"Uncharted 4" review: An unforgettable adventure that must be experienced
11.5.2016
Translation: machine translated
Treasure hunter Nathan Drake is back and in absolute top form. "A Thief's End" pulls out all the stops and delivers a gripping adventure that will keep you hooked until the very end.
What are you still sitting here for? You should play the thing! At least that's what I would do if I were you, instead of sitting around here and listening to my unqualified opinion. All right, you didn't want it any other way. Then I'll try to convince you in the traditional way that "Uncharted 4" is the best part of the quadrilogy and that you definitely have to play it. My previous favourite, part two, has to relinquish its crown. And that's saying something: "Uncharted 2" is and remains a brilliant game.
A game with strength of character
The story of "Uncharted 4: A Thief's End" is a family affair: Nathan's older brother Sam is in trouble. Together with the cunning Sully, they go on a treasure hunt for the fourth time. Elena is also back in the game. The original voice actors of Nathan (Nolan North) and Sam (Troy Baker) in particular make a decisive contribution to the credibility and likeability of the film and ensure that the characters really grow on you. The conversations between the trio of thieves are bursting with humour and charm.
In addition to the first-class English dubbing, the great animations thanks to motion capturing ensure authenticity. Whether climbing, sprinting or shooting, Nathan's movements and facial expressions are incredibly smooth. Then there are the really, really fantastic graphics. What Naughty Dog has delivered here is simply breathtaking. You can't get enough of "Uncharted 4". The once again impressive scenery benefits from this. Whenever you think you've seen it all, "Uncharted" will amaze you all over again.
Fine-tuning in the right places
Not much has changed in the gameplay, true to the motto "If it ain't broken, don't fix it". Nathan runs, swims and jumps from one fantastic location to the next like a doped-up flying squirrel. The levels have become a little more open, which is particularly noticeable in the breakneck car passages. Even if the freedom is only feigned, you still have the feeling that you can choose your route completely freely. The game subtly points you in the right direction. A grappling hook has been added, which Nathan can use to swing over chasms or surprise enemies from the air.
In addition to the tried-and-tested gameplay, what stands out is its maturity. "Uncharted" has grown up together with Nathan. Which is a good thing, because I'd like to think that I've also grown a little wiser since the first instalment - well, whiter then, but only in the tips! "A Thief's End" strikes the perfect balance between story, character development and action. To my delight, the latter has declined somewhat. But it is all the more effective when there is a real bang and bullets whizz through the air. For me, there could even have been a little less shooting. I'll probably never really get to grips with shooting via the controller. Fortunately for me, Naughty Dog has an alternative here too.
Sneaky passages can now be found a little more often, but they are much better executed than in the previous games. Pacifists will be pleased to know that you can often bypass entire squads of enemies by sneaking through the tall grass or skilfully fishing your way from cliff to cliff. Nathan's brother Sam is there to help you, alerting you to enemies or taking them out himself - in the style of Ellie from "The Last of Us", which was created by the same studio.
Minor blemishes
There really isn't much to complain about from a technical perspective. The initial loading times are too long and the 60 FPS promise is limited to multiplayer mode and even there only with 900p resolution. However, this does not detract from the fun of the game. The story takes a while to get going. From time to time you can choose from three answers, but this doesn't seem to have any influence on the story. During the puzzles, you often have to activate boxes or switches. I would have liked a little more creativity here.
Conclusion: An all-round successful adventure
I am simply thrilled with "Uncharted 4". After the last instalment fell short of the expectations raised by the brilliant second part, I was cautious. Without reason, as has now been shown. You can tell that a lot of love has gone into "A Thief's End". I grew fond of Nathan and co. and was rooting for them until the very end. The bombastic graphics and breathtaking scenery put the icing on the cake.
«Uncharted 4» is available exclusively for the PS4 and was provided to us by Sony.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
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