So, after putting it off for months, I finally got down to playing Uncharted. I'm currently at Chapter 15 (I think) and the game has been pretty good so far.
The graphics are AMAZING and I would vote this game to be the second best looking next-gen game thus far (behind COD4, ahead of GTAIV and Gears). I don't think I have ever seen a jungle being so accurately represented within a videogame ever before. It's just fantastic moving through the jungles and having your breath taken away every damn minute when you're looking at what's around you.
The platforming is generally fun and the many scripted events that occur during the platforming parts do much to add to the overall action movie vibe of the game. The animation is certainly not as good as that of Assassin's Creed but it's still incredibly fun to jump from ledge to ledge and to do some amazing acrobatics to get from Point A to Point B. The implementation of the camera is also excellent in most cases and that is absolutely critical since a poorly-implemented camera certainly has the potential to ruin a game like this.
Checkpoints are also used really well in Uncharted. Certain sections of the game could have got really frustrating if not for the very considerate and forgiving checkpoint system. It's great to see a dev recognising that well-placed checkpoints can make a game that much more enjoyable for a gamer.
Unfortunately, I can't help but notice that the game is mired in some serious flaws. First of all, the gun fights. Most of the guns are relatively boring to shoot, in terms of the visual and audio feedback you get from the game. The implementation of the AK47 has got to be the worst I've ever seen. If an ASSAULT RIFLE takes the same/more number of bullets than a fucking 9mm PISTOL to kill an enemy, something is seriously wrong. And what about the lame ammo limit? It doesn't make sense in a gameplay context since the game throws a shit-ton of ammo and guns at you. Rather, the ammo limit is merely forcing the player to constantly spend time looking for ammo and guns instead of moving the game forward.
The problems with the gun fights in Uncharted is probably exemplified when a certain enemy pops up. Oh, you know what I'm talking about. OMGZ, THE ENEMIES GOT TEHZ LASERZ!! ONE SHOT ONE KILL!!! Seriously, WTF is up with that. I'm playing on Normal and I'm a veteran of shooters in general and I die a shit-ton in Uncharted. Enemies are unforgivingly accurate at Normal difficulty and your life is incredibly short. Throw in the one-shot-one-kill enemies and you've got some frustrating gun fights on your hands. It's a huge pity since the game really has several awesome set pieces for some epic battles but the shooting mechanics, ammo limit, short life and lame enemies kill it all.
Next, the linearity of the game can be stifling at times. There is never a different way to get from Point A to Point B. It's always got to be done the way the devs wanted you to do it. It's pretty bad that such ancient game design decisions actually made it into a game of Uncharted's caliber. If I'm looking at a wall with a ledge (or a vine) that I should be able to grab, the game should allow me to grab it. Instead, if that ledge isn't critical to getting to a point that I need to get to, then the game won't allow me to grab it. It's the same with certain jumps in the game. I can be looking at a gap of six feet and when I attempt to jump the distance, Nate falls to his death. Five minutes later, I can be looking at a gap of ten feet and when I attempt the jump, Nate makes it. It's inconsistent and it's fucking stupid. The only reason I didn't make the first jump is because in the context of moving the game forward, I don't need to be there.
Overall, I'd rate the game a solid 8.5. It's a good game for sure and the production value is through the roof. Unfortunately, several flaws really prevent it from becoming a truly great game.
Now, my question is: I sort of lost interest where I am (Chapter 15). Right now, it certain feels repetitive as it just seems I'm doing the same things over and over again. Does the story/ending make the rest of the game worth playing through? Or can I safely say that I have experienced Uncharted for what it is now that I've finished about two-thirds of the game.
The graphics are AMAZING and I would vote this game to be the second best looking next-gen game thus far (behind COD4, ahead of GTAIV and Gears). I don't think I have ever seen a jungle being so accurately represented within a videogame ever before. It's just fantastic moving through the jungles and having your breath taken away every damn minute when you're looking at what's around you.
The platforming is generally fun and the many scripted events that occur during the platforming parts do much to add to the overall action movie vibe of the game. The animation is certainly not as good as that of Assassin's Creed but it's still incredibly fun to jump from ledge to ledge and to do some amazing acrobatics to get from Point A to Point B. The implementation of the camera is also excellent in most cases and that is absolutely critical since a poorly-implemented camera certainly has the potential to ruin a game like this.
Checkpoints are also used really well in Uncharted. Certain sections of the game could have got really frustrating if not for the very considerate and forgiving checkpoint system. It's great to see a dev recognising that well-placed checkpoints can make a game that much more enjoyable for a gamer.
Unfortunately, I can't help but notice that the game is mired in some serious flaws. First of all, the gun fights. Most of the guns are relatively boring to shoot, in terms of the visual and audio feedback you get from the game. The implementation of the AK47 has got to be the worst I've ever seen. If an ASSAULT RIFLE takes the same/more number of bullets than a fucking 9mm PISTOL to kill an enemy, something is seriously wrong. And what about the lame ammo limit? It doesn't make sense in a gameplay context since the game throws a shit-ton of ammo and guns at you. Rather, the ammo limit is merely forcing the player to constantly spend time looking for ammo and guns instead of moving the game forward.
The problems with the gun fights in Uncharted is probably exemplified when a certain enemy pops up. Oh, you know what I'm talking about. OMGZ, THE ENEMIES GOT TEHZ LASERZ!! ONE SHOT ONE KILL!!! Seriously, WTF is up with that. I'm playing on Normal and I'm a veteran of shooters in general and I die a shit-ton in Uncharted. Enemies are unforgivingly accurate at Normal difficulty and your life is incredibly short. Throw in the one-shot-one-kill enemies and you've got some frustrating gun fights on your hands. It's a huge pity since the game really has several awesome set pieces for some epic battles but the shooting mechanics, ammo limit, short life and lame enemies kill it all.
Next, the linearity of the game can be stifling at times. There is never a different way to get from Point A to Point B. It's always got to be done the way the devs wanted you to do it. It's pretty bad that such ancient game design decisions actually made it into a game of Uncharted's caliber. If I'm looking at a wall with a ledge (or a vine) that I should be able to grab, the game should allow me to grab it. Instead, if that ledge isn't critical to getting to a point that I need to get to, then the game won't allow me to grab it. It's the same with certain jumps in the game. I can be looking at a gap of six feet and when I attempt to jump the distance, Nate falls to his death. Five minutes later, I can be looking at a gap of ten feet and when I attempt the jump, Nate makes it. It's inconsistent and it's fucking stupid. The only reason I didn't make the first jump is because in the context of moving the game forward, I don't need to be there.
Overall, I'd rate the game a solid 8.5. It's a good game for sure and the production value is through the roof. Unfortunately, several flaws really prevent it from becoming a truly great game.
Now, my question is: I sort of lost interest where I am (Chapter 15). Right now, it certain feels repetitive as it just seems I'm doing the same things over and over again. Does the story/ending make the rest of the game worth playing through? Or can I safely say that I have experienced Uncharted for what it is now that I've finished about two-thirds of the game.
