Uncharted 3

[L. Scofield]

well, than it is time for you to start to accept other opinions as well mister...such as the one from RenegadeRocks, which you commented with LOL ;-)

It wasn't a dismissal, I simply found his excited post amusing. No need to get so defensive.

as for über-linearity...it is as linear as most other blockbuster games released nowadays...

Sadly.

but I think that such an overall density of story and gameplay elements and entertainment can only be achieved by linear games...

Why? Multiple paths can be packed with content, both narrative and gameplay-wise. After all, at the heart of gaming is the ability to make choices. It's particularly ironic in this case because while the story is about these explorers and their journey, the player can only strictly follow a carefully established path.

 

[BoardBonobo]

It wasn't a dismissal, I simply found his excited post amusing. No need to get so defensive.

'Tis the nature of the beast that LOL'd. You've shown yourself to be naturally dismissive of other peoples opinions. People react to that.

Sadly.

Why?

Why? Multiple paths can be packed with content, both narrative and gameplay-wise. After all, at the heart of gaming is the ability to make choices.

But then it wouldn't be Uncharted, it would become more RPG. Uncharted has always been Saturay afternoon matinee not Friday night art house film club.

I always thought the heart of gaming was about having fun? Not ticking boxes

It's particularly ironic in this case because while the story is about these explorers and their journey, the player can only strictly follow a carefully established path.

The carefully established path following the explorers and their journey. Where's the irony in that? Any deviation from that story and you would no longer be following the explorers and their journey. It would be a different game. Now that would be ironic.

 

[joker454]

So what's the feeling on the story and the game characters, is U3 better than U2 or vice versa? I presume Nathan is great as always but how about the supporting staff? The characters is what I liked most in U2, they just seemed really interesting and I wanted to follow through to see what would happen to them. A lot of that in U2 came from the mocap which they did so well so you can really feel what the characters are thinking and going through even if the volume was muted.

 

[Sigfried1977]

Why? Multiple paths can be packed with content, both narrative and gameplay-wise. After all, at the heart of gaming is the ability to make choices. It's particularly ironic in this case because while the story is about these explorers and their journey, the player can only strictly follow a carefully established path.

Which games aren't about characters on some journey or another?

Sure, you could pack multiple paths with that kind of content if you had a development team the size of a small island nation. (there's a reason you don't see scenarios like Uncharted 3's capsizing ship level in a game like Fallout 3) And quite frankly, save for a handful of rpgs, even the open world games are merely an illusion of freedom and choice. You can either take a cab or drive a car to GTA IV's next mission marker, but that's pretty much where the freedom ends already (and unfortunately where the shite gameplay really begins)

Don't get me wrong. I like the more open-ended sandboxy games a lot (save for GTAIV). Just spent a good 100 hours in Dark Souls, loved RDR and I'm certainly going to pick up Skyrim sooner or later as well. Still, every once in a while I simply want the tight gameplay, kick-ass presentation and breezy pace that only a linear game can provide. The Uncharteds of today are simply what the Contras from the old days evolved into.

I agree that gaming is ultimately about having choices. I just don't think that choices in games necessarily mean having the freedom to wander off and do whatever the heck I want. Besides, as far as linear games are concerned, Uncharted probably gives you more freedom in tackling the combat scenarios than just about any other game in the genre.

 

[Cornsnake]

I'm at chapter 10. So far the story has been completely predictable. Nathan's personality suddenly contradicts his personality in Uncharted. The first few chapters had almost no gameplay. The platforming is still poor. The controls lag horribly, and I'm fighting some very cheap enemies. It's been mostly disappointing so far.

 

[Sigfried1977]

So what's the feeling on the story and the game characters, is U3 better than U2 or vice versa? I presume Nathan is great as always but how about the supporting staff? The characters is what I liked most in U2, they just seemed really interesting and I wanted to follow through to see what would happen to them.

The characters are all delightful, especially Charlie. I don't really want to go into more detail about him for the sake of avoiding spoilers. He was really surprising and should be experienced first hand.

I thought Uncharted 2 had a better bad guy, though. Naughty Dog made a big deal about Catherine Marlowe's more cunning and cerebral brand of villainy, but she just didn't work that well because most of her story beats, especially the ones that seemed really interesting and important, never went anywhere. She served more as a Macguffin to get the plot rolling. (for a video game character she was still expertly written. Lazarevic's surprisingly restrained line delivery and sudden bursts of violence were just way more menacing) For what it's worth, she was a great excuse for lots of witty banter between all the hero characters. If that's what you're after U3 will not disappoint.

 

[L. Scofield]

'Why?

Less replay value.

But then it wouldn't be Uncharted, it would become more RPG. Uncharted has always been Saturay afternoon matinee not Friday night art house film club.

Not an RPG, simply a TPS with more choice. After all, each path would be filled with its own setpieces which I think represent the Uncharted series better than its linear design.

I always thought the heart of gaming was about having fun? Not ticking boxes

Fun is always dependent on the player. The difference between gaming and other mediums is interactivity, which is about granting the player the ability to make choices and influence the outcome of the game.

The carefully established path following the explorers and their journey. Where's the irony in that? Any deviation from that story and you would no longer be following the explorers and their journey. It would be a different game. Now that would be ironic.

It's simple, there's no exploring.

Which games aren't about characters on some journey or another?

*whoooosh*

...

You're going to the extremes there. No one is talking about turning Uncharted into a sandbox game Small deviations here and there would suffice and enhance the replayability greatly.

Of course, some gameplay-cutscene consistency would be appreciated too.

 

[Gitaroo]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=32425225&postcount=547

from one of the guy that went to ND, control issue that some ppl have problem with will be patched, motion blur too. And he said soon.

