Review for Uncharted 4: End of a Thief. Game for PlayStation 4, the video game was released on 10/05/2016
Twenty-two amazing chapters. An epilogue. All literally devoured over a dozen hours of play. Then the logo of N and the credits begin to scroll. And it is then that a tear of emotion lines our face: we are saying goodbye to an old friend, already knowing that it is a goodbye. Nathan Drake goes beyond the ideal limits of the trilogy and with the fourth chapter of his stellar series he takes his leave without allowing us to raise objections. Why is this the great rip-off artfully orchestrated by Naughty Dog: Uncharted 4: End of a Thief is the state of the art of the video game for Playstation 4, the goal of an artistic maturity cultivated with constancy over the years. An almost perfect product, able to relegate a titan like The Last of Us to the simple role of a dress rehearsal for the real goal: to finish a legendary series in glory with the best chapter ever. A rip-off, in fact: how could we ever ask for another chapter of a now perfect game? What could we expect from a plot that finally sees all the hints left pending over the years clarified? How could we ever complain after the flurry of emotions that Uncharted 4 has aroused in us? We can't, here's the catch. And then we just have one thing to do: go back to our credits, look at the Naughty Dog logo and say the only word left: “Thank you”.
Sic Parvis Magna
“From humble beginnings to great feats”: the motto of the corsair Francis Drake really fits the protagonist of Uncharted. We know that Nathan is not really a Drake by now from the events of Uncharted 3, but this does not mean that Nate does not deserve to bear the name he has chosen: orphaned at a very young age, after a short period in an orphanage the little adventurer grows up in company of his brother Sam, who initiates him into the art of thievery. Of course, said so it seems that there are humble origins but that the life that the two have chosen is not properly oriented to the great enterprises praised by the aphorism of Sir Francis, but over the years the Uncharted saga has taught us that certain thieves words such as courage, respect, loyalty, love can be associated. For Nathan Drake they are the courage to throw himself headlong into the fray in order to achieve his goal, respect for discovered places and even for his enemies, loyalty to the father figure of Victor Sullivan and to his brother Sam, for years believed dead in prison, love for Elena Fisher, a wonderful and faithful wife after the many adventures spent together.
But Nathan's love is also for adventure and danger: the quiet life of a diver - with days spent retrieving debris at the bottom of the river - cannot be enough for the man who discovered the golden city of Shambala. , who crossed the Rub 'Al Kali desert on foot until he touched the pillars of Iram, who emerged virtually unscathed from hundreds of gun battles surviving reckless car chases, rail derailments and the crash of a cargo plane (from which a few seconds earlier he had jumped without a parachute). Anyone who has played the various Uncharted over the years will certainly be moved in the attic of the Drake house, seeing Nathan weigh the memories of a thousand adventures in my hands and dream of a fight with a toy gun: a thief can be good, loyal, in love, but in the end always remains a thief. An adventurer and a treasure hunter to be more precise, waiting for a mere excuse to return to live those adventures that have always been the daily bread of his life, since he was a frightened child under the protection of his older brother.
Speaking of this big brother thing, don't worry if you didn't know anything about it: Nathan himself has never talked about it to anyone, not even Elena. Sam Drake had died trying to escape from a prison, or at least that's what everyone believed. Nathan himself had seen him hit by multiple bullets falling into the void, and since then he had dedicated his life to looking for treasures as when the two were inseparable. The problem is that after years Sam returns, and he does so with a proposal that cannot be refused: Henry Every's treasure, the one he was practically dead for 15 years ago, really exists and he has all the clues. In addition, he must find it in order to repay the boss who helped him escape with gold coins. Here is the pretext Nathan had been waiting for: strong enough to make him lie to Elena to find himself with Sam and Sully planning a new theft together, followed by a trip around the world in search of the greatest treasure of all time.
It is no coincidence that the first clue is a cross depicting St. Disma, the good thief who, during the crucifixion of Jesus, according to the bible repented for his sins and was received in Heaven. The metaphor is more than obvious e the Uncharted 4 narrative is entirely aimed at making us understand that a thief can be good, especially if that thief is Nathan Drake. But be careful: on the day of the crucifixion there were two robbers, just like the Drake brothers. And if one was good and repentant, the other wasn't really a saint. We stop here to avoid spoilers, but you will have already understood that Uncharted 4 boasts a narrative depth far greater than the previous chapters and, thanks also to an above average longevity and to the usual non-linear presentation of the facts, during the adventure c 'is a way to deepen every single facet of the s that bind the characters: it will finally be clear how Nathan has become what he is today, his with Sam, as well as that with Sullivan (whose past we have already seen in Uncharted 3) and the one with Elena. All through moving scenes full of sentiment, through dialogues of the highest level.
They will not miss as expected two noteworthy Villains: Rafe Adler and Nadine Ross, respectively, a rich and ruthless treasure hunter - who in the past had dealt with Sam and Nathan precisely for the cross of San Disma and the treasure of Henry Every - and a paid assassin mercenary who certainly does not look favorably on Sullivan , imagine poor Nate. The characterization of this stellar cast is perfect: not a smudge, not a contradiction. All the characters behave in a manner consistent with their backgrounds and according to their character, reacting to various situations as one would expect them to do in real life.
