It's surely no exaggeration to say that Uncharted 4: A Thief's End embarrasses some parts of the industry. Naughty Dog has gotten so good at writing memorable characters that it's practically in a league of its own these days, and it's rough to think that the rest of the medium can't catch up. Nathan Drake's final adventure may mostly trade on pomp and spectacle like its predecessors, but a slightly more grounded tone allows the developer to elevate the cast to another level.
No more is this obvious than in an early chapter depicting domestic life; Nate and his spouse Elena are living happily ever after, though the thirst for adventure creeps into Drake's subconscious at every turn. It's such a bold change of pace for what is ostensibly an action game, but writers Neil Druckmann and Josh Scherr tackle the quiet sequences with such care that it comes together wonderfully, and stands out as one of the most memorable moments in the campaign – especially when you play a certain minigame.
"Naughty Dog seals shut Drake's story with a stunning epilogue that's both befitting of the brand and pure fanservice"
But there's much more to this fourth instalment than great writing: the gunplay, while used sparingly, is among some of the best in the third-person genre, driving you through mini-sandbox environments and forcing you to use all of the tools at your disposal. These now include stealth and a grappling hook, the latter of which really complements the vertical aspect that's long been a draw of the Uncharted titles.
In fact, the game feels much bigger than its predecessors in every department, with the wide-linear environments allowing you to wander off the beaten path with regularity. The introduction of the jeep in the Madagascar chapter augments an open world-esque scale to the game world, and even though it's mostly an illusion, it's a nice change of pace from the corridors that were so commonplace in the PlayStation 3 era.
A strong multiplayer suite rounds out the package, but it's the campaign's conclusion that secures Uncharted 4's place as a modern classic. Naughty Dog seals shut Drake's story with a stunning epilogue that's both befitting of the brand and pure fanservice. It's a wonderful end to what's been a stunning series, and while Chloe will keep the franchise alive next year in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, we do hope that this is it for Drake and his family. Sometimes you need to quit while you're ahead, after all.
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Were you bowled over by the conclusion to Nathan Drake's treasure hunting career, or do you think that this occasionally dour final chapter was a swing and a miss? Climb in to the comments section below.
Comments 46
And there we have it! For those asking yesterday, Dark Souls III did finish in 11th, yes.
i wonder if we will get a new series in the future taring Drakes Daughter?
that might be to close to Tomb Raider though
@FullbringIchigo I spoilered your post just in case people haven't played it yet!
@get2sammyb oh right good point, thanks
Y'all know my opinion on this one. xD
Hi all. Congratulations on another year Pushsquare, its a great website with a fantastic community. Definitely the best place for PS news! As I have yet to play U4, I hope it lives up to expectations - I have to ask though, does knowing a detail on the ending ruin this game? Unfortunately while watching PSX here, someone spoiled what seems like the biggest reveal of the epilogue in the live chat. It just seems like its the ending which has elevated this game to GOTY on most sites...
@get2sammyb Random question... how exactly do you add a spoiler to a post?
Wow... what a surprise! I was expecting No Man's Sky to win...
This game...smh
@HeroOfTime32 type
[ spoiler ] to start
then [ / spoiler ] at the end of what you want to hide BUT WITHOUT SPACES
@FullbringIchigo you da man. Thanks!
@HeroOfTime32 your welcome
@andrew098
No it doesn't ruin the game. It's sad that you know that info beforehand, but it won't really impact more than the epilogue.
UC4 is my GOTY as well. The only game this year that I absolutely could NOT stop playing. RoTR was a close 2nd. But there's something special about UC4.
No surprise here, definitely the top choice for me.
Well deserved. My GOTY as well. So many great moments.
Not my GOTY, I just think it fell short in every area except graphics to UC2. I felt Sam was kind of a forced and forgettable character, and it was unforgiving to see Nate make so many cliche mistakes in terms of his relationships. I don't regret playing, and enjoyed the ending, but the game as a whole just didn't give me that feeling of wanting to return annually like I do with UC2.
