set ups.
The single player story is complimented by a robust multiplayer experience with all the standard modes and mechanics, although it is not the main focus of the series, and does nothing genre defining. It does offer lots of extra hours of fun with the game. I don’t think it will hold players for years like some online games can, but for now it is very active and lots of chaotic fun.
Overall: It was never in doubt that Naughty Dog would short change fans and roll out a subpar tittle. Uncharted 4 is as good a game as you will play this year. It tickles my preference for single player story while also catering for those who want a complimentary online experience.
Is this really the end for the franchise? I don’t think so, but it most likely is the end of Naughty Dogs time in the driving seat. We expect a few licensed spin offs from other Sony studios, but for now this is a fitting end to one of gaming’s greatest series.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Review
Out Now on PS4
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony
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