Game Title: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Genre: Action/Adventure, Third-Person Shooter
Platform: PlayStation 3
ESRB Rating: Teen
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: November 1st, 2011
Overall Score: 8.7/10
Review Author: SweetPoison13
Introduction
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is the third main installment to the Uncharted series and probably one of the most anticipated video games of 2011. One potential problem that this video game has is that it is the successor to Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, a video game that many individuals hold in high regard. With that being said, this video game has a lot to live up to and this undoubtedly put Naughty Dog under some pressure. Could they give the multiplayer that extra oomph that it needed? Could they give their audience a storyline that they would remember for years to come? Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is a solid video game (make no mistake) but, like many other video games including Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, it isn’t perfect.
Graphics - 9.0/10
The graphics in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception are just fine but there are some noticeable differences in character appearances between this video game and its predecessor. Players will obviously be able to recognize their favorite Uncharted characters but some of them have undergone some significant changes. Chloe Frazer is a really good example of this. Environments and characters are reasonably detailed but this detail doesn’t always carry over into the multiplayer experience. The cut scenes in this video game look gorgeous but characters can have their bad angles.
This video game is a visual joy to play through with many interesting environments and textures. Drake and his friends are never in the same place for very long, which allows this video game to present make different kinds of visuals to the player. Small details such as stubble, pinstripes, sweat, and dirt only encourage players to appreciate the visual presentation here. Water looked amazing in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and it plays an important role here. In fact, there are entire chapters that take place around large bodies of water in this video game. During these chapters players will be able to admire some of the properties of water and some interesting physics as they see this liquid interacting with various surfaces. The depiction of water isn’t perfect though. Characters never stay wet for very long if they are not in direct contact with water and they often seem to dry their wet clothes on the spot.
If there is one thing that really stands out in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception it is the facial expressions of the characters. The goals and intentions of the characters are perfectly captured through their facial expressions and mannerisms. This makes them more believable. In general, this video game has a solid graphical presentation that really brings out the characters and the situations in this video game. Not all of the characters undergo a great deal of development, unfortunately, but the few that do are memorable.
Storyline - 8.5/10
The storyline in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is a bit of a mixed bag for most individuals. Some feel that it leaves too many unanswered questions while others argue that it cannot hold a candle to the storyline in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
Players take the role of Nathan Drake, a treasure hunter who seeks riches and wealth with the help of his friends. This time around he pursues what Sir Francis Drake was after a few hundred years ago and runs into some serious opposition in the form of a secret organization that happens to be after the same thing as him. What ties everything together in this video game is Sir Francis Drake’s ring, the one that Drake always wears around his neck.
Much like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, this is a globe-trotting adventure. Nathan will find himself travelling to places in England, France, and Syria in a heartbeat and this only scratches the surface of his adventure. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception actually has a lot in common with its predecessor but some of these things can become stale the second time around.
This video game does a good job of exploring the relationships between some characters but this isn’t the case for every character. It often feels like more could have been done with certain characters whether that means exploring their personalities, exploring their relationships with other characters, or having them play more important roles in the plot. There are issues with this for both the heroes and villains in this video game.
One issue that many people seem to have with this video game is the pacing of its storyline. Drake will be bouncing around the globe so much in this video game that it might lose its impact after a while. It is not uncommon for individuals to question the relevance of entire chapters and come to the conclusion that events wrap up way too quickly. Some chapters in this video game seem to be so irrelevant to the plot that they could have been omitted and no one would have been the wiser. An ever-changing environment is not necessary in order for a video game to have a good storyline. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune proved this many years ago but Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception seems to be struggling with this concept and taking a much different approach with different settings.
Another thing that many individuals might have a problem with is how many "near-misses" Drake experiences in this video game. He has always been a bit of a risk taker and he always seems to get himself into less than favorable situations but this time things are blown way out of proportion and it will be anyone’s guess as to why he is still alive. The Uncharted video games are not the most realistic video games in the world and "near-misses" are certainly "exciting" but too much might be too much. If there are too many of these in a video game then they might lose their impact.
Overall, there is nothing wrong with the storyline in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception from a theme and concept perspective. Pitting Drake against a secret organization with skilled agents is very interesting. Elaborating on the relationship between Nathan Drake and Victor Sullivan and allowing mythical creatures such as Djinns to weave their way into the storyline is also pretty neat. However, elements like these need to be brought together in a meaningful manner. It feels like elements are thrown into Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception just because someone wanted them to be there and not because they were concerned about how to explain them. What makes it worse is that character development is at an all-time low in this installment for some characters. This video game might leave players with the most questions and disappoint some of them with the lack of character development.
