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The Uncharted series is revolutionary, and here's why

FJ0372

Member
I also disagree OP, personally love the game, but the characters are very forgettable. The story is silly but fun in my opinion.
 

bhlaab

Member
test_account said:
Yeah, i wasnt thinking about any games in specific. Do you have any examples of the games that already does this?

I feel bad namedropping it in every thread I post in, but Fallout. It's got some choke points and sets up the frame but really let's the player do whatever he or she wants within those borders. Uhhh...Deus Ex, kind of did it kind of didn't. Ultima. None of these really commit to the idea 100%, of course, but you can see the seeds being sown.

You know what? The Sims. The player controls the entire storyline, beginning to end. Yes, that's right. I'm saying that The Sims is an objectively more revolutionary and artistic game than Uncharted 2.
 

Red

Member
test_account said:
Ok, i see. I havnt seen much from The Witcher 2, but isnt that game built around "Mass Effect type" dialogue stuff?
Yes, but it's a game in which choices actually matter and lead to significant, game-changing consequences. TW2 separates itself from "morality" games by doing away completely with a binary system of choice.
 

Enco

Member
The Uncharted series is brilliant.

The main attraction for me is the variety in locations. The story is always top notch and the set pieces are jaw dropping. Very cinematic and epic game.
 
test_account said:
Ok, i see. I havnt seen much from The Witcher 2, but isnt that game built around "Mass Effect type" dialogue stuff?

You... haven't played many RPGs have you? :)

The reason that the introduction to chapter 2 is so great is that they give you control of a character other than Geralt, the protagonist, and have you control them as they walk to a meeting and discuss the events to date as they're walking.

Then when you get there a dialogue section begins, but is cut short when a fight breaks out. What happens after that is an amazing blend of combat, storytelling and scripting which I won't spoil for anyone who hasn't played it, but suffice to say it carefully sidesteps the issue of cut-scenes and creates one of the most incredible scenes in gaming history.
 

Card Boy

Banned
jim-jam bongs said:
Then when you get there a dialogue section begins, but is cut short when a fight breaks out. What happens after that is an amazing blend of combat, storytelling and scripting which I won't spoil for anyone who hasn't played it, but suffice to say it carefully sidesteps the issue of cut-scenes and creates one of the most incredible scenes in gaming history.

Damit i'm still in Flotsam! I wanna clock Deus Ex first before Human Revolution comes out
 
bhlaab said:
I don't know if you're disagreeing with me, but if you are would you deny that Uncharted 2 is a game that exerts its control over you instead of you exerting control over it? The game decides where you're going to go and why and what is going to happen when you get there. I wouldn't call that a revolution in interactive entertainment.
I'm stepping away from the revolutionary talk here because I'm not sure if I agree with that title.

Still the game does decide where your going to go but that's expected, it is a linear game, sometimes it seems like most people want Uncharted to be an open world game like Fallout or AC.
 

jett

D-Member
Did I just see a guy complaining the Uncharted has "canned voices"? The fuck? :lol

Gez said:
I must be the only one who enjoyed Uncharted 1 over Uncharted 2. Sure Uncharted 2 had better graphics, but i hated the whole Globle-trotter theme with it. With Uncharted 1 it was just Drake and the Island, it felt more personal.

This is a complaint I've seen many times for some reason, and it is 100% untrue. Of the 22 chapters Uncharted 2 is made of, 18 take place in Nepal. Only the first 4 take place "somewhere else" The scenery is simply much more varied than the first game. Uncharted 1 also has a similar structure by the way, with the first four chapters taking place off the "El Dorado" island.


Sorry for going a little offtopic.

Your post is better than most than fill this thread. :p
 

whitehawk

Banned
I just picked up Uncharted 1, 4 years after it's release. I don't know why I waited this long, it's such a fucking fantastic game. This is the second game where I actually follow the story and can't wait for another cinematic. (First was L.A. Noire). Only thing is that I wish there was less gunplay.
 
Patapwn said:
As for just shooting guys, I think that barely classifies. In most games, enemies are simply cannon fodder to get to story/character progressing events such as the ones I detailed above.

There are games that acknowledge and deal with the relationship between the player and cannon fodder in their narratives.

Drakengard(even though I dislike the story) is the first thing that comes to mind.
 

alr1ght

bish gets all the credit :)
upJTboogie said:
Still the game does decide where your going to go but that's expected, it is a linear game, sometimes it seems like most people want Uncharted to be an open world game like Fallout or AC.

