PAX 07: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune hands-on
by Colin Torretta 
{ Aug 28th 2007 at 3:00AM }
The first thing you notice when you pick up the controller is how visually striking the game is. There are few games out there that look as lush and vibrant as Uncharted with its heavy foliage, beautiful water, and fantastic environmental textures. Considering 'next-gen games' are so often brown, drab and depressing looking, it's refreshing to play a game as colorful as this.
Control problems and camera issues were two of the biggest complaints Andrew Yoon had when he played Uncharted at E3 and thankfully we can report that those problems have already largely been fixed. The camera felt smooth and intelligent and was never a hassle in combat or exploration. The control issues during combat appear to have also been fixed, with the targeting system getting a major overhaul and the cover system getting tightened up as well. Shooting guys in the head and running from pillar to pillar to avoid enemy fire seemed easy and intuitive. Anybody who's played a third-person shooter will be able to get into the action quickly.
Worries of this being 'Tomb Raider with a wang' are pretty much without merit. While Uncharted will have some puzzle solving, it's main focus will be combat and platforming -- while Tomb Raider has historically focused heavily on puzzles with limited combat. The story in Uncharted also looks to set itself apart, with a script worthy of Hollywood and great voice actors playing the main characters. The storyline was already looking pretty intriguing from the little we saw of it; a fast paced romp through an island filled with pirates, treasure, and mystery. Honestly other than the 'treasure hunter' aspect of the game, it did not remind us of Tomb Raider at all.
Overall, Uncharted was one of the most impressive titles on display at PAX. The combat and control issues that plagued the E3 build have been fixed already and with another eight weeks of tweaking scheduled, gameplay is shaping up very nicely. Visually, Uncharted looks better than anything on the PlayStation 3 right now and it will be a welcome addition to the videogame starved PS3 owners when it comes out. The only real downside is the 8-12 hour gameplay length. Luckily this looks like it could be one of those rare game like Gears of War where it actually is worthwhile to play through the singleplayer campaign again and again -- the action was that satisfying. Uncharted is definitely a title to look out for this holiday.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ExMcloud @ Aug 28th 2007 3:53AM
Hey as long as its good who cares right? Even though I thought the games made with Blu-Ray would be longer...Thats my only complaint
Terrence Newton @ Aug 28th 2007 9:34AM
huh..? since when did media size correspond to game length? if what you said made any sense, then PS1 games would be like 10 minutes long..
cc123 @ Aug 28th 2007 1:18PM
@Terrence
Disc size started corresponding to game length when Sony came out with blu-ray on the PS3. That way ps3 haters can preemptively set unreasonable expectations on games so they can bash them later on.
ExMcloud @ Aug 28th 2007 1:28PM
Oh I always thought with the bigger disc size that they could create bigger games with more length and all that other crap...Thats my fault for showing my ignorance there. Sorry guys
mo @ Aug 28th 2007 4:40AM
i think the "dude raider" nickname is pretty accurate for this game
Hito @ Aug 28th 2007 5:02AM
Despite being mentioned 3 times in the hands on article saying otherwise, you, one who has had NO play time says differently.. Well.. to each his own
Just try not to critisize a game based on the company producing it, kay?
Merx @ Aug 28th 2007 5:21AM
Why do people think "games on Blu Ray will be longer". I think every single game up to this point has proved that this is not the case.
It has nothing to do with the tech of a disc. Compression is so good these days that DVD is managing to hold on there.
The main reason, however, is that it takes devs 2 or 3 years as it is to create these 10 to 12 hour games. Even 6 or 7 hour games (Gears, H Sword, Im looking at you) take 2 or 3 years.
If you really want games to be 20, 30 or even 40 hours long, you will have to wait much much longer. So much so that the dev can expect to only put out 1 game per generation.
On top of this you will need a script writer that not only can create a good story, but keep it fresh in the 40th hour.
If you want 20, 30 or 40 hours gameplay. Go play WoW for 2 days straight.
Jamie @ Aug 28th 2007 2:46PM
Either that, or buy an RPG for the PS2. The reason these games take so long to develop is pure asset creation. The needlessly high-definition graphics standards that have been set for the 360 and PS3 are killing developers all by themselves, no complex story or *gasp* new gameplay mechanics needed.
CooperHawkes @ Aug 28th 2007 7:13AM
"Considering 'next-gen games' are so often brown, drab and depressing looking, it's refreshing to play a game as colorful as this."
