Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

Uncharted is one of my most favorite exclusive titles of this generation. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves delivered a fantastic and unexpectedly glorious multiplayer experience that was a massive leap from its previous game, Drake’s Fortune. Though this third installment of Nathan Drake’s treasure hunting adventures hasn’t delivered that same monumental leap as its previous title it still provides a incredible adventure in Nathan Drake’s quest to uncover the many lost treasures. Naughty Dog has created a game that not only sets standards for games on the PS3 but other platforms as well by ensuring whither you play single or multiplayer you’ll have an experience worth remembering.

One again Naughty Dog as set the visual bar of what the PS3 can do. Throughout the game I was astonished with the visuals of Uncharted 3, from burning buildings to a plane falling apart is something to marvel at. It is present from the beginning of the game that Naughty Dog has taken diligent care to ensure that each character and environment is colorfully portrayed and immersive. Every character you interact and take control of has been diligently detailed from Chloe’s incredible green eyes to the sane clinging to Nathan Drake as he travels through the Rub’ al Khali desert.

The writing and voice acting of Uncharted 3 is one again superb. Each character is defined through a series of specific characteristics and their interactions with one another add another layer of realism the every one of them. Everything a conservation was portrayed I found myself learning more about each character while remaining loyal to the story itself. The music and sound effects are also well-crafted. Within each situation I was complemented with an extraordinary soundtrack that thoroughly complemented of what I was doing. Either escaping from a deadly enemies or listening to Sully and Drake talk was a joy.

Nathan Drake is once again after another forbidden story in search of marvels that people only dream of. Drake’s ancestor Sir Francis Drake went on a secret for Queen Elizabeth I and now Drake as stumble over when seems to be a cover-up. As you progress you learn more about this hidden agenda of Sir Francis Drake, locate a lost city, and uncover something deeper about Nathan Drake.

The gameplay remains true to the Uncharted series. You will still climb, shoot, and solve puzzles from a third-person perspective. The combat of Drake’s Deception remains as satisfying and fun as ever. However unlike other titles this game puts more emphasis on hand to hand combat. Unlike Among Thieves the combat has been refined to give you an assortment of options that seem limited but offer enough variety to tackle each situation with multiple ways. Though some situations will require you to use your fist, guns still remain the most efficient way to dispense your enemies. Thanks to wonderful animation whether you choose to use guns, fist, or a combination of both each tactic is richly rewarding.

You don’t have to take your enemies head on. The key is the design of each stage to incorporate multiple ways to dispose of your enemies in empowering ways. By using the improve stealth system one can choose to take enemies down silently and avoid the bloody gun fight or choose to go in guns blazing. You can also climb to higher or lower parts of the environment giving you more options of how to kill your opposition, and with rock solid controls you can expect while to pull off the daring act with precision.

Scattered throughout the game are platforming segments that take advantage of Nathan Drake’s acrobatic skills and puzzles that can be easily solved with Drake’s journal. These events are more straight forward and require you to take a specific path. This allows chase sequences, intense fights, and sneaking missions to more immersive and allow for less trial and error. Walkways, platforms, and stairways can collapse causing the player to remain engaged and alert at all times, but always shows where the player should go.

Naughty Dog has taken the multiplayer experience of Uncharted and refined it to a spectacular experience that will keep people playing for a long time. Within Uncharted 3 is a cooperative and competitive option that rewards players with experience and unlockables. The cooperative playlist is broken into three options: adventure, survival, and hunter. Adventure involves up to three players working together through a series of levels from past Uncharted games that requires good teamwork. There are no puzzles in this mode however the enemies are more difficult and require careful planning to take out, especially on harder difficulties.

The competitive mode is the real draw and those you have played through the single player will be able to use those same tactics here. Everything from hand-to-hand combat to shooting while on a ledge is fully available here and requires you to be able to use all these skills to ensure that you come out on top. The most importance difference of the multiplayer is the speed of the combat. Taking covering is the most effective tactic but instead outmaneuvering your opponent and using the sprint option, which is unavailable in the single player. By completing matches you gain experience points give you more money to purchase new boosters, however if you feel overwhelmed a hardcore option is available if you want an even playfield that removes all bonus.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is a fantastic game. Naughty Dog has done an incredible job of creating a fantastic campaign that using a well-paced combination of puzzles, action, and cutscenes to ensure that each feels evenly spaced and never repetitive. When I done playing the single player adventure I was able to change over to multiplayer and continue to feel like I’m making progress in developing my avatar.

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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