I kinda feel it won by default. I mean don't get me wrong I love Naughty Dog and enjoyed the game. There just wasn't a slam dunk GOTY this year IMO.
It was a good year for gaming but not great.
2017 on paper at least look's like it's going to blow 2016 away...
What a surprise. Any year an Uncharted game comes out its automatically on everyone's GOTY list. Well hopefully this is the last one so we don't get UC from stealing GOTY for more deserving games in the future.
100% agree, yes it's almost predictable that a Naughty Dog game wins GOTY but when they consistently make games that are unrivalled then you kinda have too.
Been noticing a bit of backlash from readers on certain sites because Overwatch got their GOTY, many are saying it sets a "worrying trend" by praising full priced multiplayer only games with microtransactions. Especially when the same sites savaged games like Street Fighter V and Star Wars Battlefront for "lacking content" it all adds up to an air of hypocrisy among games media that I (and obviously others too) don't like one bit.
Not my GOTY but a far better game than Uncharted 3 was and definitely a highlight game of 2016. All about the story though, I don't think the online is particularly interesting for this one in the long term.
@adf86 Totally agree!! How overwatch can win I will never know!
@Tasuki in fairness, It is a great game and even from a technical PoV, its quality is far and above the rest of this years releases. How you feel about the story, or the style of game-play may affect your opinion but you can't fault it on anything. The attention to detail is incredible and plays virtually flawlessly throughout. I admit I am not a fan of the multi-player and prefer Uncharted 2's story but its the best looking game on a console currently. Its also a big step up from the previous games in a lot of ways too in terms of level design, combat and movement. I do think the 'puzzle' elements were somewhat simple and lacking but again that is more to do with my preference.
I don't think its just because its an Uncharted game as the Last of Us (also a Naughty Dog game) also won because they are probably the best and most consistent developers when it comes to crafting a game. These just ooze quality - whether you enjoy the style of game-play or story or not, you can't miss the quality of the production.
Basically what @Tasuki said....
Naughty Dog may be great at writing scripts/stories, but in the actual gameplay department their games have been consistently lacking, basically making the actual "game" portion an inconvenient afterthought.
I realize it has great graphics, acting, plot, writing... but if the gameplay is still just trivial puzzles, climbing, and mini-sandbox shooting, then the game should be getting the same review as The Order... For that matter, hype aside RotTR is basically a better game in every respect, and Lara has been doing this same shtick much longer.
@BAMozzy I agree
Getting pretty sick of the Uncharted bashing. These dudes that are complaining are the same types that are seeing overwatch as something incredible.. No story ( only that one gay charactwr)
@Sanquine Sorry but story isn't everything, games are suppose to be fun, competitive to a point not cinematic masterpieces like a movie. Don't get me wrong UC might have a great story but if I want something that deep I will watch a movie, not play a game.
And Overwatch does have a story. They have shorts on Blizzard's Youtube channel telling the story, they don't need to bog down a game with story elements, it's not an RPG after all.
@BAMozzy If that's the logic behind Naughty Dog then Blizzard should have got the award after all they have been consistent years longer then Naughty Dog. Thing is they mostly developed for PC so natural Sony fans don't recognize them and place Naughty Dog on the platform because they are on a Sony platform.
Its no point arguing with some people. Naughty Dog have consistently delivered a masterpiece after a masterpiece and show why they are regarded so highly as the best game developers. I am NOT a Sony Fan at all but a fan of gaming. Its telling that even Phil Spencer of Xbox also rates Uncharted as one of the best games and recognises the quality of the studio. Rarely do games go to the level of detail that Naughty Dog put into their games and Uncharted 4 is no exception. Blizzard may well be consistent but not to the same standards that Naughty Dog set.
Like I said, I am not a Sony fan at all. I bought more Xbox exclusives this year and have far more third party games than any exclusives. I play on multiple consoles regularly but Uncharted 4 is a cut above everything else. It still astonishes me the level of detail they have achieved. Not talking about the tiny details on an inanimate object (although impressive) but everything that makes the world more 'real', like sandbags reacting and leaking sand when shot by a bullet. Its not just the details like this in the paths we took but they are also there in other aths too if we took them.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is also a great game and highly recommended but in terms of craftsmanship, Naughty Dogs games are better. I prefer the game play of Rise to the Reboot but the Reboots story was better than Rises. Its different to Uncharted and its like trying to compare Alien to Star Wars in terms of Story. Both are 3rd Person action adventure stories with a similar theme of course but Uncharted is technical masterpiece and one of the defining games of this generation.
