Gaming has been a passion of mine since the tender age of 4. Gaming allowed me to retreat into a world where imagination had taken a physical form, where the fates of one or more characters were literally at my fingertips.
Knowing this, I would remain vigilant and complete the objective whether it was a strenuous boss battle or simply clearing a stage, I was in it for the long haul. The reason behind this was simple: I enjoyed a game with a good story. Recently there have been a string of disappointments with this important element that should be in games. Flustered, I searched endlessly for a game or series (besides “Mass Effect”) that would give me that childhood nostalgia I wanted to feel again, and it was given to me a few weeks ago.
During the well-needed spring break, I had the rare opportunity to throw the textbooks aside and focus on some much-needed game grinding. Although I had quite the pile to finish (Dead Space 2, Final Fantasy XIII-2), there was one game series amongs the others that induced me into a geek-like trance.
The “Uncharted” series is an action-adventure platformer, mixed with basic shooter elements. Developed by Naughty Dog—the team behind the forgotten “Crash Bandicoot”—and a Sony Playstation 3 exclusive, the series follows treasure hunter Nathan “Nate” Drake as he and his itinerant group of treasure- hunters travel the world to uncover the mysteries of the past.
Gameplay blends elements of a classic shooter. During combat, Nathan has the option of taking cover behind structures such as crates, road mediums and other environmental aids that can shield him from barrages of gunfire. Blindfire can be utilized as well, having the treasure hunter spray bullets onto enemies without the worry of taking damage.
If shooting isn’t your cup of tea, then maybe going old-fashioned fisticuffs is your preferred way of combat. This is implemented with three buttons that are prompted on screen when hand-to-hand is used: the square, which is Nathan’s standard melee attack; the triangle, which is the counterattack; and the circle, which is used primarily for both grabbing and escaping the clutches of Nathan’s foes.
The “Uncharted” series gives the platform genre a well-needed makeover, and it is very successful. In “Uncharted,” players guide Nathan through some of the most dangerous environments ever. These environments range from climbing up a derailed train while still hanging off the edge of a treacherous snow-capped mountain top, to nearly escaping death as a plane is engulfed in flames, spiraling toward the desert ground. “Uncharted” offers many different environments, all with different experiences.
The series has received universal acclaim, complemented with positive reviews across the board. “Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune” received an 88/100 on Metacritic. “Uncharted 2: Drake’s Fortune” received a 96/100, and this trend of success followed with “Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception”, which received the ratings as its predecessor.” The success of the series doesn’t rely on the stunning visuals that the Playstation 3 presents — at least to gamers who enjoy a good story with identifiable characters that grow on you.
The “Uncharted” series has plenty to offer gamers. It has an engrossing story that will have gamers pleased at not only the experience of “Uncharted” but also that good feeling of knowing that they have just invested in a great series. With the addition of “Uncharted: Golden Abyss”—the prequel before “Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune” for the Playstation Vita—the series will leave an even bigger footprint in gaming history.
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