Gameplay - 8.5/10
The gameplay is smooth and responsive, especially when it comes to the multiplayer component. The multiplayer this time around is a bit different from the one in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves but that isn’t a drawback at all. The sheer amount of features in the multiplayer might be a lot to take in at first. It really does feel like the single-player campaign and the multiplayer experience are two separate entities for different crowds. Many individuals gravitate toward the single-player campaigns in the Uncharted video games given their reputation as solid single-player experiences but in this case it would almost be a crime not to see what the multiplayer has to offer.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is one of the more newcomer-friendly video games in this series and this can certainly irritate some veterans but this is primarily the case with the multiplayer experience. Playing through the single-player campaign in this video game on its hardest difficulty setting is arguably easier than playing through the single-player campaign in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune on its hardest difficulty setting but this depends on the individual. The triangle button has become the "go-to" button in this video game and it is used for most of the context sensitive commands. There are some issues with this in that picking up weapons, reviving teammates, and throwing back grenades are all assigned to the same button. This can present some problems when a weapon that can be picked up is right next to a grenade that can be thrown away. Similar issues are experienced with the circle button, which serves as both the "roll" command and the "take cover" command. It is almost to the point where jumping away from an enemy with the X button is more effective than rolling behind cover lest a player attempt this and "take cover" in his or her enemy’s line of fire.
The multiplayer experience can be easy to jump into but that doesn’t mean that newcomers should jump into a team deathmatch right away. With the sheer number of skilled players that have been playing this video game since its release date it is recommended that newcomers first take the time to enjoy the single-player campaign and give themselves the time they need to become accustomed to its controls. The single-player experience has not changed very much at all from what it was like in its predecessors. Drake still shoots his way through enemies and he still collects treasures when he isn’t too busy shooting people or solving puzzles. This video game is not likely to redefine the Uncharted experience for anyone.
The multiplayer experience has changed quite a bit from what it was like in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Players are able to set their own loadouts now, which means that they will not be spawning with the same guns all of the time unless they want to do this. A loadout will consist of a long gun, a pistol, two boosters, and a medal kickback. As players rank up online in the competitive and co-op modes they will gain access to more weapons, weapon modifications, boosters, and kickbacks. They will need to purchase some of these with the in-game cash that they accumulate. Players who are not familiar with boosters and medal kickbacks should know that these items give their characters special abilities that may or may not give them an advantage. Boosters can be leveled up and this will ultimately make their effects more apparent and more useful depending on the situation. Medal kickbacks are something new with this installment. This time around it is much easier to earn medals for just about anything while playing online. These medals tie into a medal kickback system that will give players the option of using an special ability during a match if they choose to do so. The goal is to earn medals so that medal kickbacks will become available.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception brings many new and interesting things to the table such as the ability to sprint and the ability to throw back grenades. The latter is possible in the single-player campaign. Many of these new and interesting aspects like legacy system specifics, character customization, and weapon modifications, whether they took inspiration from other video games or not, are beyond the scope of this review. This video game has a lot to offer players who are looking for a competitive online multiplayer experience while also remaining a video game that non-competitive players can pick up, play, and enjoy. This isn’t a perfect video game but it tries to cater to many people and is relatively successful in this department. Some gameplay choices that have been made are guaranteed to infuriate some players but for the most part players should find an enjoyable experience here.
Replay Value - 9.0/10
The replay value in this video game is astonishing if one is to include the multiplayer experience. The single-player campaign isn’t terribly long and the hard difficulty setting is available right from the start. Collecting the treasures and the trophies in the single-player campaign will keep some players busy for a while but beyond this there isn’t much replay value. The store for the single-player campaign that allowed people to change skins and tweak various settings like the gravity in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is nowhere to be seen in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. If there is any replay value to be had with this video game then it is with its online competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes. If players decide to download the multiplayer map packs then they will be able to work toward 50 additional trophies.