Yes because Bioshock was soooo drab.
sheppy @ Aug 28th 2007 8:11AM
Why is every positive PS3 thread picked apart by fucktards? Dude, often =/= always. Which is why they used the term often, instead of always.
And for the record, currently playing Bioshock right now, 4 hours in, and except for a couple sections, yeah... most of it is dingy and drab.
Jake @ Aug 28th 2007 8:17AM
I'm just glad this game isn't being hyped all hell. For non-sequel PS3 exclusives, this one definately has the best chance of delivering.
baby sea tuna @ Aug 28th 2007 8:21AM
Well, wait until you get 6 hours in then Sheppy. Drab is not a word I'd use to describe the art style of Bioshock. Dark, sure, but not drab (dingyness is to be expected in a crumbling undersea utopia, however.)
CooperHawkes @ Aug 28th 2007 8:22AM
sheppy,
I think Drakes Fortune is going to be awesome, I'm not trying to hijack the thread, the sentence structure, though using the word often, implies that the writer has never had the privilege of playing a next-gen game that was colorful.
It probably was a tad oversensitive of me I'll grant. And I'm sorry if I ruined someone's excitment for the game by pointing out what I felt was a grammatic error.
sheppy @ Aug 28th 2007 8:31AM
@baby sea tuna,
I expect as much. Which is why I'm going forward with the game. And even if it doesn't, it's still a pretty good horror based FPS. Not sure I agree with the high scores so far, but that's only so far.
@CooperHawkes
Actually, I read that sentence just fine. And it's a valid arguement. So many new games are foregoing colorful palettes and going for muted browns and greys. So many games out in this "next gen era," Including the pretty faces like Gears and Lair, are downright ugly in their color palettes. And even the second stringer titles and even throw away software is fairly muted in colors (which I feel is a sign of this ridiculous pursuit of reality over artistic vision). Now he didn't say all the games were like this, but it is a heavily recurring theme.
d-pad @ Aug 28th 2007 8:43AM
Sheppy,
Are you kidding me?
Bioshock's colors are insanely saturated. It may be dark, but it sure as hell isn't 'dingy' or 'drab'.
You're stretching.
JJ Rooster @ Aug 28th 2007 9:04AM
come on Shep, if the Big Daddy was a big Gundam mech you would have called this GOTY. I think it may indicate that your tastes run a little left of center (like you didn't know) when you don't like something universally heralded. Anyways, I'm 10 hours in, and it does get better once you access better weapons, mods and plasmids.
Vidikron @ Aug 28th 2007 12:43PM
Am I the only one that missed the "so often" in that statement? "so often != "all of them". Just because you can think of a couple of example of colorful games doesn't negate that point that most really are fairly drab these days.
sheppy @ Aug 28th 2007 7:38PM
Jesus Christ... I mention the game is dark and dingy (hey, look... dirt all over the rusting surfaces... THAT'S BRAND SPANKING FUCKING NEW!) and somehow, I'm saying it's a piece of shit unworthy of being placed on a disc.
Guys, I said I was still playing through it. Still playing through it. If I was turuly unimpressed, it would be sitting next to my copies of Call Of Duty 2 and Oblivion, never to be touched again.
d-pad @ Aug 29th 2007 8:24AM
Sheppy,
Read your own post.
You said the game was drab in color - which it's clearly not - and people called you on it. No one is saying that you said the game sucks, just that you said the pallete was muted.
I'm glad you're enjoying the game though.
R. @ Aug 28th 2007 7:29AM
"Shooting guys in the head and running from pillar to pillar to avoid enemy fire seemed easy and intuitive."
And people say Jack Thompson's complaints are groundless.
Jamie @ Aug 28th 2007 2:49PM
Because pressing a button repeatedly to fire an automatically-aimed gun is just like the real thing.
R. @ Aug 29th 2007 6:22PM
Wouldn't know. Never fired an automatic weapon though I would like to try some time.
mo @ Aug 28th 2007 7:32AM
@hito
calm down killer, no one asked you
and thanks for the advice ill change my criticizing ways accordingly...i wouldn't wanna piss off some random guy with my super important opinions
HineyWipe @ Aug 28th 2007 7:50AM
Note: I think one needs to own an actual PS3 to qualify at posting here. Some of the remarks are notably without comprehension. (aka BluRay would be longer??? And they magically pull high-definition, 5.1 channel surround effects, texture maps...from their collective arses?)
Yeti @ Aug 28th 2007 8:06AM
"Luckily this looks like it could be one of those rare game like Gears of War where it actually is worthwhile to play through the singleplayer campaign again and again"
People played Gears again and again in single player because it was a lot of in co-op mode. Does this game support co-op?
