With all these blockbuster games hitting in my birthday month (Nov 20th, thank you Mass Effect!), it's been a busy two weeks of gaming at my house. In the past two weeks, I've finished Call of Duty 4, Assassin's Creed, I'm working on Super Mario Galaxy and Saturday saw me complete Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.
It's no secret that my Xbox 360 gets a lot more play than my PS3, but let's face it, if there were more games for the system I'd spend more time on it. Well, if Sony can bring more games like Uncharted to the system, I'm going to have a tough time ignoring it in the future!
I've seen a lot of footage of Uncharted over the past six months, so my anticipation was running high before I put the disc in the console. I had read reports of how it could only be developed on the PS3, and while I took those with a boulder-sized grain of salt, I was curious whether the final product would validate those claims. In short, it does.
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is everything a great game should be. It grabs your attention with the opening frame and holds it firmly to the end credits. It's filled with memorable characters, both pro- and antagonists, that drive the story forward and leave you wanting more. Technically, it is a showcase for the hardware it is designed for, in this case, the PS3. For the first time, I finished a PS3 game and wondered if it could have been done on the Xbox 360. Honestly, I don't know the answer to that question, but the fact that I even wondered about it is a testament to the quality of Naughty Dog's work on Uncharted.
Is the game perfect? What is perfect? If you are looking for things to pick apart in the game, you could do that with anything. The Mona Lisa has a crooked smile, but isn't that what gives "her" her charm? Yeah, the grenade explosions could be bigger in the game, but then you couldn't avoid them as well. There could be more platforming in the game, but I only say that because the platforming that's there is as good or better than in any previous game. It could be a bit longer, but only because when it ended I wanted to keep playing. It could be a bit more difficult, but that might detract from the fun. Clearly, the developers want you to finish Uncharted and they give you help to that end.
When I form my opinions of a game there are a few basic criteria I look to as the basis of comparison. Graphics, gameplay, ability to mesmerize, story, and replay value. On all these fronts, Uncharted is an unmitigated success. Rarely does a game with no multiplayer component warrant subsequent play-throughs, but Uncharted does.
Excuse the cliche, but if you're one of the 94 million or so gamers straddling the fence of buying or not buying a PlayStation 3, Naughty Dog has just made you an offer you can't refuse. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is a game worthy of the $460 you will spend for the combination of a PS3 and the game.
Why not, for the same $460, get an Xbox 360, Halo 3 free (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo3/promotions/buyxboxgethalo.htm), get Orange Box, Mass Effect, Call of Duty 4, and Bioshock?
ReplyDeletehaha, Nov 20th is my wifes b-day as well. She, however, probably isn't too excited about mass effect.
ReplyDelete1) "...if there were more games for the system I'd spend more time on it."
ReplyDeleteDUH! That's the problem. Why would you care what system the games are for? You play what comes out and in the end it shows based on what system you spend the most time with. There AREN'T more games like it, especially not for the PS3.
2) No game ever is worth 460$ unless it provides more fun than you could possibly purchase for any lower amount. This game deffinitely ain't that.
Okay, the game might be good, but in no way shape or form does it constitute paying 460 bucks for one game that most definitley could have been done on the 360.
ReplyDeleteHowever, whether or not it could be done on the 360 is irrelevant, because that is a fucking shitload of money to spend on one game, and not even Rock Band is worth that much money, so your little flit with Uncharted doesn't really do much but make you look like a over-excited idiot.
Sorry your little DIGG article is pointless, not even MGS4 should make anyone pay 460 buck for one fucking game, and a patheic Blu-Ray player that seconds as a console. And if anyone does, they are a blithering fool whose value of the hard-earned dollar is non-existent, or gets whatever they want from grandma at Christmas. For the rest of us, who actually BUY our games, we'll stick with a console that actually has a purpose besides "Ooh, look what I own, I never use it, and when I do, I feel even more foolish every second."
The Wii and 360 > PS3
Sony can't ride the last console generations' coat-tails forever.
I agree with most of what Spencer had to say... Sony just doesn't have it yet this generation, and it may not come. People keep waiting for the killer app, but people like me who are somewhat on the fence about getting the machine are going to need much more than that. Between the Wii and the already more established 360, I've got pretty much all my gaming needs filled. Maybe Sony will remain on the outside looking in this entire generation..
ReplyDeleteIt's true, ONE game is not worth the purchase of a console.
ReplyDeleteHow about FIVE?
Resistance:FOM, MotorStorm, Heavenly Sword, Ratchet & Clank:FTOD, Uncharted:DF, Folklore, Eye of Judgement, UT3...
Hmm I guess that's more than five so far.
To above:
ReplyDeleteyeah.... but Uncharted and Rachet & Clank is worth the money you spend on the PS3. Just like Halo 3 and Mass Effect is worth the money you spend on the 360. Stupid argument fanboys......
Ya'll complaining about the PS3s $460, mean while ya'll pay $800 for the 360 with out games.
ReplyDelete$350 for the console, $200 for the online, it has no HD format $200, no Wi-Fi $100 , No play and Charge Kit out the box $20 , it dies in the middle of games (RRoD).. Comn.. Halo 3 runs a 680p, with Halo 2 graphics on HD.. Mass Effect = Lesbien Star Wars.. Bioshock prolly comin to PS3 in 2008.. COD4, better graphics and free online on the PS3 (same server problems ;0).. my point is, STOP Complaining..
PS3 owners is gettin a Second Life service for free, Free Online, Web Browser, Blue Ray player (Blue Ray is beatin the shit outta HD DVD week after Week) Wi-FI outta the box, Charge Kit outta the box, Possibility to add any SATA hard driver u want, Use any bluetooth headphone u wich, Printer support, Run an OS if u like, Make ur own themes, and I can keep braggin about it all night, cus I own one and know what its worth ;0)
Stop complaining ya'll killin the game yo..
Anyway, Nice Review man, Im really excited about this game, I'll cop it once I get the chance...
you guys are funny, you sound like a bunch of old farts looking at a tsunami coming and trying to keep positive and confident that staying was the right choice: hilarious.
ReplyDeletexbox is for dorks who were either sleeping or not born when shooters were still cool, 10 years ago on the pc. yeah, you guys are hardcore, just slightly retard with stockholm syndrome, woahaha!
now I'm going to play that car chase scene again, just for fun, pure exclusive fun, cya poppies.
jayjay, all those things you bring up about the ps3 are fine and good, but what about the games? Thats all I care about.
ReplyDeleteWi-Fi out of the box? Great, but I don't need it, my 360 cables right into a hub. Blu-Ray? Very nice as well, but that doesn't sell it for me.. my dvd's on HD look just fine. But hey, the PS3 works for you, and it doesn't for me just yet. No big deal.. thats why there are choices.
On a totally different note, Tiberius.. you say you're working through Mario Galaxy? What are your impressions thus far?
My early impressions of Super Mario Galaxy are it is an excellent platformer. The control is tight and I admire Nintendo for taking the series in a different direction with the use of gravity. My only gripe is the difficulty level, or rather the lack thereof. The game is sooo easy, there is no real feeling of accomplishment for beating it other than to say, "whoohoo I beat another Mario game!" I'll give a full review sometime next week after I beat it. Today I get Mass Effect and I suspect that is going to get my attention for the next few days.
ReplyDelete