Game Over: Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

After the divisive Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, a game which never hooked me in the way its predecessor did, I had my hopes cautiously set on Naughty Dog’s last foray to give Nathan Drake the send-off he deserved.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End had to be good. Not only was it Sony’s big flagship title for the year, the disgruntled fans of Uncharted 3 would have a field day if the game didn’t live up to its full potential. Thankfully, Uncharted 4 was not only one of the biggest releases of the year, it was also one of the best.

I won’t spoil any of the game’s major plot points for those few of you who might not have played it, but I will say that it fixes the problems that plagued the third entry, namely its pacing. Whereas Drake’s Deception plodded along with passable action sequences, A Thief’s End wisely pulls the reigns back and delivers a slow and yet beautiful beginning, introducing Drake and Elena as a married couple, supposedly content.

The story is the strongest part about Uncharted 4. Whilst its set pieces are huge and explosive, its locations wonderful and varied, the story, which delves into marriage, relationships and life’s past desires, is simply wonderful. At times it can be a harrowing look at the way in which selfish actions can affect relationships and the lengths that people will go to protect their loved ones from themselves.

Saying that, it’s not all dark and brooding, rarely so. In typical Uncharted fashion, A Thief’s End manages to nail the light-hearted and adventurous tone that has exemplified the series. It may be the series’ biggest strength: that throughout the four console entries, the games’ have never suffered from an identity problem, and manage to successfully intermingle jokes and adventure with heavier themes.

The gameplay too is wonderful though it doesn’t do anything major to shake up the series. The addition of the grappling hook makes both combat and traversal a joy, adding an element of verticality to levels, more so than any other entry. Stealth is also emphasised more and largely works this time. The option to mark enemies is a welcome one, even though it can make certain sections easier than they should be. In particular, a vehicular section set in Madagascar gives free reign to the player and opens up the environment to explore. It’s easy to get lost in exploring the beautiful scenery that Naughty Dog has created, made even better between the conversations between Drake, Sam and Sully.

I urge anyone who hasn’t played Uncharted 4, or indeed any of the series to give it a go. What you find are games that exude charm, personality and flair and make you care about what you’re playing. The characters aren’t just avatars to be used for shooting bad guys. They’re real creations, imbued with all of the good and bad traits that makes us who we are. They occasionally disappoint, but like any strong relationships you go back to them because you know they’re going to be there for you when you need them.