Sparda 23 @ Aug 28th 2007 8:18AM
I want to believe that Uncharted is an awesome game, I'm a huge Jak fan after all, but this whole post felt like a news release. You've commented on how awesome some things you didn't get to witness are, and didn't really "preview" anything.
But honestly, you lost me at "fantastic textures". We all know Ps3 can't handle any. Killzone 2 is living proof of that.
I'll play Uncharted when its $20 and the Ps3's $40.
Jake @ Aug 28th 2007 8:21AM
I dind't mean to post my first comment as a reply.
Shep,
It's no use. In this alternate reality, Bioshock is more colorful than Uncharted. In a sense it is, but it is so dark in the game that you can't see the colors come out. But that makes it cool.
Djuan @ Aug 28th 2007 8:24AM
This looks like a title I can get into. If I can ever stop playing Warhawk after I get that soon...
Curmeo @ Aug 28th 2007 8:25AM
yet another promising PS3 exclusive with AAA potential.
Sony has more in-house development studios than Nintendo and MS combined. 2007 and 2008 is owned by Sony, plain and simple.
all the must-have 360 games are either already on PC or will be released on PC. on the other hand, all the exclusive PS3 games will only be available on PS3.
JJ Rooster @ Aug 28th 2007 8:57AM
Sony owns 2007 ???
In what month? 360 has outsold them all year.
How many games have sold 1 million copies or more?
Curmeo, you're the biggest crack-smoking, in-denial Sony fucktard on this site. I understand you favor the PS3, but your optimism reveals you clearly have no interest in facts... Only pathetic fanboyism. Keep smoking that pipe. One day you'll be right.
Curmeo @ Aug 28th 2007 9:05AM
im talking 2007-2008 exclusive games list wise. but obviously comprehension is a very challenging task for you.
Phranctoast @ Aug 28th 2007 9:25AM
other then sony ownning 2007-2008 (whatever the F that means anyway) The rest of what he says he 100% true.
JJ Rooster @ Aug 28th 2007 9:33AM
Oh, that's what you're talking about? I guess that's something positive you can cling to, and here's a cookie. Meanwhile, the 360 is set to blast off into the stratosphere next month, and you can do nothing but sit back and watch.
Slaziman @ Aug 28th 2007 1:42PM
yet another? you talk like there were others? to get games to run as well as on PC as they run on the Xbox 360, you already have to pay more than 350 dollars, plain and simple, wasn't it you that said it was retarded to compare a home console to a PC? So, what the hell are you doing? Some 360 games coming out after a year on PC hardly makes them have less value. In 2070 on the Wii 14's Virtual Console there will be MGS4! The PS3 is useless now!!!
Zsavior @ Aug 28th 2007 8:28AM
I think this game is going to be the first real break out hit for sony, matter of fact I am willing to bet on it. The reason in my honest opinion, the game is different, it has the tomb raider feel, only somebody tried to make a good game here.
I saw this video at E3 and it was the very first time since PS3 has come out that I have thought, hmmm I might have to get one. The game just has that look, like when Prince of Persia got reinvented, or when the first Metroid Prime hit. It is what the high end systems are missing right now this mix of action with shooting. Of course sony has disappointed me before, so things could go wrong but the videos of it I have seen do look hopeful.
NewJockCity08 @ Aug 28th 2007 9:07AM
LMAO...
And to even further discredit this troll what exactly does sony have coming out in 08 that makes it "own" 2008?
MGS4 and FFXIII? Thats only 2 titles. Granted they're huge titles but that doesn't mean anything. Especially there is SO much time left before 2007 even ENDS.
How do you know MS and Nintendo aren't biding time until they feel it would be the best time to announce new games coming out for next year?
sony has already laid out its major cards. And when SPring 2008 comes and passes and sony is STILL in dead last I wonder what sony fanboys like yourself will say then?
Curmeo @ Aug 28th 2007 9:47AM
exclusive PS3 games for 2008:
Killzone 2
LittleBigPlanet
MGS4
Final Fantasy XIII
GT5
SOCOM: Confrontation
Jak and Daxter
Free Realms
The Agency
DC Universe
Eight Days
Eyedentify
Getaway
Gretzky NHL
Pain
Wheel of Fortune
White Knight Story
aside from this, an exclusive from Factor 5, an exclusive from Zipper Interactive and 2 exclusives from thatgamecompany. there may be even more exclusives for 2008 that havent been announced yet. now you were saying?