Again, exactly what @Tasuki said.
What @BAMozzy said!
I'm certain that I just helped further useful discussion.
@BAMozzy It's just a case of different strokes for different folks. Honestly this is why I am not big on GOTY list because in the end it's just an opinion. I just don't like it where there is no logic behind the opinion that's all (Not saying you don't have logic, you are one of the few that do) and people just say oh it's an UC game it has to win GOTY. Don't get me wrong I played the first 3 UC and I just found them boring and really not that fun to play story was good but I don't play a game like UC for story I watch a movie for that. Now give UC as a big budget summer movie and I can get behind that. Just cause a game has great story doesn't make it a GOTY, it has to be fun to play as well.
Haha, you know a franchise has hit the jackpot when the overreactions swing the other way and its achievements get significantly undermined.
U4 wasn't my personal top pick for the year, but I struggle to believe there's a person on the Earth who can't appreciate its many qualities. I think people who say that the gameplay doesn't match the story are crazy, too — there are some fantastic combat encounters/platforming sections.
I think the multiplayer's pretty good, too. I played it quite a bit actually.
It's definitely a "safe" winner, but practically every person on the team picked it in their top five, so I can't think of a better representation of us as a group.
Not my pick but was a good game, it's in my top 10 for sure!
100% agree with the pick, uncharted 4 is the game of the year for me too, can't wait for the lost legacy.
Some real hipsters in here. I get it, it's cool to hate on something popular.
If story was everything, walking sims would sell millions, but they don't. When you take a great cast of characters, give them a story people can get behind, add in some platforming, puzzles and jaw dropping set pieces you get a game that is 'fun' to play to a lot of people.
Something being consistent shouldn't take away from its value.
Like @MadAussieBloke said Uncharted 4 is the full package.
@Tasuki If Overwatch's story requires to watch a YouTube video then it's failed as a story because it should be in the game.
Tbh I don't like this view that every game must be "fun". The Last of Us wasn't fun to play because it wasn't meant to be, you travelling across a wasteland, surviving by the skin of your teeth. The Last of Us is no more fun to play then Schindler's List is fun to watch because that's what a big form of media does in providing different experiences.
But when you look at a potential GOTY then Uncharted 4 is a definitive choice because it offers a single player campaign that's completely unrivalled. As well as a multiplayer mode that's an absolute blast to play. I know some like to shout Tomb Raider's praises but if we're been honest those games are still a generation behind what Uncharted has been doing, if anything the move to a semi open world structured has harmed it because Crystal Dynamics just fill the map with "stuff" which upsets the pace of the plot.
I'm in the middle of UC4s campaign and have to agree, definitely the best PS4 game of 2016.
I can't really argue with Uncharted 4, it's comfortably not just one of the best games this year but one of the greatest on PS4. I personally have FFXV as my goty though I admit that could be at least partly nostalgia fueled and starved of top tier JRPG's (western ones just don't do it for me).
As for Uncharted 4 I'd have it at number 2 (or 3 behind Doom depending on which day of the week you ask me), Naughty Dog have created a game that simply cannot be matched in certain areas by other developers at the moment. Graphically stunning and unmatched, voice acting years ahead of its peers with a great story and if I'm honest I cannot think of a single fault which this generation is incredibly rare. Naughty Dog deserve all the plaudits coming there way and I don't think there'll be many who don't already have The Last of Us 2 at the very top of their most wanted, I know I do, keep up the good work
@Tasuki Things like 'fun' and 'Story' can be very individual - although I would say games don't always have to be 'fun' to be playable. I wouldn't classify the Dark Souls series as 'fun' - extremely frustrating and challenging, but with that comes a great sense of reward and gratification when overcoming an obstacle but ''fun'? Are Horror games 'fun'? I guess that depends on whether you enjoy being scared or not I guess?
