Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3)

I'll have one Tomb Raider, à la Indy, hold the cheesecake.
1/31/2008 12:00 AM | 0 Comments | Page 2 of 2

The environments get a bit tedious, peaking early with a really cool set piece involving a German U-boat teetering on the edge of a jungle waterfall. There's something you don't see every day! It's a tough act to follow, and Uncharted doesn't even try to do so, plunging instead into the usual dungeons and ruins, all in one area, without even a hint of globetrotting. But part of what this accomplishes is a focus being placed on the characters instead of the places they go.

Nate, his sidekick/mentor Sully and Elena are full of personality. Inasmuch as it's possible for animated characters to have chemistry, these guys do. The graphics are a big help, with just enough cartooniness to keep everyone from tumbling into the uncanny valley. Like in Heavenly Sword, there's superlative state-of-the-art animation here, with expressive faces and lively eyes. But unlike in Heavenly Sword, there are not a lot of over-the-top scenery-chewing villains (in fact, Uncharted's villains are under-developed, which is particularly disappointing considering one of them is voiced by the inimitable Simon Templeman, known for the Legacy of Kain series). Instead, Uncharted is anchored by two charming actors and an obviously talented director.

A lot of the game's personality stems from the great work done by actors Nolan North and Emily Rose. Take, for example, a moment in which Elena comments on the ring Nate wears around his neck. It has all the hallmarks of a classic romantic interlude: the coy looks, the intonation, the pauses and two people close enough that if a kiss were going to happen, this would be the time. Naughty Dog manages to get from their animation and voice actors what Hollywood does with its star power.

For the most part, Uncharted is a wonderfully restrained game. It knows when to tip its hand and when to play it close to the vest. It's carefully calculated to dole out the gunfights, puzzles, vehicle sequences and cut scenes for maximum effect. And it does a great job of keeping you guessing. What kind of game will this be? What kind of story is it going to tell? Uncharted understands the power of delayed gratification. Like 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' it gets a lot of mileage by staying so consistently perched on the verge of the real. Like 'Moonlighting,' it knows that romantic leads denying their attraction is a great hook. Will Nate and Elena admit they like each other? Will they kiss? What exactly is the deal with that statue anyway? Will there be Nazi zombies at the end? Stay tuned for the next exciting episode/level of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune!

This momentum and expectation is the very stuff of pulp fiction and it's refreshing to see a game that "gets it" so thoroughly. The developers at Naughty Dog have come a long way, but with Uncharted, it feels like they've finally hit their stride with the almost perfect combination of storytelling, characters and gameplay. If there was ever a game to make you glad you've got a PlayStation 3, this is the one.

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.