Nathan Drake is back for one last score with Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, the conclusion to the beloved Uncharted series. For both longtime fans of the series and those who have never picked up the title, Naughty Dog has come to the table with an adventure that’s an exceptionally worthy conclusion to the franchise. Join Nate, along with family and friends, as they go after the lost treasure of pirate kings in the action-packed, no-holds-barred, jaw-dropping and sometimes even a little endearing exploit that sends off this grand series in style.
Uncharted 4 finds our wisecracking adventurer retired from the world of treasure hunting, settled down with his wife Elena into a more stable life devoid of danger. For a man who’s made his living in the past four games dodging death on cliff faces, exploding trains and in shootouts with small private armies, Nate isn’t exactly loving the life of the 9 to 5 man. So when his long lost brother Sam shows up with a lead on the lost treasure of pirate magnate Henry Avery, Nathan sets out once again in search of forgotten cities and fabled fortune. Right from the get go the story here isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but if you come expecting the series to have taken after The Last of Us then think again: This is still Uncharted, where wisecracks, set pieces and big explosions are the leads.
That said, 4 does take some extra time to spend on the story of the Drake boys and their crew, and fans of the series should enjoy getting to spend a little more personal time with some favorite characters in this final chapter. For almost the entire game Sam will be joining you on your adventure, providing lots of flavor dialogue that ranges from comical to even a little touching as the two brothers reconnect on their journey. The gruff but lovable Sully returns as well, providing his tough guy bon mot. The back and forth between these characters does a good job guiding the story along, but also goes a long way to liven up the game’s climbing and scaling sections, and adds a lot more personal touches to the game.
As far as gameplay goes the Uncharted formula still holds up nicely. The bulk of your playtime will be spent guiding Nathan as he climbs his way up death-defying locales; scaling cliffs, mountains, buildings, or just about anything that makes for a thrilling ascent. The mechanics here feel buttery smooth and right from the first scene you should find yourself scuttling up walls like second nature. When Nathan isn’t dangling precariously over something he’s likely to be shooting it out with a small army. It’s been a while since I’ve played an Uncharted title, so perhaps it’s me, but I don’t feel like the mechanics are quite as tight as I recall. Nate feels just a little clumsy here, with aiming that feels a touch sluggish and imprecise, along with a hero who is a little difficult to line up behind the right cover in firefights. For the most part though the action feels pretty good and when it tosses in some scripted sequences it still delivers that cinematic excitement that the series is known for.
Uncharted 4 doesn’t come to the table without something new to share, either. The most exciting addition comes in the form of a humble grappling hook which Nate can throw at designated areas, allowing him to swing from one objective to another. This may not sound like much, but it goes a long way to add some new excitement to the climbing sections of the game, especially when Nate goes tumbling towards a deadly pitfall and swings to safety with a well-timed toss of the hook. You will also get to spend some time driving a jeep, which allows you to explore some pretty expansive terrain (Most notably the game’s gorgeous rendition of Madagascar plains). There is an oddly enjoyable nut-and-bolts mechanics to the driving that I really got a kick out of, as I cautiously drove it over rickety bridges and devised ways to get it over muddy landscapes and up treacherous slopes. The jeep also features the highly anticipated winch, which can be used to both pull things over and pull the jeep up perilous terrain. This feature wasn’t used nearly enough, but when they did it was pure gold.
Uncharted is a series that I think of as being very tightly crafted, and 4 is no exception. Clearly the title was meticulously designed to ensure that every minute was fun, and for the most part it is. My few very minor complaints mostly arise during a third act that drags on just a bit longer than I was excited to play through. The game also hits the height of excitement in the Madagascar chapter (And oh my God, it is amazing), but then really never comes close to matching, let alone exceeding it, for the rest of the game. Make no mistake, the rest of the game is fun and exciting, but for a series that delivers so well on this front, the fact that it concludes without hitting that high one last time was a bit of a let down.
That complaint aside, Uncharted 4 is overall a fantastic game. It looks gorgeous, which may go without saying, but there are definitely some sections that are worth stopping to admire the scenery. The action is, of course, over the top and amazing – I won’t spoil it, but the Madagascar scene I reference above is easily one of the best action sequences I’ve played in any game. The locations are also rich with detail, and while I generally didn’t do a lot of off-path exploring, there is a lot of extra locations and paths to take for those who want to hunt the collectible treasures and enjoy some additional puzzles. There is a lot of bang for your buck, and each section of the game feels as extensively and expertly crafted as the next.
Saying farewell to the Uncharted franchise is a bittersweet parting. Uncharted 4 concludes the series in truly fine form, but it is a bit of a bummer to think that this is the end of Nathan Drake’s story. I’ve always thought of the franchise as one that perfectly blends together the right amount of gameplay, scripted action and personality to present a superbly fun and cinematic experience in a way that I don’t think I’ve seen another game match. With the series concluded, here’s hoping that Naughty Dog will be able to recreate or even reinvent the appeal in their next games. As for this title, if you’ve ever enjoyed Uncharted, you’re sure to adore one.