 

[Reiko]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=32425225&postcount=547

from one of the guy that went to ND, control issue that some ppl have problem with will be patched, motion blur too. And he said soon.

Even better graphics and controls coming

Also:


The cutscene viewer is being look into
http://twitter.com/#!/amy_hennig/status/132243065208451072

Dual PSN Login is going to be restore

http://forums.naughtydog.com/t5/Mul...-Information-Post-updated-11-1-11/td-p/620021

 

[Sigfried1977]

Does no Cheats also mean no Doughnut Drake during the campaign? That would be a serious bummer. I really want to see him rolling down the dunes in the desert.

 

[RenegadeRocks]

@All those who are dismissing this game: If you can't enjoy this brilliantly made adventure with the best art, best characters, best dialogues and best design, its just unfortunate for you. Everybody has a different set of choices, different things appeal to different people. I am not saying this should be enjoyed, I am just saying I feel sorry for those who do not enjoy UC3 ! ........and if you have not played it, you will not understand, because I had lost interest in it over time, before release,and wasn't going to buy it either. it came as a gift, and boy I never ever expected it to be so damn good "cool" ! It changed my perception of Uncharted's potential completely. This kind of gaming has immensely bright future in the hands of the right devs.

But then if you never liked Drake, Sully, Elena and the gang , well, I feel sorry for you missing out on the happiness and excitement they provide !

For me, MGS3 defined the PS2 era, it encapsulated the whole era in one gaming experience and now UC3 defines this generation of gaming for me ! This is the peak, the pinnacle of this gen !

 

[patsu]

I'm at chapter 10. So far the story has been completely predictable. Nathan's personality suddenly contradicts his personality in Uncharted. The first few chapters had almost no gameplay. The platforming is still poor. The controls lag horribly, and I'm fighting some very cheap enemies. It's been mostly disappointing so far.

Need to play the entire game. I think the lulls are longer in U3 but the highs are higher.

EDIT:
I think the biggest flaw is the lack of bullet interaction or so called stopping power.

 

[patsu]

Less replay value.

U2 replay value is in MP Internet or LAN.

SP replay would be in the combat. The enemies are mean in U3. The flip side is you can try different ways to approach them. They are always willing to kill the player in the shortest possible time though.

 

[patsu]

The characters are all delightful, especially Charlie. I don't really want to go into more detail about him for the sake of avoiding spoilers. He was really surprising and should be experienced first hand.

I thought Uncharted 2 had a better bad guy, though. Naughty Dog made a big deal about Catherine Marlowe's more cunning and cerebral brand of villainy, but she just didn't work that well because most of her story beats, especially the ones that seemed really interesting and important, never went anywhere. She served more as a Macguffin to get the plot rolling. (for a video game character she was still expertly written. Lazarevic's surprisingly restrained line delivery and sudden bursts of violence were just way more menacing) For what it's worth, she was a great excuse for lots of witty banter between all the hero characters. If that's what you're after U3 will not disappoint.

Yes Charlie is delightful.

I think the real U3 villains are Marlowe's sidekicks and the grunts. I see many hate posts against them. ^_^

 

[ultragpu]

So I stormed all the way to chapter 20 and wow, the game has so many "painting come to life" scenery that it's such a rare anomaly of this gen. The entire chap2, the

Spoiler

streets of Yemen

, the

Spoiler

desert village

and the

Spoiler

Canyon

are simply breathtakingly beautiful. And yes, the music accentuate the taste even further. The action set pieces are even crazier with

Spoiler

the ship level

,

Spoiler

canyon chase

and

Spoiler

Yemen chase scene

blew me away the most.

 

[Billy Idol]

So what's the feeling on the story and the game characters, is U3 better than U2 or vice versa? I presume Nathan is great as always but how about the supporting staff? The characters is what I liked most in U2, they just seemed really interesting and I wanted to follow through to see what would happen to them. A lot of that in U2 came from the mocap which they did so well so you can really feel what the characters are thinking and going through even if the volume was muted.

I think it is much better in UC3. The interaction between Sully and Nate. I won't spoil you, but you will understand once you play the beginning ;-)

Sully is again one of the coolest characters imo. But Charlie is this kind of "Transporter" guy...funny as well. There are some hidden connections to the girls in the series...overall I think that the character design is well made and better than UC2.

 

[RenegadeRocks]

The firefights are not playing out as smoothly as in UC1 and 2. There's something clunky about the AI this time, they just charge ahead. I can understand they are from a secret service, but it 90% melee this time !
Feels strange, it has lost a smoothness that was there inth efights of UC2, like moving in and out of cover, juggling around the arena. Maybe its just Syria.

 

[Cornsnake]

The combat is down right awful. The hand to hand combat is nothing more then QTE's, and even then it doesn't flow very well. And some of more difficult gunfight seem to depend on having a lot of luck. I only managed to win some by exploiting the enemy stupidity. And everything just drags on for way too long.

 

[Antan]

Cruise ship = WOW!

 

[Laa-Yosh]

Concerning the linearity debate, there are games like Mass Effect which offer a lot more choice and thus replayability with a similar core gameplay (basically a cover based third person shooter). I also don't think that Bioware would be a small nation of developers so the content part is definitely manageable.

Of course ME games don't have the kind of set pieces that you see in Uncharted, and there are other compromises too. My main point is that it is possible to create a far less linear game.
Like, you could choose where to go next, what clue to follow up on. Who to take with you from the group of non player characters. Maybe even customize your gear for the mission... So it could be done.

But it would be a very different game from the current Uncharted titles. And let's not forget that Naughty Dog's main goal was to create the video game equivalent of an action-adventure movie, with the breakneck pacing and the most spectacular and memorable events that can be done on a current console. The extreme linearity might be a weakness, but removing it would create a very different game.