Exactly. Some movies are chronological, some are not. It's not like one is correct and one is wrong. They're just different ways to go about things.
 

test_account

XP-39C²
bhlaab said:
I feel bad namedropping it in every thread I post in, but Fallout. It's got some choke points and sets up the frame but really let's the player do whatever he or she wants within those borders. Uhhh...Deus Ex, kind of did it kind of didn't. Ultima. None of these really commit to the idea 100%, of course, but you can see the seeds being sown.

You know what? The Sims. The player controls the entire storyline, beginning to end. Yes, that's right. I'm saying that The Sims is an objectively more revolutionary and artistic game than Uncharted 2.
Thanks for the examples. I havnt played many of these games, so i cant really comment much on them. But if they have static scenes where you choose dialogue, i'd argue that this could kinda be concidered as a tiny cutscene. You choose the dialogue that you want and you cant do anything until it is finished (unless you skip it of course).

Maybe i'm discussing a bit more "extreme" (or what i shall say) and ask how it is possible to get rid of cutscenes in any form :) But maybe that isnt what you guys mean.

Sure, Sims was pretty revolutionary indeed. I think it was the first game to do what it does, at least to the same extend on how The Sims works. But the OP did only talk about the cutscene aspect of Uncharted though :) That the cutscenes was done in such great way that this in itself was revolutionary. So it would be revolutionary in another way.
 
alr1ghtstart said:
Exactly. Some movies are chronological, some are not. It's not like one is correct and one is wrong. They're just different ways to go about things.

Would you call Uncharted revolutionary?
 

iceatcs

Junior Member
Varna said:
You would be surprised. It really can make all the difference.
I don't see make it difference from what I have played.
Actually I hate choose dialogue because you might missed out or fucked up the conversion if there is no way go back to start again.
It keep you on really nerve. I want to use my hand to be free for little break in half way, I can scratch my balls or eating the sandwich or even smoking a joint. Maybe it is why I gave up Mass Effect too easy.
 

alr1ght

bish gets all the credit :)
jim-jam bongs said:
Would you call Uncharted revolutionary?

I've already said it wasn't revolutionary, but a super polished, refined experience that accomplished what ND was attempting. It has some of the best voice acting and characterization in any game. Saying one game is "better" due to being able to go wherever you want is just something I don't agree with.
 
alr1ghtstart said:
I've already said it wasn't revolutionary, but a super polished, refined experience that accomplished what ND was attempting. It has some of the best voice acting and characterization in any game. Saying one game is "better" due to being able to go wherever you want is just something I don't agree with.

I think you're trying a little hard to defend a game which you like against imagined slights, but that's just me. Nobody is necessarily saying that everything has to be open world, but it's hard to characterise a game which emphasises linear progression as "revolutionary", that's all.
 

jett

D-Member
upJTboogie said:
I'm stepping away from the revolutionary talk here because I'm not sure if I agree with that title.

Still the game does decide where your going to go but that's expected, it is a linear game, sometimes it seems like most people want Uncharted to be an open world game like Fallout or AC.

It's weird. Only this series gets this kind of complaint. I never see another game getting blasted because it's not trying to be something it's not. "It should be more open" "it should have dialogue trees" "your actions should directly influence the storyline" what the fuck is this shit? It's a linear and cinematic action game, we're allowed to have and enjoy those kind of games. You can get your RPG and open-world kicks elsewhere, I do. I wonder if some people here only play the likes of Fallout 3 and New Vegas.

Then again that thread title truly brings moths to the flame.
 

KageMaru

Member
I think Uncharted 2 is a great, awesome, wonderful, etc. game and UC2 specifically made me a huge fan of the series, but I've never seen a forum rub one out so much over one game/series. IMO It's the actors that made UC2 above-the-norm quality, not so much the writing. As for the cut-scenes themselves, aren't many of them pre-rendered? Wouldn't this give them certain freedoms that other studios wouldn't have by sticking to real time cut-scenes?

UC2 is awesome and I'll be there day one for UC3, but revolutionary is pushing it IMO.
 

test_account

XP-39C²
Crunched said:
Yes, but it's a game in which choices actually matter and lead to significant, game-changing consequences. TW2 separates itself from "morality" games by doing away completely with a binary system of choice.
jim-jam bongs said:
You... haven't played many RPGs have you? :)

The reason that the introduction to chapter 2 is so great is that they give you control of a character other than Geralt, the protagonist, and have you control them as they walk to a meeting and discuss the events to date as they're walking.

