The End Of The Road?

Drake takes the stage for one last heist.

The beginning of my PlayStation journey happened to be the end of Nathan Drake's.

On Christmas morning 2016, my grand finale gift ended up being a PS4. I was ecstatic. Not only did I finally have a newer console, but it was also the first console that truly belonged to me. It happened to come bundled with Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. Now, I had heard of the Uncharted series, but never had a chance to play them as they were PlayStation exclusives and I grew up on Xbox. Normally when I play a gaming series, I try and start at the beginning. However, since this was the only game I had with my new console, I figured beggars can't be choosers. I reasoned I would give it a try and if it wasn't for me then I could work on finding other games.

I had no idea I was about to step into one of my favorite games.

I had no idea just how much of a success this game had become in the past seven months of its release.

And I had no idea just how much work it had taken to get there.

Much like all the other entries in this series, work on the next Uncharted game began almost as soon as the previous one had been released. This time however, there were some challenges ahead. Most notably, the original creative director and game director of the series both departed Naughty Dog. While management raced to find the right replacements, the storytelling team was having a difficult time deciding which direction the series should go. Not only that, but Naughty Dog had something else on their plate - a new intellectual property about a zombie virus known as The Last of Us.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that The Last of Us was a smashing success that released right at the end of the life cycle of PS3. If people didn't know Naughty Dog beforehand, they certainly did now. The creative team for Uncharted decided to take some cues from The Last of Us and decided that the story for Uncharted 4 should be more of an emotional one. There was still going to be action and adventure, but at the core of it all was going to be the cast of characters that so many fans had come to love. And with PS4 now being Sony's flagship console, there were endless possibilities for how to improve. A Thief’s End was originally slated to release in 2014 but ended up experiencing delays. The game was officially released in May 2016. It was a huge success with critics and fans alike, hence the reason it was part of Christmas console bundles.

Set several years after the events of the previous game, Nathan has repaired his relationship with his wife Elena and settled down to live a quiet life. But all that changes when Nathan is confronted with the arrival of Sam - Nathan's long lost older brother whom he thought had died fifteen years prior. Not only is Sam alive, but he's in massive debt to a dangerous man. Only the treasure of Henry Avery, a mysterious pirate captain, is enough to pay off his debts. With his brother's life in his hands, Nathan decides to risk everything for one last adventure.

Sam, Nathan, and Sully work together to figure out the next clue on their adventure.

The main story premise might seem like more of the same - Nathan Drake in search of a treasure that seems impossible to find. But, the addition of Sam adds a new depth to all of these characters, especially Nate. Admittedly the whole “this character was supposed to be dead” plot point can feel like a bit of a cop out in reference to the character’s lack of existence in previous titles. But if you can get over that first hump, you might be able to appreciate the camaraderie that these two leads share. They truly feel like siblings, thanks in no small part to the voice work of Nolan North and Troy Baker. (Little tip: If you’re playing a video game and can’t figure out whose voice that is, there’s a ninety percent chance it’s either Nolan or Troy). This game allows a deeper insight into Nathan's past and why he became the character that he is. The side characters of Elena and Sully are given more to work with, and even the villain seems to have more solid motivations. Admittedly, parts of the second and third act tend to drag on. But thanks to playable set pieces, players are never out of the action for too long.

The fact that the player retains the majority of control in this sequence is a solid way to keep gamers engaged.

And speaking of set pieces, let’s talk gameplay. There are the usual firefights, but there are also several sections that rely heavily on stealth. Hand to hand combat has also been improved. But it’s the puzzles and playable action scenes that are the star of the show. The puzzles require a decent amount of brainpower and feel natural rather than forced. They also seem to pop up more frequently than previous installments. When you’re not working your brain, you’re an active participant in a car chase or exploring secret passageways underneath a cathedral. There’s also the inclusion of a grappling hook, which makes a huge difference in traversal and combat.

I got so used to the grappling hook, I was disappointed to find out it wasn't in the previous games.

I mentioned in my review of Drake’s Deception that I could see quite the difference in visual quality from the first game. Well, this game makes it seem as though all the previous entries have been viewed through smudged glasses. The developers went for a photorealistic style, and it paid off in a big way. Eight years later, the game is absolutely gorgeous to look at. I have both the original game and The Legacy Collection which includes remastered versions of A Thief’s End and The Lost Legacy. Even the remaster seemed to not worry about improving the already amazing visuals and instead focus on integrating haptic feedback from the PS5 controller (which certainly heightens the experience).

I absolutely loved taking in the scenery.

The last point I want to cover is the question that was on my mind while the game was loading for the very first time: Can I enjoy this game without having played the others? My answer would be yes, but I recommend you don’t approach it that way if you can help it. For the first week of owning my PS4, this was the only game I had. Shortly afterward, I was able to pick up The Nathan Drake Collection and play through the first three games in their entirety. When I decided to play A Thief’s End for a second time, everything hit harder and meant more because I understood what had come before.

A Thief’s End holds a very special place in my heart. It was my introduction to PlayStation, my start to the eighth generation of gaming, and the first game I ever played in the Uncharted series. Nathan Drake quickly became, and still is, one of my favorite gaming characters. This is the game I have replayed most from my collection and continues to be a source of comfort when I can't figure out what to play. If I'm ever asked for gaming recommendations, Uncharted is at the top of my list. When I look back at the story of Nathan Drake, I'm reminded of the motto inscribed on his ring from Sir Francis Drake.

Sic Parvis Magna

Greatness from small beginnings.

This post was written by Vanessa Hart, creator of Deep Dive Gaming.