Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is the fourth installment in the Uncharted series and the first one (apart from the Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection compilation) for PlayStation 4. Just like its predecessors, it was developed by Naughty Dog, a studio known for such bestsellers as The Last of Us, Crash Bandicoot or Jak and Daxter: The Precursor’s Legacy.

Although the Uncharted series has been one of the flagship titles exclusive to Sony's consoles over the years, it was announced in 2021 that Uncharted 4 will also be released on PC.

Plot

In Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, just like in the previous games in the series, we assume the role of an adventurer and treasure hunter, Nathan Drake, who tends to get into trouble in various exotic parts of the globe. The story takes place three years after the events of Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. The protagonist quit the swashbuckling lifestyle and leads a quiet life with Elena. However, the idyll is interrupted by his brother, whom Nathan thought dead. This time around, our task is to find the riches of a pirate named Henry Avery. During the adventure, we will meet old friends ( Sully, among others) and cross paths with new competition: another couple of treasure hunters — Rafe (Nathan’s opposite) and Nadine (owner of a private military organization in South Africa).

Mechanics

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End takes place in various parts of the globe, including Libertalia, a pirate colony on Madagascar. We will also visit a busy city and snowy terrains, among other places. The player assumes the role of Nathan, who is constantly accompanied by Sam. Companions take an active role in combat, and are also able to hold down opponents, allowing Drake to eliminate them with one swift blow. The gameplay does not deviate significantly from the previous installments of the series, and still offers a combination of exploration, combat and puzzle solving. However, the developers did make it less linear and implemented an enhanced artificial intelligence as well as additional items (such as a grappling hook) used during both fights and puzzles. The gameplay is complemented by the unique humor for which the series is known.

Game modes

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End offers both single and multiplayer modes. Multiplayer gameplay brings to mind what we have seen in previous installments of the series: we fight in different modes and in locations where we can hide behind covers, climb walls or use grappling hooks. In addition, players can use various magical powers during the battles, including the Wrath of El Dorado from Uncharted, Cintamani Stone from Uncharted 2 and Spirit of the Djinn from Uncharted 3, which allows for faster movement. During the game it is also possible to summon helpers, including a medic who improves our health. These types of characters are not immortal and you can get rid of them by sending a large number of bullets in their direction. There are micropayments in the mulitplayer, but they are not necessary to unlock any options.

Technical aspects

Uncharted 4: Thief's End is developed using the proprietary engine of the Naughty Dog studio. The game offers a detailed and richly detailed environment in single player mode, excellent character animation and a lot of special effects. The whole thing runs on PS4 at 30 frames per second and 1080p resolution. The case looks a little different in the case of multiplayer. The developers wanted to achieve animation at a level of 60 frames per second, but the 900p resolution is a sacrifice.

Last updated on 19 October 2022