PAX Prime 2015: Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection Hands-On Preview – Beautiful Steal

Take the first three Uncharted games. Now, enhance their graphics and make their gameplay look smoother. Got that? Awesome! Now you have Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection. 

Well, actually, I can only speak for Uncharted 2, since that was the only one I got to play at PAX Prime 2015, although I’m sure the other two look just as nice the one I played. I was glad to see that Uncharted 2 was the one Sony and Naughty Dog were showcasing at PAX, since it’s actually the only one I played through twice. If you haven’t played it yet, it’s a great game. From the gunplay, to the climbing, to the varied landscapes, to the cinematic hand-to-hand combat, Uncharted 2 was one of those PlayStation exclusives that really made me happy I bought a PS3. That being said, The Nathan Drake Collection looks like it will be one of those games that will make me happy I bought a PS4, even if what we’re getting are only remastered games.

Comfortable Among Thieves

In my playthrough, I was at the part in the game where Nathan Drake has to take to the streets and fights a large number of gun-wielding enemies. It was probably the best part of the game to show off, as there is a perfect amount of shooting and climbing, as well as numerous explosions and special effects to showcase. Even though it has been a little while since I actually played an Uncharted game, I could tell right away that the visuals had been deeply enhanced. Even on the PS3, the series’ graphics were good, and the remastered versions actually manage to look better than some native PS4 games do. The textures are crisp and clear, the effects and environments look pretty, and the gameplay is so incredibly smooth, which helps give it that sort of connected, cinematic feel. It both looks and plays fantastically.

And for that reason, even though the multiplayer components of the games will be cut, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection probably would make a great purchase for newcomers and veterans of the series, especially since it will serve as a nice bridge between now and the release of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.