Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

Platform(s): Playstation 3
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release date: 7.12.2007(EU)
PEGI rating: 16+

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is the first installation in the Uncharted series. The game is an action-adventure third person shooter set in the beautiful landscapes of the Carribean. The main protagonist of the game is Nathan Drake, a wise-cracking treasure hunter, who is on the trail of his ancestor Sir Francis Drake and El Dorado.

The game mixes shooting, climbing and puzzlesolving, although the emphasis is on shooting. Climbing is smooth, mostly because the camera plays well and doesn’t get into the way. Graphics are still really good even though the game is almost six years old. Voice acting and character animations are also very good. The enemy AI deserves a mention, since the enemies actually try to surround you and lure you out with grenades.

Shooting is mostly solid but I have my gripes with it. The enemies can take huge amounts of damage. You can’t carry that many bullets with you and enemies rely on numbers, so shooting headshots is basically the only way to survive. The game actually gets easier towards the end because the player gets more powerful guns, with more rounds in them, but the enemy numbers and hitpoints don’t increase.

Despite its shortcomings in the shooting section, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is really good. The game starting to show its age, since many of the mechanics have been overused in other games and the graphics are not that impressive anymore. Still its enviroments are interesting and plot is full of that Indiana Jones-vibe. I can recommend it to everyone who still haven’t played the game.