Characters from previous games such as Elena and Chloe also make re-appearances and are featured quite heavily.

Overall, the story is captivating and if you have followed the franchise, the ending of this game will undoubtedly surprise and reward you.

The Visuals

Courtesy of Naughty Dog

Graphically, the game is a visual delight with its outstanding graphics that really create this Hollywood movie atmosphere. The attention to detail with the in-game graphics delivers everything you want in AAA games. The scenes in the desert

are fantastic and walking through the sand manages to look realistic as you leave a trail of footprints everywhere you go ‘a la’ the snow in Uncharted 2. One thing that never fails but to impressed me with ‘Uncharted’ was how they actually made Drake’s clothes look wet whenever he entered water. Uncharted

3 is no exception with this degree of reality. There is an entire level that takes place in a boat cemetery, on a sinking ship during a rainstorm: the water effects are better than ever. They are also moments when the camera zooms out to give you a view of the overall scale of the environment and zoom’s back in to portray attention to detail. Totally Hollywood cinema quality. This game is the prime definition of an interactive Hollywood experience.

Courtesy of Naughty Dog

The Sound

The soundtrack is one of the best, whether it’s the action or some key moment in the game, it definitely enhances the gameplay. Sound effects are great, especially through surround sound but the highlight of the audio is the professional voice of actors Nolan North (Nate) and Richard McGonagle (Sully) and creative director Amy Hennig’s, who all deliver clever dialogue with perfect timing and charisma.

There are a lot of natural sounds as well, from the flickering of flames to the crawling of spiders. There is also a perfect and almost calm silence during the stealth missions (which many will find more accessible over uncharted 2‘s sneaky portions), it only adds tension to the situation and keeps you in the edge.

Courtesy of Naughty Dog

The Game Play

The high action script involves climbing, running, jumping, exploring, solving and if you are a fan of Uncharted it is everything you would expect and more. Having said that, it’s only after the first few chapters (22 in total) that Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception breaks out of its mold and you get to really experience something we have not seen in this series before. It is instantly apparent what a great game Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is with its great balance of gameplay styles and puzzles that are creatively designed to mix it up enough to stop it from being repetitive and boring. Though many will find just like previous Uncharted games a lot of the ‘platforming’ is more travel than challenge.