Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune Review

The death of the cutscene; it’s been a hot topic following the onset of such narrative wonders as Bioshock’s drip-fed plot and Half-Life 2’s ‘the story’s here if you want it’ approach. Assassin’s Creed’s convoluted expository dialogue certainly lends support to the abolishment of passive viewing in a medium defined by its very interactivity.

However, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune – an out-and-out, story-driven action-adventure – knows that if its use of cutscenes is deft enough that they inform the narrative as much as they engross the player, then they can be just as good a narrative technique as the new forms currently being experimented with. Naughty Dog knows how to craft a good cutscene: they are well-scripted, directed and voiced, and sensitively coupled with gameplay so not to be jarring. It is clear that the Californian developer knows that to showcase characters whilst keeping the momentum of the story going, cutscenes are a perfect choice when utilised smartly. The dramatic framing they provide seems to sit just right with Uncharted’s raison d’être, and it’s hard to imagine any gamer having a problem with them. Uncharted knows exactly what it is: a strongly visual, over-the-top action piece, with a little bit of Indiana Jones thrown in for good measure. It doesn’t attempt to teach, nor does it try to change the way you view gaming. What it does do is give its all to exhilarate and delight.

Uncharted is a game that’s unabashed in its borrowings – elements of Gears of War, Resident Evil 4, Tomb Raider and Prince of Persia all being particularly identifiable. Even so, these are the best games of their type and it shows in Uncharted’s gameplay. Nothing is substantially new but the selective nature of such influences means the basic core of the game remains replayable rather than repetitious.The game breaks down into two main categories – combat and adventuring. The combat takes the form of the much popular cover and fire discipline, and you’ll find yourself constantly placed into environments that handily lend themselves to such gameplay. Although you’re facing practically the same enemy for the most part of the game, every situation requires that little something different from you, and a variation in each combat space keeps encounters feeling distinguishable and fresh. Multiple enemies will tend to attack from every side, meaning you have to be quick on your feet if you’re to stay alive. The close combat fighting is a real pleasure, especially when certain combos result in different fight animations. These are varied enough and usually result in your enemies being taken down in a powerfully athletic fashion. The combat is not without its problems, however, with Drake sometimes refusing to respond to urgent commands to take cover.

The adventuring sections are far more straightforward, and play out like a mix between Tomb Raider and Prince of Persia. There’s never much question of how to get from point A to be point B, but every now and then you’ll find that the handhold you reached out for is actually just a part of the scenery. Uncharted’s posturing of the camera for dramatic effect during these moments works well – especially when you’re climbing in the more scenic environments – and makes the more routine platform moments that little bit more stimulating.

Uncharted occasionally gives the impression that there’s not much to do other than run and shoot, but it is certainly aware of this and does its best to shake things up every now and again. Several puzzles will be encountered along the way, although the physical and mental problems involved are unlikely to slow anyone down. The vehicle sections on the other hand are short but sweet, the on-rails jeep ride in particular offering up some gripping thrills, as well as allowing you to take out your frustrations on the open jungle. Uncharted’s alternation between combat, exploration and the occasional vehicle results in a fantastic sense of pacing, something compounded by the game’s final section – a palpable change of tone, moving from light adventure to claustrophobic fear.

Uncharted’s story focuses on the escapades of one Nathan Drake as he partakes on a half-nonsensical, half-thrilling treasure hunt. Joined by his partner Sully and headstrong reporter Elena it is the attention paid to characterization that really sets Uncharted apart from other games of its ilk. Rather than lump the player with stereotyped genre archetypes it offers some of the most likeable characters in recent years. From Drake’s effortless charisma to Elena’s attractive wilfulness, each character has their own endearing quality. During play Drake will occasionally utter phrases, and whether it’s a breathy, cautious ‘ok’ after reloading or a frightened ‘woah’ when he almost misses a jump there’s a tremendous amount of character feedback.This is compounded by Uncharted’s fantastic animations. Whilst Drake doesn’t quite move with the steady gait of Altair, the fluidity of his motions coupled with their momentum create a real sense of place, and a real connection to the environment.

And what an environment. It’s almost impossible to talk about Uncharted without mentioning the graphics. In fact, they’re pretty much the best this reviewer has ever seen. The attention to detail – even in the incidental temple decorations – is absolute. It looks beautiful. The crumbling masonry, lush jungles and vine-covered ruins form an amazing sense of spectacle. The vistas can be breathtaking at times. From rusting Nazi U-Boats in the jungle to dank underground caves; you can rest assured your right analog stick is going to get one hell of a good workout. Of particular interest is the screen’s fade to monochrome shades when Drake loses life; an extremely effective technique in such a colourful game. What’s even more effective is watching the lush jungle come back to vibrant life as Drake’s health recharges.

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is the kind of unfussy, enjoyable, bold entertainment that the PS2 has in abundance. True, any informed prediction you may have made before playing it is probably correct, but that doesn’t stop it from being a great adventure story that plays excellently. Uncharted manages to get it right. It shows that game design can offer absorbing gameplay whilst communicating character motivations and narrative arcs through the careful use of cutscenes. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is simply a joy to pay. There’s no doubt that it’s one of the first must-have PS3 titles so far.

8/10