Like I said, Story can affect people differently. Never the less you can't deny that Naughty Dog games don't have fleshed out characters - not just the lead but the whole cast.
Things like 'fun' and 'story' can be very subjective - in some ways maybe the icing on the cake for things like GotY. - and divide opinion as this proves. If a game isn't 'broken' and plays as expected then a game is more likely to be 'fun' and get its story across though
Regardless of personal opinion about things like 'story', Naughty Dog games, certainly the last 5, ooze quality and are instantly recognisable as Naughty Dog games. At PGX, both of Naughty Dogs games - the Uncharted stand-alone and Last of Us 2, were instantly recognisable as being Naughty Dog games. The quality of them showed through - whether you enjoy the story or not, whether you find them fun to play or not, you can't deny the quality and craft of the development team. There is a reason that Games like Uncharted 3 and Last of Us were regarded as the best looking games on console last gen and why Uncharted 4 is this gen. You can argue all you want about visuals and them being 'superficial' but these games are technically superior to anything else and deliver a story as well as play as expected. Take out the 'subjective' parts of a game, you wouldn't argue that Uncharted 4 deserved to win. It seems that those that are arguing against it are basing it on 'subjective' aspects like 'Story' but whether you liked it or not, you can't deny that the story is acted well by the characters and takes you on a journey from beginning to end.
Definately a matter of opinion, never played this game and I doubt I ever will, I tried The Natan Drake collection for the first time and those game's were nothing great just another Tomb Raider. I prefer gameplay over "memorable character's", you can get them from book's. Very linear corridor game's with a good story and they can be completed in an afternoon.
Fun is probably the wrong word, but close enough. Basically I think games have diversified from just being about gameplay (Mario, Donkey Kong) to a full spectrum ranging from movies/experiences to pure meaningless action. It only makes sense then that people are into different things then.
I get all the intellectual stimulation I could want at work, so I generally value gameplay over 'deep' plots and artistic 'experiences'. I recognize that other people are looking for that, so I don't fault them for thinking that games like Journey are good. I wouldn't rate Journey as more than a 3/10.
This is my biggest problem with reviews and review scores in general, figuring out what the reviewer values and if it lines up with myself. For that reason I almost feel like scores need to be codified 1-10 on 5-10 different axis (what is the pural of that?), and the reader set a weight to each axis which will help compute a final score.
When I first played the game I gave it a personal 10/10 but after reflecting on it its reduced to an 8/10. Graphics were good story ok. Dissapointing multi-player. After playing through the story once did not have any desire to play the game again. For a game to be great it needs to draw me in again and again and sadly this did not do that.
I'd put it at number 3 on PS4, number 5 overall factoring in a couple Xbox exclusives I enjoyed more, but I can't argue with the selection. It's a great game and fitting conclusion to Nathan Drake's story. What will be interesting to see now, if Sony can actually move away or if it hands the series off to a new developer to go in a different direction. There's definitely a chance for that given how it ends, but it'd be a risk.
@get2sammyb
Now that 2016 has wrapped up, will there be an update to this article?
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2016/07/feature_the_best_games_on_ps4_-_summer_2016_edition
@Avenger1030 There will.
@get2sammyb
Sweet! I model my personal buy list off of that!
I've always been a fan of Drake, but I don't know... This episode just didn't click for me. I really liked the story, the characters and the acting (especially those quiets moments the article mentions) but the gameplay... just... bored me. No troll or disrespect, here, I don't know... i feel like I had to use this rope a thousand times, or to push a thousand boxes to climb on it... I don't know.
I played it straight after Tom Raider : definitive edition, a game I totally missed the previous generation... And I honestly find this reboot of Tomb Raider better thant U4. I don't know for Rise of the TR (which I own, still have to find the time to play it) but this first episode of the reboor franchise took back the throne of adventure games, for me.
Anyway, no intention here to (re)start a Lara-Nathan war... just my personnal feeling, that's all 8)
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