Don't let Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception deceive you: this is got to be one of the best action/adventure games around.
Uncharted 3 still follows treasure hunter Nathan Drake and his companion, Victor "Sully" Sullivan, as he once again searches for details related to his ancestor, Sir Francis Drake. This time, Nate and Sully are on a search for the "Atlantis of the Sands", a mysterious locale that may hold the secret to Sir Francis Drake's delayed voyage across Arabia.
However, the heroes must face off with Katherine Marlowe, a woman from Sully's past, and Talbot; two villains who are after the ring of Sir Francis Drake, which holds the secret of the Atlantis of the Sands.
Luckily, Nate and Sully meet up with old and new friends. The ever-popular Elena Fisher and Chloe Frazer return in the game, along with Charlie Cutter, a new ally who deceives Marlowe and Talbot and helps Nate and Sully.
Uncharted 3's start is painfully slow, but the game kicks in as you progress. After the fast paced opening sequence, the campaign slows down, and doesn't speed back up until many chapters ahead.
The gameplay in Uncharted 3 is the fantastic mix of action, platforming, and puzzles that has been a staple for the series ever since Drake's Fortune. Each segment transitions into the next in a smooth fashion that feels natural.
Action can be handled in two different ways: gunplay and hand-to-hand combat. Gunplay obviously has you using all sorts of weapons to kill your enemies, including AK-47s, Arm Micros, G-MALs, and Mk-NDI grenades. The aiming is a little sensitive and annoying, and the enemies take way too many shots to go down.
Hand-to-hand combat is a little better. When you run up to an opponent, you can start a fistfight. A simple button press at the correct time allows you to counter an attack, which feels all sorts of satisfying. Even better, Nate can use the environment to his advantage, smashing frying pans on enemies' heads or tossing them off a cliff.
When the frantic action sequences conclude, you can be found climbing your environment in a platforming segment. Climbing a high wall or ledge is exhilirating, thanks to the fantastic camera angles. Sadly, the platforming is a little too linear, only allowing you to climb on designated ledges and handholds.
After you've climbed and fought, it's time to sit back and put on your thinking cap: it's time for a puzzle segment. Using Nate's handy notebook, you can find clues to solving the puzzles that are key to advancing in the game. The puzzles aren't terribly difficult, but they do require a few minutes of thought and constant opening of Nate's notebook.
The graphics of Uncharted 3 are just beautiful. The graphics engine is similar to that of its predecessor, only with some tweaks that improve the quality immensely. Facial animations have been improved as well, allowing you to see every major and minor detail on every character's face.
Another technical quality that matches the fantastic graphics is the sound. There's nothing as satisfying as hearing bullets whiz by Nate and grenades detonating, causing the sound to mute for a second. The soundtrack may be a little familiar, but is still a nice touch. The standout feature of the sound is the amazing voice acting. Nolan North, Emily Rose, Richard McGonagle, Claudia Black, and others contribute to the voice acting that gives each character a unique accent you can come to know and love.
If the single player ever bores you, which it shouldn't, Uncharted 3 features both an online and offline multiplayer element. Competitive multiplayer is a blast if you want to face off with real players, as is the cooperative missions. However, there's really nothing in either mode that will keep you away from Uncharted 3's campaign for long.
Uncharted 3 is a fantastic entry to one of the best game series of this generation. The heart-pounding campaign will have you coming back again and again, with the superb graphics and sound contributing as well. Even the multiplayer modes make this a fantastic game for veterans or new gamers alike. Don't let this game deceive you: this is a great game for everyone.