Then when you get there a dialogue section begins, but is cut short when a fight breaks out. What happens after that is an amazing blend of combat, storytelling and scripting which I won't spoil for anyone who hasn't played it, but suffice to say it carefully sidesteps the issue of cut-scenes and creates one of the most incredible scenes in gaming history.
Correct, i havnt played many RPGs :) For some reason i never get myself around to start on many of them. I even payed like $70 to get a reproduction of english texted Seiken Densetsu 3 for SNES and i never played it for more than maybe 1 hour hehe (i dont regret buying it though, i think that it is cool to own it regardless). I have finished a few RPGs though, but i have not played many of them indeed.

But i understand what you guys mean, and honestly it does sound cool. But personally i think that i would miss cutscenes in games like Uncharted. I really love the story elements (the acient and mysterious stuff) in those games and i feel that the cutscenes add much to my enjoyment in the Uncharted games. In other games, maybe i dont care that much about cutscenes, but in Uncharted i want them. I wouldnt want to trade them away for something else at least. And as i mentioned, Uncharted still has a lot of gameplay, so i dont feel that the game is "overcrowded" with cutscenes. I think that it is a fine balance between how much gameplay there is and how much cutscens there is. But it is just a matter of taste though, but that is my opinion about cutscenes in Uncharted :)
 

CorrisD

badchoiceboobies
I can't think of any games from this generation of consoles that I would consider truly "revolutionary", everything we see in games these days from say the start of this gen have simply taken evolutionary steps from tech, mechanics, acting, story, design etc. that we have seen before.

I love the Uncharted series, but I wouldn't say it had done anything revolutionary.
 
jett said:
It's weird. Only this series gets this kind of complaint. I never see another game getting blasted because it's not trying to be something it's not. "It should be more open" "it should have dialogue trees" "your actions should directly influence the storyline" what the fuck is this shit? It's a linear and cinematic action game, we're allowed to have and enjoy those kind of games. You can get your RPG and open-world kicks elsewhere, I do. I wonder if some people here only play the likes of Fallout 3 and New Vegas.

Then again that thread title truly brings moths to the flame.

I'm not sure if you're directing this my way but I'm very critical of lack of choice in gaming in general, so that's not really an accurate characterisation. Also, like I said in my last post, I'm mostly disagreeing with the idea that the game is "revolutionary". I'm not condemning the game, or games like it.
 

bhlaab

Member
Patapwn said:
By this definition alone almost every game in existents lacks substance.

Well, yes. I mean, at the time Super Mario Bros was a revolution and it still is a very well made game, but if we don't keep setting the goalposts forward what happens?

test_account said:
Thanks for the examples. I havnt played many of these games, so i cant really comment much on them. But if they have static scenes where you choose dialogue, i'd argue that this could kinda be concidered as a tiny cutscene. You choose the dialogue that you want and you cant do anything until it is finished (unless you skip it of course). That is why i wonder if it is possible to get rid of cutscenes in any form.

I think that being able to choose your response certainly helps, especially if your choices actally have an effect on the gameplay in an appreciable way. The bad part of cutscenes isn't the fact that people are talking, it's the complete lack of agency.

I'm stepping away from the revolutionary talk here because I'm not sure if I agree with that title.

Still the game does decide where your going to go but that's expected, it is a linear game, sometimes it seems like most people want Uncharted to be an open world game like Fallout or AC.

I'm not saying Uncharted is bad. As far as games of its ilk go it's clearly one of the best. I just don't think I could say it pushes any boundaries. And that's fine. Indiana Jones didn't exactly have the same impact as Citizen Kane but it's still a good movie and wouldn't necessarily be improved by being more like Citizen Kane.
 

test_account

XP-39C²
BigJiantRobut said:
There is a wonderful world for you to discover
If i'd only could get around to play it :\ I'm sure that i would have enjoyed the game then :) But since my PC is outdated and i dont have a Xbox 360, the chances that i get around to play The Witcher 2 is probably very small :(
 
I honestly don't give two shits whether a game is linear or not. I enjoy Fallout and Oblivion. I also enjoy the campaigns of Uncharted and Call of Duty. If the game is fun, engaging and technically proficient, that's all that matters to me.

