PlayStation has produced plenty of successful franchises, though few remain as popular asUncharted. With four critically acclaimed mainline entries and two spin-offs,Unchartedhas cemented itself as one ofPlayStation’s mascots. While developer Naughty Dog might not send the charismatic Nathan Drake searching for another lost treasure anytime soon, Drake and friends will be appearing on the big screen with the upcomingUnchartedmovie.
TheUnchartedmovie looks to be a celebration of some of the most iconic moments of theUnchartedfranchise. Watching the latestUnchartedmovie trailer is enough to make veteran fans nostalgic, craving some good old-fashionedUnchartedcontent. While many would want to venture into eitherUncharted 2orUncharted 4, diving intoUncharted 3seems like a better option.
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Understanding the Dynamic Between Nate and Sully
TheUnchartedgames are perfect video game incarnations of big-budget action movies. In fact,Tom Holland compares theUnchartedmovie toIndiana JonesandJames Bond. While its setpieces sum up some ofUncharted’s best moments, the dynamic between its main cast of characters remains etched in players' minds.
Naughty Dog excels in developing a wide array of characters in meaningful and believable ways.The Last of Usis known for the complexity of its main characters, Joel and Ellie, something that’s rare in video games. While the studio perfected its formula of producing strong dynamics between its lead characters inThe Last of UsandThe Last of Us 2, that glimmer of perfection is also seen inUncharted 3.
InUncharted 3, Drake, Sully, and the rest of the gang pursue lost riches of paradise that could alter the shape of humanity. The sequence of events that unfolds in its eight-to-nine hour campaign is easy to predict given the series' history, but unlikeUncharted 1 and 2Naughty Dog raises the stakes at every turn that keeps things engaging and intimidating. For Nate, Sully isUncharted 3’s biggest gamble that keeps players on edge.
Uncharted 3builds the dynamic betweenNate and Sully. In combat, Nate often asks Sully if he’s doing okay, and vice versa. The duo often ends up helping each other in life-threatening situations - something that occurs every twenty minutes or so. Naughty Dog raises the stakes higher withUncharted 3’s flashback segment in which a young Nate bumps into Sully for the first time. It’s a young Nate and Sully that star in the upcomingUnchartedmovie, so understanding and relieving the particular moment fromUncharted 3right before the movie drops may enhance the experience forUnchartedenthusiasts.
The Balance of Content in Uncharted 3
After the high-intensityUncharted 2, series creatorAmy Hennigreturned to directUncharted 3. Compared toUncharted 1 and 2,Uncharted 3has fewer firefights, with the campaign evenly paced out between elaborate setpieces, emotional story moments, and intricate puzzles.
By comparison,Uncharted 4has more fleshed-out characters and a compelling narrative, though the pacing takes a hit. The first six chapters ofUncharted 4feature little-to-no firefights and can be a drag. On the other hand,Uncharted 2is always in a crescendo with over-the-top action sequences filling up most of its eight-hour story. However,Unchartedisn’t just one thing, but an accumulation of its humor, characters, puzzles, action, and soundtrack, whichUncharted 3pays equal attention to from start to finish. Playing throughUncharted 3over otherUnchartedgames is like experiencing the best aspects of the series in a single thoughtfully curated package.
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Uncharted 3’s 10th Anniversary
Uncharted 3turns also turns 10 this year. A number of groundbreaking titles came out in 2011, includingSkyrim,Batman: Arkham City,Portal 2, andBattlefield 3.Uncharted 3is one such game that pushed the medium through its state-of-the-art graphics, cinematic setpieces, immersive soundtrack, and quality performances. Many will be looking to dive intoSkyrimthis November with the release ofSkyrim Anniversary Edition, but whileUncharted 3isn’t re-releasing this holiday season, its existing versions remain accessible.
Attributes that madeUncharted 3special in 2011 still hold together in 2021. The game’s visuals were ahead of its time, and it remains a pretty game. The 2015 remaster of theUnchartedtrilogy,Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collectionfor PS4 (backward compatible on PS5), offers a smootherUnchartedexperience with the FPS boosted to 60, and the resolution upscaled to 1080p or 4K on PS4 and PS5, respectively. The shift from 30 FPS to 60 inUnchartedis revolutionary, making a burning chateau or crumbling airplane feel like a whole new experience again.
WhileUncharted 3remains a top-notch experience in 2021 visually and mechanically, its heart and soul truly stand the test of time. Among allUnchartedgames,Uncharted 3comes the closest to replicating theIndiana Jonesexperiencein video game form, a lot of which it owes to its Middle Eastern setting. It’s also what separatesUncharted 3from otherUnchartedgames.Uncharted 3captures the grand scale of the Rubʿ al-Khali desert and its nearby frontiers, helped along by aLawrence of Arabia-inspired soundtrack.
Through its vivid soundtrack, visuals, thoughtful level design, meaningful character development, and ideal pacing,Uncharted 3stands out among its peers. That’s what makes it a must-play even 10 years after launch. There’s a reason the upcomingUnchartedmovie seems to borrow more fromUncharted 3than any other entry in the series. With the movie’s release date looming on the horizon, fans have more than enough reason to dive back intoUncharted 3and experienceNathan Drake’s humble beginnings.
Uncharted 3is now available on PS3 and PS4.
