Uncharted - Drake's Fortune Review

Sony has had a somewhat arduous year with the PlayStation 3 in 2007. Much of this is due in part of exclusives like Halo 3, Mass Effect, and BioShock going to the Xbox 360. This is exacerbated by the fact that Sony is losing exclusive rights to games such as Devil May Cry 4, Resident Evil 5, and Grand Theft Auto IV. Furthermore, Metal Gear Solid 4 has been delayed until the year 2008. Many gamers thought that Sony was done and should bow down to Microsoft; however, the PlayStation 3 has injected new life into Sony recently.

After the PlayStation 3 price reduction down to $400, the sales of PlayStation 3's have increased. Moreover, there are PlayStation 3 exclusives such as Heavenly Sword and Ratchet & Clank: Future Tools of Destruction that are worth playing. Luckily, things are finally looking bright for Sony. Sony appears to be on the right track and heading in the right direction. This is conspicuously seen from their biggest PlayStation 3 game this 2007 holiday season in Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.

The storyline in this game revolves around Nathan Drake and his allies. They are on a quest for a treasure; consequently, they get lost in an island in the Pacific Ocean. Now, Nathan and his acquaintances have every intention to escape from this retched island because they are being chased by deadly mercenaries. Naughty Dog definitely delivers the goods when it comes to the storyline. The plot is compelling and is not as predictable as some games might be. The gameplay has aspects from a typical third person shooter with a twist. This twist being that you will be doing more than gunning down adversaries.

Gamers will have to play through some fairly unique platform jumping elements as well. There is a peek around the corner technique that is eerily similar to Gears of War. Mr. Drake can utilize cover by putting his back against the wall and squatting down. Blindfiring is also another gameplay mechanic that was heavily influenced from a game like Gears of War. This is of course when you are hiding behind cover and firing without exposing yourself. The platform jumping is analogous to a game like Prince of Persia. Drake does not seem athletic, but looks can be deceiving. He can perform the most acrobatic maneuvers when he is airborne.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune boasts stunning visuals across the board. The textures are clean, and the flora is grandiose. Lighting and architecture are just a few of many things that are amazing in this game. In addition to the gunfire, there is a few moments in the game where Nathan can use his arms and legs in combat. The pro of correctly executing a combination attack is more ammunition, but the con is that failing will net you nothing in return and a loss of health. There is nothing too extravagant about the weapons in the game. They range from the rudimentary handguns to the explosive grenades. Drake can also traverse his way through the environment with his mobility. He knows how to climb large obstacles, swing across a gap by using a rope, and jump from one ledge to another ledge with ease. The controls are responsive and never deter players from enjoying the game. Replenishing health is done simply by standing still and waiting (ala Gears of War).

Fortunately, all of Drake's actions are easily done. The only two flaws with the game are the animations and length. There were occasional sequences where foes do not exactly act accordingly after they are hit. This resulted in awkward and unrealistic physics. Opponents will not perform the electric slide, but it was odd to see an enemy fly around in a eccentric manner. Another gripe with the game is the nine hour length. A game that succinct needs more gameplay. Even though the game is concise, the gameplay itself is engrossing. The audio in the game really made the plot come together. Voice acting is superb and not over the top. The sound of Drake reloading his gun has a tactile feel to it. Water falling down to the ground have a different sounding fluctuation to them.

Overall, there is no doubt that Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is the best PlayStation 3 exclusive that PlayStation 3 owners will greatly admire. The intriguing storyline overrides the few minor glitches in the game.

Final Verdict: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is a very good game.
9.4 out of 10

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