There are many different game modes available but the number of competitive modes far outweighs the number of co-op modes to select from. It would be nice to think that the competitive and co-op modes have been given equal treatment here but there is evidence to the contrary. After a while the co-op modes will become stale and there isn’t much that will breathe life into them besides some treasures. In both the competitive and co-op modes enemies will sometimes drop treasures for players to pick up and collect. These treasures belong to treasure sets and completing a treasure set will unlock something for the player. Items that are unlocked in this fashion are character-specific weapons, character-specific items, or multiplayer skins. There are more than a few treasure sets to complete and some are more difficult to complete than others so players should definitely find some replay value here. The treasures that drop are usually unique to the game mode that has been selected. In other words, there is only one way to unlock some of the weapons and items in this video game if players do not wish to acquire items by purchasing and downloading them from the PlayStation Store.
If players are able to complete all of the main co-op scenarios in co-op adventure on the crushing difficulty setting then they will be given a silver star that will be permanently attached to their rank. Things like this are neat but once that star has been acquired there might not be very many reasons for some people to return to this mode. Playing the co-op modes can be a great way for players to earn in-game cash and increase their rank but some of them can become terribly repetitive. It isn’t even possible for players to select villains in these modes although one downloadable co-op adventure scenario makes three of them playable. Co-op hunter allows players to play as generic villains but if they want to play as Talbot, Harry Flynn, or Eddy Raja then they are out of luck. They will need to play the competitive game modes for this and perhaps download the necessary skins. It is possible to level up boosters and complete treasure sets in both of these modes but booster progress in the co-op modes will not carry over to booster progress in the competitive modes and vice versa. Likewise, the treasures that drop in the competitive modes are different than the ones that drop in the co-op modes.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception introduces a legacy system to the multiplayer experience. Once a player reaches the maximum rank of 75 he or she can choose to start all over again with a different badge. If a player chooses to increase his or her legacy then he or she will need to re-unlock a great deal of what was unlocked the first time around by leveling up once more. Things like boosters and medal kickbacks will need to be purchased again while things like skins, taunts, and emblems can be kept if purchased before a player increases his or her legacy. Players are given some rewards for increasing their legacy but they will need to determine whether or not these rewards are worth the trouble.
In general, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception can easily keep players busy for hundreds of hours if they fall in love with the multiplayer experience that Naughty Dog has put together here. The ability to re-spawn with pre-selected weapons, level up boosters, modify weapons, and try out different combinations of weapons and boosters adds a level of depth to the multiplayer experience that wasn’t present in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Throw in some truly bizarre abilities in the form of medal kickbacks and multiplayer matches can become very entertaining for some people.
Atmosphere - 8.0/10
The atmosphere in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is appropriate but somewhat inconsistent from the Streets of London to the City of Brass. The mysteries surrounding Sir Francis Drake’s ring weave a very interesting tale about deception and players will always be wondering where Drake’s decisions will lead them. There are some truly intriguing situations in this video game but not all of them flow into one another smoothly or bring the characters together in a meaningful and effective manner. There are issues with the pacing of the storyline from start to finish and this doesn’t help the atmosphere. Fortunately, the themes and concepts in this video game don’t suffer too much because of this. They are interesting but they might not be explored to the extent that one would hope and this might leave players feeling unsatisfied.
A few things that are explored in this video game are the relationships between the heroes. Right from the start players will learn more about Nathan Drake’s past and present relationship with Victor Sullivan. In fact, a great deal of the situations that players find themselves in actually explore the relationship between these two characters. Other characters seem to take a backseat to them whether we are talking about Elena Fisher, Chloe Frazer, or any of the villains in this video game like Katherine Marlowe and Talbot.
At times it feels like this video game does a better job at character development than plot development but players will need to judge this for themselves. It would have been nice to see more character development from the villains. In Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Harry Flynn underwent a great deal of character development and seemed to be more of a thorn in Drake’s side than Zoran Lazarević. This time around Talbot and even Ramses seem to make up a large part of the "threat" here with Marlowe making brief appearances. There are many reasons for this but threats are more meaningful to players when there are strong characters behind them.
This video game establishes and builds an atmosphere that is rife with questions. Some of these questions are aimed at what would happen if Katherine Marlowe and Talbot get their hands on "Sir Francis’ Drake’s Secret" and some of them are aimed at Nathan Drake’s reasons for pursuing various courses of actions. Not very many things are clear to the player from the beginning and players might find that certain chapters wrap up before some of their questions are answered. For a heart-pumping, action/adventure video game it plays its cards well but for a story-driven adventure it comes up short on more than one occasion. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception doesn’t tell a dull or uninspired story but it seems as though Nathan Drake, Victor Sullivan, and Elena Fisher - to a lesser extent - are the only characters whose development benefits from the intriguing scenarios in this video game. It encourages players to wonder what kind of adventure they could have experienced if the other characters were given as much attention.
