Uncharted 3

Uncharted 3, the latest grand adventure by Naughty Dog, is like a good steak. While it's sizzling, it sounds real good. When it's on your plate, it looks real good. And when you bite into it, HOT DAMN! it feels good. Unfortunately steaks aren't that great at telling stories, and those looking for a compelling story in the steak may be left a little disappointed, even though this steak sets a nice mood. If you're not primarily looking for a great story in the steak however, it is a magical experience.

The game begins with a far more subdued opening than Uncharted 2, with our rugged hero Nathan Drake not hanging off a train in the Himalayas, but having a fist-fight in an English pub. From the get-go, the close-combat system has been greatly improved and emphasised, providing fun and fluid brawls. Nate, along with his cigar-chomping mentor Sully, are in this mess because of an ancient-artifact deal gone wrong, and it isn't long they are captured by the scores of bald, brawny English thugs.

It is here that we are introduced to Katherine Marlowe; the primary antagonist and leader of a secret, shadowy organistaion, who steals Nate's priceless ring. As Drake follows this villainess, we learn that this organisation is looking for Iram of the Pillars, a lost city somewhere in the Rub' al Khali desert... and so begins an exciting adventure as Drake and his rag-tag team of heroes race this organisation of assholes to this "Atlantis of the Sands".

Was that crude? I'm sorry, but that's the only reason we are expected to dislike these guys. They do nothing really despicable, we know next to nothing about them, and their motivations are never really made clear. I feel these villains, or rivals as I saw them, should have had more depth, for we should have a good reason to kill hundreds of them.

In fact, character development is pretty weak with the protagonists as well, with the characters never feeling vulnerable or truly relatable.This is especially disappointing since the devs tried to make us see the characters in a second light through cutscenes exploring themes of consequence and morals, only to have absolutely no pay off. Why open the door in the first place?

The one character who is fostered and therefore more engaging, a cynical, claustrophobic British fellow named Charlie Cutter, is abruptly whisked away about a third of the way in, not showing up again (although he will be back in future installments for sure; he's a fan favourite). Also the main relationship between Nate and Elana feels a bit shallow, for while they do have nice chemistry, they are only onscreen together for less than an eighth of the game.

You're probably thinking, "Geez Austin; why are you bitching about the story so much, you bitch?!" and to that my reply is well.. there really is nothing else to criticise in this game. After almost 20 years of making Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter and Uncharted, Naughty Dog Inc. have truly mastered action-adventure gameplay. There is a perfect mix of combat, platforming, stealth and puzzles in this game, with fantastic level design and pacing. In true Uncharted fashion, the set-pieces are spectacular, with my personal favourites being a chase through Yemen and a certain burning chateau.

The sound is excellent. Nate's Theme (3.0), composed by Greg Edmonson, is truly uplifting stuff, and the voice acting and mo-cap performances are unrivaled. The actors have real chemistry, and the dialogue is often witty and funny, bringing to mind the show Firefly. 

The visuals are jaw-dropping; quite possibly the best I have ever seen on a console. In more simple terms; SWEET BABY JESUS THE GRAPHICS!! The animation, lighting, detail, textures and particle effects are all stunning, whether it be in a dilapidated London underground or a devastated, sinking cruise ship. The desert sequence, shown in all the trailers, will go down in the history books as one of the most visually mesmerizing video game moments of all time.

A common complaint about the game that I've noticed is the shooting not being tight enough. Although I understand the argument, I personally had no problems with it at all, since I find it more natural and layered this way. Just be aware that this isn't Gears of War style shooting.

I think that just about covers it. With this game, Naughty Dog have proven once again that they are the virtuosos of adventure games, giving us a thrilling and captivating adventure that engages the player like few other games can. It's a shame they didn't put more effort into the story, for Naughty Dog have truly captured the cinematic feel, but nonetheless this is a game that should not be missed by any PS3 owner. This treasure hunt is a gem itself. 

My recommendation: BUY IT!

PS: I'm aware of how ridiculous that steak metaphor was