In short, the state of the art. Henry Every, his crew, the missing treasure and the legendary city of Libertalia are but a mere pretext. Because the true story of Uncharted 4 is a story of brotherly love, of married love, of love for adventure. It teaches us that even the worst of thieves can have a code of honor. It is a story that amuses, moves, educates, satisfies. And then it ends: no open ending, no last twist after the credits. The epilogue after the twenty-second chapter simply concludes the story of Nathan Drake in the best possible way. Here is where the tremendous strength of Uncharted 4 is: he leaves us on the most beautiful, when the limelight is all on him and he can retire with his head held high, as an undefeated warrior, giving us an epilogue that takes us back to retrace all the wonderful adventures started back in 2007 on Playstation 3, to get to the wonderful ending that Naughty Dog has thought for its hero.
Puzzles, bullets and dives in the grass
Making everything we want to say about Uncharted 4 gameplay fit in a single review would be practically impossible, simply because in the game there is everything we would have expected plus an infinity of small improvements and news that can give new meanings to the word. perfection. As in the past, one of the fundamental elements of the experience is exploration, only this time it is possible to interact with multiple objects in wide-ranging environments. The adventure is as usual on the tracks, but Naughty Dog has done a superfine job managing to hide those tracks below the surface, giving the impression that the various game sessions are boundless and immense. The exploration includes wandering on foot but also aboard vehicles, including a jeep already tested during our hands on and a boat, from both of which you can get off and back up while sifting through the most remote corners of the world looking for clues.
A second important pillar that has always characterized Uncharted are the platform moments and the breakneck climbing, in Uncharted 4 made even more spectacular thanks to the grappling hook and the peg - the latter a bit borrowed from the ice ax of the last Tomb Raider, but still exploited in a different way - which allow you to cover distances otherwise impossible to overcome with a simple jump. The rope and the grapple, as well as the winch of the jeep, are often and willingly used to solve simple environmental puzzles which, if in most cases they are attributable to the classic "move the crate to climb higher", always unleash some unexpected variable that offers that pinch of originality to the enigma: a current of water, a hill made slippery by mud or the classic script that will force you to think quickly while the floor will literally crumble under your feet are numerous variations on the theme that hold always keen attention. Of course, there will also be a handful of more complex puzzles, linked to large machinery to be activated by deciphering the clues collected during exploration. This time Nathan's diary - borrowed with poetic license from the one used by Indiana Jones in the eponymous films - will be used much more actively, sometimes complete with pages torn and reassembled to decipher initially unsolvable puzzles. The level of challenge of the puzzles, however, is certainly within everyone's reach and, although some of them are decidedly simple and linear, they are so well made that they still give satisfaction once solved.
The third macro area where we can ideally divide the Uncharted experience is shootings. As in the past, you take cover behind every possible cover, lean out, shoot and roll to avoid enemy fire, but you already know all this. The real novelty is the optimization of stealth sessions, which compared to the past, are finally credible and dedicated to players who prefer a stealth approach rather than just throwing their heads down in battle. In Uncharted 4 it is possible to hide in the vegetation and tag enemies to follow their movements, plan the action and eliminate them one by one while remaining in the shadows. If you are discovered the shooting begins but, given the breadth of the game world, it is always possible to escape and remain hidden for a few seconds to stop the alarm and start over with the stealth eliminations, which was once unthinkable. To the purists and to those who in the possibility of marking the enemy soldiers will see the game look too much like Metal Gear Solid, we point out that it is still possible to deselect the option from the game pause menu, through which the possibility to customize the game will also be offered. experience based on your style and skills: there are five difficulty levels, to be added to the possibility of activating or not the automatic aim. In doing so, Naughty Dog has managed in our opinion to create an experience that almost all Playstation users will be able to appreciate, adapting the level of challenge to their needs, whether they are interested in Uncharted 4 for the gameplay or for the plot.
We stop here and why we told you before: if we wanted to analyze all the facets of such an articulated gameplay we could write a treatise. Suffice it to say that if initially it seems the usual Uncharted, it will take a few minutes to change your mind: Uncharted 4 offers underwater exploration, rooftop races, boat and car chases, breathtaking shootings, breakneck escapes, short quick time events, exploration RPG style and (believe it or not) even a couple of games of Crash Bandicoot. We can't find what's missing, probably because nothing really is missing to make the experience better than how it was packaged, from the very first to the last moment of play.