Some of the situations in this video game feel rushed while others drag on and this affects the atmosphere. Players are certainly able to feel Nathan Drake’s desperation as he finds himself in over his head but these instances come and go and Drake’s character reflects this. Some of the most memorable moments are when Drake understands the gravity of the situations that he finds himself in and realizes what needs to be done.
Sound Design - 9.5/10
The score in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception was composed by Greg Edmonson, Clint Bajakian, Azam Ali, and JD Mayer. Each composition adds something to this video game and brings out either the characters or the situations that they are mixed up in at the moment. Selections such as "Museum Bust" and "Shootout" are among some of the most memorable tracks in this video game for the moods that they establish. Other selections such as "Small Beginnings" and "Bazaar Brawl" perfectly encapsulate some of Drake’s experiences.
The sound effects in this video game also enhance the experience. Each firearm has a distinct sound and it isn’t difficult for players to identify these weapons by sound after listening to them for a while (online or offline). When bullets hit a Riot Shield everyone in the immediate vicinity will hear these bullets hit the shield and when someone grabs a T-bolt on a multiplayer map and fires it at a player the sound that this rifle makes can alert players across relatively large maps. No sound effects feel out of place and most of them help immerse players into the video game.
The voice work in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is excellent with a few questionable utterances from some of the characters. For the most part though, thoughts and emotions are presented in ways that make each character believable and add meaning to the situations that they find themselves in from chapter to chapter. A wide range of emotions are demonstrated in this video game and the performances from the voice actors and voice actresses are strong in many places both offline and online. When it comes to the multiplayer experience, most of the major and minor characters have their own unique utterances that players will hear when something significant happens to them (e.g., when they kill another character). These statements bring these characters to life in the multiplayer modes in a manner that might not seem possible at first. Something like, "What a bunch of knaves!" can only be heard by Talbot in the same way that something like, "Looks like you picked the wrong career, mate!" can only be heard by Harry Flynn. Character-specific touches like these add to the multiplayer experience. These are not merely skins to select and run around with. Each of them has a voice.
Enemy Design - 8.5/10
The enemy design in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is what you would expect from an Uncharted video game. Drake shoots through waves of enemies who usually attack him with firearms and sometimes take cover behind various obstacles. There is perhaps more enemy variety in this video game than in previous Uncharted installments because Drake is dealing with not only Marlowe’s agents but also with Ramses’ pirates. Drake will sometimes find himself in hand-to-hand combat with regular agents or larger enemies but these confrontations are few and far between. Marlowe’s agents and Ramses’ pirates are obstacles that hinder Drake’s progress. This is where their involvement in the plot stops. The antagonists whose actions significantly affect the plot like Marlowe, Talbot, and Ramses tend to interact with Drake only in cut scenes. There are some exceptions to this but there aren’t very many and they are only from one of these characters.
Players are tasked with dispatching the same kinds of enemies from chapter to chapter like it always has been in the Uncharted video games. There is more variety to the enemies this time around and it is certainly in a player’s best interest to find different ways to clear Drake’s path but the enemy design isn’t particularly innovative or memorable. Exceptions to this are the supernatural enemies like the Djinns and extremely aggressive spiders. The spiders are introduced very early in this video game while the Djinns make their appearance much later. These enemies bring some fresh new experiences to the table like the Descendants and the Shambhala Guardians did in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. The spiders do not have a wide variety of attacks but they are threatening in their own ways and the Djinns have more than a few tricks up their sleeves.
Conclusion - 8.7/10
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is an exceptional action/adventure and third-person shooter video game with plenty of things to offer players who are looking for a story-driven title with a solid multiplayer experience. Not everyone who picks up a copy of this video game will be looking for a memorable online multiplayer experience but they might just find one here if they look for one. The competitive and co-op modes add a great deal of replay value to this title and they could potentially keep players coming back for months after everything is said and done. It is unfortunate that the single-player campaign doesn’t have the replay value that its predecessors had or the intriguing villains that made for some interesting confrontations in the past but it still has quite a few things to offer. Most of the minor characters and all of the major characters in the Uncharted Universe can be selected in the competitive multiplayer modes and the multiplayer experience isn’t a carbon copy of the one in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.