immaturegrin
BACKER
As close to a masterpiece that the PS3/Xbox 360 era has come, though of course I did play it on the PS4. It excels in all areas. The story is of course the highlight, and the characters are fantastic. There may never be another duo with as compelling a relationship as Joel and Ellie. Major props to Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, they stole the show, and completely made me forget I was controlling them. As someone who has trouble with even mild horror games, this game took some time and adjustment to get through, but it was well worth it. The combat is interesting and engaging, though occasionally it can feel a bit dated in AI or level design. The soundtrack, and score by Gustavo Santaollala are amazing, and enthrall you in the world. A harsh world with complex characters that hooked in even me, who never really plays games of this genre. Well done. I am 9 years too late, but now I've experienced it. Beautiful.
Having never played the original, it was still apparent that this is likely a step down, as there is some significant technical errors going on with the cutscenes, especially. Outside of that however, I very much adore this game. It's a very charming episodic story, with some weight behind decisions emotionally. Some story themes resonated especially strongly with me emotionally, and deepened my connection to the characters and the world.
2018
A fairly simple story executed masterfully. The game is well-rounded, it has no significant defining flaws. The worst thing that I can say is that the traversal is restricted and a bit bland, not allowing full freedom of movement. The score, visuals, and story are all great, from a cinematic perspective, with the proper amount of epic feeling for a story about a pantheon (or two) of gods. The combat feels excellent, and shines in a few spots, though it occasionally can feel a bit repetitive. The game's scope is rather small in terms of its own universe, but sequels look to broaden that. An excellent game.
A really fun change-of-pace for the franchise. Chloe Frazer is easily my favorite side character in the series, and she desperately needed more opportunity as the series mostly forgot about her after 2. She was amazing, and she helped crack the rough and irritating exterior of Nadine Ross and really created a great dynamic, which got even funnier when someone else joined the group late in the game. The gameplay is the most open the franchise has ever been, and most of the mechanics are borrowed directly from Uncharted 4. This is considered to be a short game, but with a little open-world exploration, the game took me over 7 hours, which is about how long Drake's Fortune and Drake's Deception took me. Would love a sequel, maybe a full game this time.
A true masterpiece. A nearly flawless game with only one significant blemish, which is the final boss, as it has been a problem for the franchise, but it can't overshadow the beautiful sense of adventure that the game finally gives Nathan Drake, with stunning visuals and smooth, enjoyable mechanics. The story has the most heart of the franchise, and focuses heavily on the characters and their mindsets and resolves our protagonist's story beautifully. Henry Jackman's score is magnificent. A game for the ages. There is a convoy sequence in the middle of the game that is breathtaking. Well done Naughty Dog.
A truly great collection of a legendary franchise, with even additional content coming years after the original releases. The definitive way to play each game in the franchise, and a way to support multiplayer for console games released decades ago. The games contained within are all great, and it is awesome that you can play them in one place.
A really nice remaster and collection of a good trilogy. The first game, even with the improvements, shows its age badly, but isn't bad. The second game is amazing, and probably the best the genre has ever been. The third game is good, but drifted a little from the Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider influences seen in the first two. Still, one of the great video game trilogies, without a doubt.
A fun addition to the franchise that I have a real soft spot for, as it was really my introduction to the franchise, having played it when it came out. Playing through the series today, it certainly doesn't stand out from a tremendous franchise, but I think it condenses it down nicely. Marisa Chase is one of my favorite characters in the franchise, with a surprising amount of depth. The Vita's touch features hold the game back at times, but also give it a bit of charm. For me, in 2022, it actually comes out as a more fun experience than the original, Drake's Fortune, or its remaster.
A good Uncharted game, but falls shy of Among Thieves. Easily my favorite part of this game is the deepened and further explored bond between Drake and Sully. Not particularly buggy unlike the first two in the Nathan Drake collection. Wish it had more of the two ladies, who had much bigger roles in Uncharted 2. The third act slows down and seems to just want to be a typical shooter, missing a lot of the history and adventure. The final boss is hilariously bad, but that's common in these games it seems. The puzzles are the best in the series, but there's not a ton of them. All in all, quite fun.
Takes a good foundation from the first game and improves upon it in every significant way, except maybe the final boss, which is still mediocre. The pacing is fantastic, with excellent variety in gameplay. The characters are much better, with a colorful cast of characters. The story is much more engaging, and the score is even better. A benchmark experience for linear action-adventures.
A really fun game. The highs aren't quite as high as the 2018 Spider-Man, but its a worthy successor, if only as more of an expansion than a sequel. It feels closer to a DLC than a full game, but it's probably a terrific experience for someone who hasn't played the first. There are changes made to the world, but at its core its the same, and the same can be said mechanically. The story is interesting, but as with the rest of the game, nothing is groundbreaking. Just a very seamless experience that can be 100% completed in 12 hours or less.
A really awesome Star Wars story and experience. A bit clunky and dated in parts, but offers an interesting combat system and really makes you feel invested in the characters and their abilities. Just wish I would have played it sooner, honestly.
2010
(Played on Xbox Series X - Legendary Edition)
I loved this game as a sequel to the first. The world is more fleshed out, there are more interesting characters to interact with, and the combat is improved and deepened. The story feels a bit less epic than the first one, and occasionally the firefights can be a bit annoying, but it is a really good game overall.
I loved this game as a sequel to the first. The world is more fleshed out, there are more interesting characters to interact with, and the combat is improved and deepened. The story feels a bit less epic than the first one, and occasionally the firefights can be a bit annoying, but it is a really good game overall.
2007
Loved this game. The story is great, the writing is amazing and made me love going to various planets and doing sidequests. The combat is pretty fun on easier difficulties, though I know it was much improved in the Legendary Edition. The voice acting is surprisingly great. It all contributes to a really good RPG experience with epic moments and characters that I love. (Played on Xbox Series X - Legendary Edition)
2019
The gameplay is really fun and engaging, if a tad clunky, but by the end it feels extremely fun to be Jesse Faden. Quite thrilling, not any real horror elements but there's a creepy vibe throughout. It's charmingly imperfect, sometimes it can get frustrating, but it's usually really good. I had a few technical issues, with a few crashes, and dialogue cutting out during important cutscenes. Really enjoyed it, despite its rougher edges. Very innovative gameplay, they really went for it and I would love to see more games like this one.