Doesn't reach the heights of "Uncharted 2". Still, one of the PS3's best games.
The game certainly emphasizes adventure over action while part 2 offered more action setpieces. "Uncharted 3"s gameplay starts off with a fistfight that highlights the refined melee combat. While before Nate would punch and kick his way through baddies, now he can also string combos and grapple opponents (ala Assassin's Creed). It's a great mechanic that keeps the fighting aspect feel fresh. It's used sparingly, but the same can't be said for footchase sequences which appear all to often. While Naughty Dog have implemented these scenarios well enough, there is perhaps one too many in the game. These along with a few uninspired level designs (a graveyard of seaships comes to mind) keep the game from achieving the same consistency of quality of its predeccesor. However, it also has numerous moments of excellence such as the awesome puzzles which are certainly the best in the entire series.
Graphically, the game is a step up from the previous sequel and the result is the best looking video game I've ever played. The extreme detail of the characters and the environments is unrivaled in today's market. The various locations are a joy to not only manuver through but to just sit back and watch. The silky smooth framerate compliments the visuals. You'll never see the game perform under 30 frames per second. And as for the controls, the game is virtually identical to its predecessor. Targeting enemies is a snap and controlling Nate's movements is very intuitive. You'll never be frustrated as you jump back and forth to climb and evade death. While the gameplay has big scenes of action, it's direction is more in league with the first "Uncharted" game versus the second. There are less jets, tanks, and trains and more tomb raiding/puzzle segments. This helps it to be less of a repeat of part 2 and more of its own game. But fans wanting non-stop action will be less thrilled since the emphasis is now on exploration. Nevertheless, there is enough of it to please most fans of firefights and explosions.
The story is a solid one, but it has less twists than the previous tale. In it, we find out how Nate and Sully met on the streets of Columbia along with discovering an ancient British Secret Society who are searching for a powerful drug compound. It's very much "Indiana Jones" and it's great, but I do wish Chloe and Elena had more screen time. This is very much Nate and Sully's story, however and it is a good one. Expect a 10 hour journey. Multiplayer has been expanded upon from the previous game and it's great fun in its own right. Players can choose from the usual assortment of game modes (deathmatch, capture the flag, etc) with their own variations. You can customize your own character along with the weapon loadouts. Co-op is divided into three categories: campaign, survival and survival/deathmatch. The new addition is Uncharted TV which includes various videos of everything on the game.
Overall, the game is a complete entertainment package. It's a very good conclusion to a trilogy, but some fans expecting a masterpiece of "Uncharted 2" quality will maybe be slightly disappointed. Still, this is a great game. Pros: Great campaign, good story, unrivaled graphics, multiplayer.
Cons: Not as good as "Uncharted 2".