Uncharted, while being out for a while with a sequal at our door step, it is still a highly addictive and great game.
Music/Sound:
Now usually you wouldn't be reviewing the sound first but i found the sound one of the most important things in the game, it can make you feel eerie walking down a dark hallway with blood and all manner of filth with only a flashlight to guide you way or it can make you take in the environment around you when walking around in a forest or looking over a cliff. The music in uncharted is so unique to what you may hear in other games, there is a wide collection of interesting and unknown instruments as well as brilliant sound effects that will make you jump. The voice acting is also a very well done. Overall if you are sick of the usual stuff give uncharted a go.
Graphics/Animation:
Now uncharted in my opinion is one of the most beautiful looking games out there even today, it has a very colourful feel to it and also sharp texture that look bloody magnificent, water reflections to wind pushing the trees to cast a real-time shadow on you, it has all of that. There is the occasional texture pop-in shortly after loading it still is bloody great, you could just sit and watch the view if you wanted to. Also there are a few cool rendering modes that you can use if you hate the colourful feel the game gives you. Most characters are really well animated in-game and out of game, with facial expression and one to one combat. Environments are also really well animated with artificial wind pushing the trees randomly and occasionally you can squish a plant by walking over it. Water is one of the well-presented things about the game; it has realistic movement with almost anything and can also wet Nates clothes. The motion captured cut-scenes are very well acted as well.
Gameplay:
The gameplay of uncharted is sort of new, it uses a well thought out cover system and some very fancy one on one fights and vehicle scenes. Nathan is usually in the middle of gun fights that are sometimes confusing, especially if you have to do multiple things at once, but you will always do it in class and that sometimes makes you want to have a camera to record everything you do throughout the entire game. Gun-fights take up a majority of what you do throughout the game accompanied by very advanced plat forming mechanics, there are also some puzzles in the game that can be confusing at times but usually are too easy. The platform part of uncharted stands out as a sort of tomb raider thing, it is well animated with nate sometimes slipping and going into a in-game interactive cut seen which you have to be ready for sometimes. The vehicle rides are quite fun and lengthy but you may get annoyed if you don't do a few things right and find yourself dead.
Maps:
Uncharted's maps are relatively well thought out and straight forward with lots of places to hide and plenty of traps and tricks, there are however one or two bad levels which i'm not going to name, over all you will enjoy the levels, the maps are well presented and can go from a absolutely beautiful forest to a dark corridor with mutants attacking you.
Weapons/Combat:
Nate can carry up to 2 guns and one set of 4 grenades, grenades can be thrown using the SIXAXIS to control the length of the throw. Nate has a range of guns, from assault rifles to shotguns to sniper rifles and hand guns, i found that the shotgun is most effective against mutants, and the hand gun most effective to use as a sniper as well as the sniper, the assault rifles don't really pack the punch that the other guns have. Nate has some cool one to one combat moves too and can completely take down an enemy just by pressing square, triangle, square and watching the action roll in 'slow motion' this really adds to the cinematic effect that the game gives the player. However nate can sustain damage quite quickly and destructible barriers really doesn't help if you're about to die.
Miscellaneous:
Uncharted has an awards system that when doing something you will unlock an achievement and get point to unlock rewards such as weapons, rendering modes, concepts and movies and character skins, as well as cheats. There are a total of 48 trophies in uncharted and 1000medal point. Treasures are hidden all over the maps and a particular one to look out for is the 'strange relic'. The menus are well presented with the lengthy loading screens but the loading screens have music that will help with the wait. The game lacks multiplayer abilities but then again you won't need them with all there is to do in the game.
Conclusion:
Uncharted is a well 'put together game' that is a definite must have game for any playstation 3 owner and is an instant hit on anyone. No one can deny that uncharted: drakes fortune and a classic already. I realy wish i could rate this game a 9.25 but will have to give it a 9.5 because of gamespot's stupid rating system.