| System: PS4 |  |
| Dev: Naughty Dog | |
| Pub: Sony Interactive Entertainment | |
| Release: August 22, 2017 | |
| Players: 1-10 Player | |
| Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p | Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence |
by Patrick Tretina
Naughty Dog has further extended the storyline of it’s hugely popular Uncharted franchise just a tab bit longer with their newest installment, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. This new tale follows the story of Chloe Frazer (Uncharted 3) and Nadine Ross (Uncharted 4) as they team up to recover and protect an ancient Indian artifact from a ruthless war lord. This fresh new take on an already successful storyline is everything you would expect from a title bearing the series’ name and more. Nathan Drake’s story may have ended, but Chloe and Nadine’s story has just begun and is nothing short of an absolute slam dunk.
As Nathan Drake fades into the rearview mirror, we are given an entirely new storyline with somewhat entirely new characters. I say that because the characterizations of Chloe and Nadine are deeply fleshed out and much more detailed than their previous appearances. A large portion of the title centers on their ability to work together, compromise, and problem solve as a unit, rather than going rogue as they’re both very used to doing. Their dynamic interactions are an essential component that drives this title straight into the success category, and the manner in which Naughty Dog organically has them grow as a duo is truly special.
The visuals in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy are certainly worth mentioning, even in the modern era where just about every game looks good. Nonetheless, it looks freaking fantastic. The finite detail within the character models, scenery, the lighting, and even the random assortment of strategically placed objects all blend together perfectly. I’m not as big of a visual guy these days, as I’m more interested in the user experience. If I like the look of game, I’ll typically mention it, but for the most part it’s never a determining factor for me. However, this game completed changed that.
The stunning look of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is truly something special. The cut-scenes blend perfectly with the actual gameplay, which also fit exactly with the action and non-action components of the game for one outstanding eye candy experience. Maybe I’ve always taken it for granted in previous Uncharted games or I’m finally paying attention to other elements because Drake isn’t center stage. Whatever the reason, I’m in love with the way this game looks; it has everything a story-driven game needs to possess.
The wide open world of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is certainly a big change from Uncharted 4’s Madagascar, and that was one of the largest environments the franchise has ever seen. It’s easy to get lost on the Western Ghats of India simply because of it’s sheer size, and Naughty Dog does a great job of taking advantage of that enormity with mission components, photo ops, and treasure pickups along the way. One really nice feature is that the game no longer guides or directs players where to proceed, as with previous entries. Rather, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy’s engine takes full advantage of the expansiveness to encourage players to truly explore. This is key, as the storyline and major points of interest are intrinsically tied together in a choreographic manner.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy sports controls that Uncharted players will certainly be familiar with, but with a few welcome tweaks along the way. It still packs favorites like wall mounts, build jumps, and other such death defying skills that mirror its Assassin’s Creed rival, but it also sports new capabilities. Stealth moves, in particular, have been beefed up, with players having the ability to hide amongst the shadows or crouch within the reeds of tall grass.
The other notable control upgrade comes in the form of Chloe's combat move-set. We’ve been so used to Drake’s bar fight style that Chloe's mix martial arts are a welcome surprise. She seem more tactful in her takedowns and attacks. Drake was synonymous for being a hit, first ask questions later type of fighter, while Chloe uses her opponents strength against them. In other words, she kicks some serious tail!