Inevitable since the days of Uncharted 2, even the online mode: the details, the perks and the frenzy of the action are those that we have already extensively covered during our test of the beta version of what has become the multiplayer component of Uncharted 4 : End of a Thief. In addition to the evergreen deathmatch, you can choose to face two modes: in one you will have to conquer the outpost of the opposing team, in the second you will have to steal an idol from them and bring it back to your outpost. That said, we have almost exhausted the description of the experience, since the mode does not include a deep character growth system like in Uncharted 3 or innovative ideas as they were in the days of Uncharted 2. It must be admitted however that the fluidity of the online experience - thanks also to a visible but absolutely acceptable graphic downgrade - guarantees an optimal experience and a precise response to the commands given. Our advice is to tackle the idol capture mode with a team of close-knit friends: team play and collaboration in this particular mode bring out the best that Uncharted 4 multiplayer can offer, at least for the moment. Only future updates will allow us to evaluate whether the online game will have more to offer and will be able to increase the longevity of the experience, or if instead the players will move quickly to other multiplayer shores.
The charm of the details
Graphically, the Uncharted saga has always made school, both for the character design and for the proposed settings, with each chapter dedicated to a particular natural element: in the first episode it was water, in the second the snow, in the third the sand. In Uncharted 4, Nate and associates travel the world and encounter all these elements, excellently made, but the real novelty is given by the vegetation: lush, wind-blown and incredibly realistic, nature in Uncharted 4 not only offers shelter during stealth sessions, but it is the foundation on which Naughty Dog has built a world that appears truly alive and pulsating, like never before.
The textures and environments are of the same invoice, as are the character models, animations and faces: after four chapters Uncharted still amazes for how Nathan looks for real holds in the rock while climbing, or how a face is painted on his face. expression of terror when after a particularly difficult jump he hangs with only one hand. Then there are the little things: the guns that are held or slung over the shoulder using the shoulder strap, Nate who deposits bulky weapons on the car seat before driving, the clothes that get dirty or wet depending on the environment surrounding, characters who respond perfectly to the blows inflicted by bullets or during fights.
But it certainly does not end here: if until Uncharted 3 it was only the face of Nathan Drake to be graphically impressive in the foregrounds, in Uncharted 4 even the simplest of supporting actors boasts a technical realization that to define maniacal would be an understatement. Elena's hair and those of the new antagonist Nadine look real and move in the wind, in the warm areas the characters have their foreheads beaded with sweat, the eyes are among the most expressive we have ever seen in an action adventure and the facial expressions, especially in a particular scene of a fight between Nathan and Elena, they are nominated for the Oscar as the best performance ever in a video game. Let's not forget, we said just now, that we are talking about an action adventure, while we found ourselves with amazement and admiration in the face of the level of detail that we would have expected from a graphic adventure.
We're not even going to point out that the graphics engine runs smoothly, even in scenes like the market shootout, where dozens of characters and objects are simultaneously moving across the screen. We warn you, however, that Uncharted 4 starts almost quietly, to gradually generate a graphic climax that only from mid-adventure onwards begins to blow the cooling fans of the Playstation 4 with force. We believe that this is also part of the experience gained over the years by Naughty Dog who, choosing to amaze like never before, always keeps a few cartridges in store to shoot chapter after chapter, up to the riot of special effects of the last hours of play , which for obvious reasons we cannot describe but which we guarantee to be truly spectacular in every single frame.
We have already mentioned the dubbing, excellently crafted and recited: the voices are the ones we have come to know over the years, as well as the lines are written with incredible skill and allow the game to move quietly from dirty joke to cynicism, hitting immediately afterwards to the heart with a simple sentence but full of meaning for the way it is pronounced. During the exploration phases it is possible to interact with the CPU-controlled characters by approaching them and witnessing additional dialogues that deepen the interpersonal s of the subjects involved and the plot. Impressive how during the exploration with the jeep it is possible to hear Nathan, Sam and Sullivan start a speech that, if suddenly interrupted by the presence of an enemy or because you have walked away to explore the surrounding environment, once you return a car will resume in a natural way: these are small details that make us understand how Naughty Dog has not really neglected any part of the game. Turning briefly to the soundtrack, the main theme of the series is this time rearranged in many ways to suit the many situations. The leitmotiv of the game, however, remains music and effects played with ethnic instruments, which lend themselves well to the feeling of adventure and discovery that Uncharted still manages to convey after all these years.
The (stupendous) end of a thief
Uncharted 4: a thief's end is the reason why you own a Playstation 4. Naughty Dog decides to put an end to the adventures of Nathan Drake with a work that we cannot simply define as a video game: Uncharted 4 is an experience to live, especially for those who have become passionate about the previous chapters over the years. It is a work that moves, excites and amuses. Uncharted 4 makes you think about life and the choices that all men, thieves or not, must make sooner or later. It is a long and expertly rhythmic adventure, during which there is room for tears, violence, betrayal, love, forgiveness. It is the swan song of a series that goes with our heads held high, as we realize we are smiling excitedly at the thought of what Naughty Dog can accomplish in the future. It is a riot of details, merging into the magical and immense fresco that is the Uncharted universe. For the moment we know that all good things come to an end sooner or later. And that could only be the case for Uncharted 4, the best gaming experience currently available on Playstation 4.
► Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is an Action-Adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony for PlayStation 4, the video game was released on 10/05/2016
