Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception comes out today. If you haven’t played it or any of the previous games – Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune or Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – you NEED to experience these games. They literally redefined action gaming for me, and are what I compare new action games to. Wondering how I could be this excited for this game? Read on!
I haven’t been as excited for a game as I am for Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception. Arkham City may have been close second, but there’s just something about Nathan Drake and the gang that makes them SO fun and enjoyable to play as. The series pretty much revolutionized the graphics for an adventure game on the PS3, and pushed the limits as to what an adventure game could look and play like. The story throughout the two previous games has been top notch, it’s one of those games where you’re completely wrapped up in the characters from the beginning to the end of each game, and the voice acting is some of the best I’ve ever seen. The story is that of deception, treasure hunting and friendship with so many plot twists it would rival a big budget blockbuster movie.
You play as Nathan Drake, a wise-cracking tough as nails treasure hunter, who – with his best friend Sully – travel the world looking for fortune. Developer Naughty Dog‘s Game Director Justin Richmond describes this iteration of the game as one that is bringing a brand new dynamic to the franchise:
“This is where the Drake’s Deception title really starts to come in. Uncharted 3 finds Nathan Drake searching for an ancient 16th century treasure, but he ends up being pulled in to an even bigger mystery filled with deceit, pitting him against a shadowy clandestine organization and the occult treachery of its cunning and ruthless leader. Marlowe is always trying to undermine Drake and getting him to do things he doesn’t want to do, it adds a brand new dynamic to the franchise.”
What really gets the player involved in the games is the banter between the main characters. They’re all so lively, and the facial animations and body movements are quite convincing. The soundtrack is wonderful and rich, and the sound effects are perfect. You’re essentially playing a movie here.
While a lot of the game takes place with you brandishing a firearm of some sort, U3: DD utilizes Drakes fists in a more prominent way. The first scene of the game is usually epic in this series, and this one takes place in a bar in England. A meeting goes awry, and turns into a gigantic bar brawl. Drake must use punches, counters and foot movement to outsmart and out-hit his assailants. This is a big part of this game. There are scenes where you can only use your fists, and when you knock out a shotgun brandishing attacker with an uppercut, it is very rewarding. You can use a variety of melee objects as well, including beer bottles and other things found lying around.
The gunplay is similar to that of the previous games. You can run and gun or hunker down behind obstacles and pepper your enemies with gunfire. You can huck grenades and watch them run and hide or you can simply sneak up behind them and stop them in their tracks with a covert takedown. There is always the “snipe them from a rooftop” option too, generally my favourite way to do it.
This game is also a platformer as well, swinging from ropes and making death-defying jumps are all commonplace, with the landscape changing from explosions and other elements.
The multiplayer element has also been completely overhauled, and although I have no immediate information on it as of this article, it promises to be much more fast paced and hectic than its predecessors.
All in all, this game looks to be a strong contender for game of the year, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
If you’ve played it or are going to play it soon, let us know what you think!
Reblogged this on Mat Langford.