Brian Spence @ Aug 28th 2007 10:57AM
You're forgetting a little something called Killzone 2...and Little Big Planet...
That makes four unbelievable titles that nobody else can play, even on a PC. I have a nice PC, therefore, I don't need an X-Box. If I had a nice PC and an X-Box, I would still need to pony up cash for a PS3 to play any of these titles.
What does MS have up its sleeve in 2008? Not flamebait, it just seems like everything they've got planned will be out by Christmas.
Justice @ Aug 28th 2007 9:56AM
Dude can you stop it with this fan-boy nonsense. Seriously. =\ Back on topic: Which I see most people replying on here don't know how to do, I think the game looks nic. Besides the environmental aspects, i wanna see how gameplay interacts with this. I can't wait to pick this one up.
Justice @ Aug 28th 2007 9:58AM
Cameo, don't even bother. oh btw I was talking about NJC when I mentioned "Dude can you stop it with this fan-boy nonsense." Not you, just to make it clear.
NewJockCity08 @ Aug 28th 2007 10:13AM
YAWN...
Out of that entire list the only two that really matter are going to be MGS4 and FFXII.
KZ2, LilBig, and GT5 are just 3 examples of titles that only the sony faithful are remotely interested in. Those are not system sellers and yes they're exclusives but are they exclusives that matter?
The answers no in my opinion.
And like I mentioned b4 just because MS and Nintendo haven't announced anything doesn't mean they don't have anything.
sony has laid out all its major cards for this fall and next year.
As for MS and its exclusives the whole "its going to be on PC" argument is very weak. Since theres a difference between console gamers and PC gamers. I don't know which group is bigger but I do believe that there is only a small amount of gamers who do BOTH.
So for the general market whos only focus is on consoles the 360 or the Wii is definitely the better system for a variety of reasons.
But thats my personal opinion. Feel free to disagree and hype up all those games you listed.
Nomi @ Aug 28th 2007 10:41AM
Plus the exclusive from Rockstar...which is not LA Noire....
Vidikron @ Aug 28th 2007 12:52PM
You know, Curmeo is clearly a fanboy, but to say games like KZ2 and GT5 aren't potential "system sellers" is plain stupid. But, whatever, why does every PS3 have to end up this way?
Slaziman @ Aug 28th 2007 1:48PM
@Curmeo
"there may be even more exclusives for 2008 that havent been announced yet"
This obviously doesn't apply to Xbox 360? lol
How many of those games will actually be good? Who knows? An exclusive turd is still a turd.
hvnlysoldr @ Aug 28th 2007 10:36AM
See this is how you use bloom and all the thing-a-mi-gigies.
AlanRickman @ Aug 28th 2007 10:54AM
Maybe its just me, but this game doesnt look all that extra bright and colourful, like the comments above are making it out to be. The brightness is jacked up a bit, but I dont see a larger range of colours than you see in Bioshock or Mass Effect.
You guys up there are trying to make it sounds like its Jet Set Radio or something. Looks to me like they just took screenshots with their HDTV in out-of-the-box uncalibrated face-melting mode.
Cellien @ Aug 28th 2007 11:06AM
This is different than that "Lost" game? Looks like the same..
GRANTED @ Aug 28th 2007 11:11AM
lol i love when these boards regress into "BUT THE COLORS ARENT AS COLORFUL"
i have a feeling bioshock, mass effect, uncharted, and high stakes poker all have the ability to show the EXACT SAME COLORS. its not like the ps3 and 360 put out a different range of colors.
i like the way halo3 looks- its bright and intense; colorful doesn't have to mean cartoony. at the same time, the kz2 vids we have seen use all dynamic lighting in a storm/night environ--it also looks cool and just as intense, but for different reasons.
uncharted is in a jungle. its green. sorry its not enough colors for alan lol. they should have made some poison dart frogs 10,000 times bigger so their blue and orange colors compete with the MILLIONS OF GREEN LEAVES IN THE JUNGLE.
400-700nm FTW bitches.
AlanRickman @ Aug 28th 2007 11:46AM
"lol i love when these boards regress into "BUT THE COLORS ARENT AS COLORFUL"
i have a feeling bioshock, mass effect, uncharted, and high stakes poker all have the ability to show the EXACT SAME COLORS. its not like the ps3 and 360 put out a different range of colors."
You just completely agreed with the point I was trying to make. Thanks mate. :-)
Tivac @ Aug 28th 2007 11:15AM
Uncharted was a lot of fun at PAX but man were the jaggies everywhere. They're really pushing the PS3 hard if they couldn't even afford a small amount of AA.