Reclaimed Treasure
Since the launch of the Playstation 3, the Uncharted series has been a flagship series for Sony, an interactive Indiana Jones series of adventures that pushed every hardware generation to its fullest. Even the forlorn Vita saw some love in this regard. It’s no surprise then that it has made the jump to the new generation but has also set its sights on fittingly uncharted territory: the PC. How does the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection fare on beefier hardware? Is it still worth treasuring?
This collection compiles the two Playstation 4 titles, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. For those looking to jump into the series, the absence of the first three titles is something of a disappointment. After all, they had already had a tidy remastering last-gen and PC players who lack access to the backwards compatibility will be at a complete loss. Although these can be played standalone, 4 is a definitive ending for Nathan Drake’s story. The impact will be stifled for newcomers.
Jumping in there is are two instantly noticeable improvements from the PS4 versions. Loading times are near-instantaneous and the frame rate has been improved for a much smoother experience. These titles were already superb looking but have been polished very nicely. You can teach a Naughty Dog new tricks! The frame-rate boost has made combat slicker than ever before and makes the frantic set-pieces pop with newfound clarity.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection – The Last Crusade?
Uncharted 4 remains a fine conclusion to the series but your enjoyment may be limited by your attachment to Nathan Drake. Some find him a charming rogue, others a smarmy psychopath. Whichever side of the side you fall on the excitement of his last adventure cannot be denied. From prison breaks to pirate isles to a showstopping collapsing clocktower that would make Bayonetta envious, A Thief’s End has thrills for days. The grapple hook mechanic alone makes this a hoot, swinging and gunning like Spider-Man and the Punisher’s shameful love-child.
However The Lost Legacy may be the true pinnacle of the franchise. A quest for treasure set entirely in India with series co-star Chloe Fraser and ex-villain Nadine Ross. It’s excellently paced, exhilarating and experimental. The open-world segment is one of Naughty Dog’s most exciting experiments to date, Last of Us 2 players will recognise this structure in the ruined Seattle introduction. Smartly adaptive to how you explore with the most interesting combat encounters and flashiest puzzles, Lost Legacy is Naughty Dog’s best modern game to date.
Drake’s Deception?
If you’ve played these two games already there’s nothing in the way of additions, only improvements. For the upgrade fee, they’re the best way to replay but full price is definitely a step too far. This is especially noticeable since the excellent multiplayer mode didn’t make the jump. PC players already riding the high of Horizon, Days Gone and God of War ports should find this alluring. It remains to be seen whether this collection is merely a quick technical exercise or a hint of the series continuing. Regardless, adventures like these are worth their weight in gold.
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