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I don’t think I need to tell you how established, successful, and consistent Naughty Dog is in its field. In fact, I don’t think you’re unaware of it either; you’ve definitely heard about it, seen it, or even played some of the company’s games. A few examples I can give are Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, and The Last of Us. We’ve all spent a lot of time playing these games during their release periods and had great fun. Naughty Dog has been producing games under its name since the early 90s, and they continue to do so, always improving with each new release. I hope they keep pushing the envelope and offer us even more amazing content. However, today we’re not here to talk about Naughty Dog, but rather, we’re focusing on Uncharted.
Uncharted: Legacy of the Thieves Collection contains two Uncharted games: the first is the main story, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, and the second is the side story, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. As I mentioned in my review, both games are included, so you can play the main story first and then move on to the side story. (But I apologize, there will be no review of the second game due to lack of space. This review will only include A Thief's End.)
What is Uncharted, and what kind of game is it? If you're unfamiliar with the series, let me briefly explain. Uncharted is a third-person action-adventure game. It’s a game where you run from action to action, experiencing absurd, over-the-top jumping and climbing scenes like you see in movies and TV shows, featuring combat sequences, and solving puzzles while chasing treasures. In some ways, you could even compare it to Tomb Raider.
As for the first game, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, the story is quite simple: as the title suggests, it’s about our protagonist Nathan Drake chasing after a big treasure, along with the events unfolding around him and other treasure hunters. But to elaborate, it tells the story of Nathan Drake facing his past as a treasure hunter and adventurer, trying to say goodbye to his old life. However, it’s not exactly a "retirement" story. At the end of Uncharted 3, Nathan had temporarily retired from treasure hunting, and now he lives a peaceful, ordinary life with his wife Elena. Despite his desire for a calm and serene life, he constantly longs for the adventure-filled days of his past and keeps daydreaming about them. The lack of excitement and adrenaline from those old days disturbs him internally. During this time, his long-lost brother Sam Drake unexpectedly shows up. Sam, along with a dangerous criminal named Rafe Adler, is trying to find a lost treasure and has gotten into trouble. Sam asks for Nathan’s help and offers him the chance to return to the world of treasure hunting. Initially, Nathan tries to keep his promise to his wife Elena, but in the end, he has to return to his old life due to his bond with his brother and his longing for past adventures. And that’s how Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End begins.
Personally, I strongly recommend playing the earlier games in the series, because each one is truly excellent (especially the third game, which is the best among all the Uncharted games). Unfortunately, the first games are not available on PC, so if you can play them, go ahead; if not, at least watch them to familiarize yourself with the story.
As for the gameplay, there are two main types: the stealthy approach, where you quietly sneak by or silently eliminate enemies, and the action-packed approach, where you fight, shoot, and break things as you progress. So, you can either play like you're in Call of Duty or like you're in Metal Gear Solid. But my personal advice is that in a game with such a high level of action and adrenaline, like this one and the other Uncharted games, you should play it with combat rather than stealth. Other than that, the game offers you a linear progression but with an open-world aspect in certain places. The world is beautiful, with ancient sites, stunning landscapes, action-filled areas, and plenty of puzzles to solve. So, you’ll do a lot of climbing, jumping, zip-lining, falling, and fighting. The main theme of the game is, of course, chasing a big treasure, but while you explore, you can also find small treasures at different locations. Don’t get me wrong; these aren’t currency, but you can collect and examine them as treasures (there’s also an achievement related to this). Additionally, in certain parts of the game, you can use a Jeep, Motorcycle, and Boat. With these vehicles, you can explore, travel, and jump from one action scene to another.
So far, everything seems normal, right? Just another action game, but what makes Uncharted so special and fantastic? Of course, it’s the character development, which Naughty Dog excels at. In fact, it’s not just specific to this game or Uncharted; Naughty Dog does such an excellent job of character development that it’s impossible not to form an emotional bond with them. At least one character will feel relatable, you’ll sympathize, and you’ll love them. There are games, and then there are games that make you truly connect with the characters. Some games have main characters or side characters that are so forgettable, you can’t even describe them in a few sentences. But Uncharted does this incredibly well. Whether the characters are main, side, or even NPCs, Naughty Dog pays attention to every single one. They give them the value they deserve, and you feel that these characters are really alive, not just on screen but in your emotions too. The way the characters talk to each other, their body language, their solo dialogues—all of it makes you connect with them. Once you form that bond, the game becomes even more enjoyable, even more beautiful. It turns what could have been a 7/10 game into a 10/10. The game knows that if we love the characters we’re controlling, we’ll love the game as well, and they do it brilliantly. Whether it’s cutscenes, walking around, or even climbing and fighting, the characters are so well-developed that you’re never bored; instead, you get deeper into the game. The game creates such a warm, sincere atmosphere that you won’t want to leave it. Whenever something happens to the characters, you feel the same emotions they do. When they’re sad, you’re sad; when they’re happy, you’re happy. After playing, I’m sure you’ll understand what I mean.
The final scene of this game is one of the best final scenes you’ll ever see. I can say this with confidence, and you’ll probably understand why I didn’t need to open a separate paragraph for it.
As for the graphics, I don’t need to go into lengthy detail. The graphics are top-notch, and when you combine them with the breathtaking landscapes and amazing environments, it offers an extraordinary experience. You can easily get lost in it.
Now, when it comes to the game’s downsides, there is one thing worth mentioning: compared to other Uncharted games, the game feels a bit slower, and the interactive action scenes, which were a great feature in the previous games, are somewhat lacking (especially after the numerous action-packed scenes in the third game, you might feel like the action is lacking). Another downside would be the repetition of box puzzles; you may come across boxes in places where they seem unnecessary. Other than that, I don’t think the game has any other major flaws. I haven’t encountered any bugs, errors, or glitches.
To wrap up, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is a masterpiece that you must experience before you die. With its beautiful landscapes, exciting action scenes, few but impactful interactive sequences, heartfelt characters and dialogues, puzzles, and an amazing final scene, it’s truly an exceptional work of art. Play it, and make sure others play it too. After finishing it, it will leave you with a sweet taste instead of a sour one. I just can’t bring myself to deduct points, so I won’t.
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End 98/100
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy 85/100