Uncharted 2 is awesome. What was really striking to me is that the setpieces felt like they were designed to be challenging, along with looking cool, instead of just the latter. I absolutely cannot wait for UC3.
 

Red

Member
jim-jam bongs said:
I'm not sure if you're directing this my way but I'm very critical of lack of choice in gaming in general, so that's not really an accurate characterisation. Also, like I said in my last post, I'm mostly disagreeing with the idea that the game is "revolutionary". I'm not condemning the game, or games like it.
Same. UC2 is superb. But no revolution.

Stallion Free said:
I can't of any game I would consider truly revolutionary that was released in the last 5-10 years.
You can't of any single one?
 

MYE

Member
I cant for the life of me find the massive appeal these games apparently have.

The protagonist is an annoying shithead with a punchable face
 

-tetsuo-

Unlimited Capacity
Not at all. Cinematic gaming happened a long time ago, and if Uncharted is extra cinematic, then it's evolution if you insist on using keywords.
 
test_account said:
If i'd only could get around to play it :\ I'm sure that i would have enjoyed the game then :) But since my PC is outdated and i dont have a Xbox 360, the chances that i get around to play The Witcher 2 is probably very small :(

PS3 version has been announced, but not dated. Have faith!
 

Snuggles

erotic butter maelstrom
jim-jam bongs said:
PS3 version has been announced, but not dated. Have faith!

Did CDPR mention it recently? I read an interview with Gop right before he left, and it sounded like they were still undecided on a PS3 version.

maybe it's time for testaccount to upgrade!

or he should just play Bloodlines instead since it's old and even better than the Witcher ;)
 

bhlaab

Member
Stallion Free said:
I can't of any game I would consider truly revolutionary that was released in the last 5-10 years.

I don't know. I's hard to tell without a whole lot of retrospect.
 

test_account

XP-39C²
bhlaab said:
I think that being able to choose your response certainly helps, especially if your choices actally have an effect on the gameplay in an appreciable way. The bad part of cutscenes isn't the fact that people are talking, it's the complete lack of agency.
Yeah, i was first thinking if you guys wanted to remove cutscenes in any form, but i guess that isnt what you ment :)

Personally i think that it depends from cutscene to cutscene. If a cutscene is really good, i dont think "i wish this cutscene was more interactive", but i'd think more like "this cutscene was really cool!". Personally i feel that Uncharted gets better with cutscenes like it is now, but that is just my opinion :)

But sure, maybe i would have a bit different opinion when it comes to other games, about wanting more interactive stuff than cutscenes (or at least not mind if there were more interactive stuff than cutscenes).
 
Snuggler said:
Did CDPR mention it recently? I read an interview with Gop right before he left, and it sounded like they were still undecided on a PS3 version.

maybe it's time for testaccount to upgrade!

or he should just play Bloodlines instead since it's old and even better than the Witcher ;)

What do you mean? It's already out in the US!

Seriously though, announced is probably an exaggeration. I think they said they wanted to release it on the PS3 and considering how much it was apparently influenced by Demon's Souls I'd assume they know they could sell it.

I think it would be in his best interests to play both really, since he's admitted to being something of an RPG virgin.
 

I'm an expert

Formerly worldrevolution. The only reason I am nice to anyone else is to avoid being banned.
Wonderful games but nothing revolutionary whatsoever besides programming/streaming tech. But when I want an Indiana Jones kind of adventure they're the best place to turn.
 

Inanna

Not pure anymore!
soldat7 said:
Once you've played something like Gears of War or Vanquish, it's tough playing something like Uncharted. The shooting mechanics are poor to average.
Eh, I wouldn't call GOW amazing, its pretty mediocre imo.
 

bhlaab

Member
test_account said:
Yeah, i was first thinking if you guys wanted to remove cutscenes in any form, but i guess that isnt what you ment :)

Personally i think that it depends from cutscene to cutscene. If a cutscene is really good, i dont think "i wish this cutscene was more interactive", but i'd think more like "this cutscene was really cool!". Personally i feel that Uncharted gets better with cutscenes like it is now, but that is just my opinion :)

But sure, maybe i would have a bit different opinion when it comes to other games, about wanting more interactive stuff than cutscenes (or at least not mind if there were more interactive stuff than cutscenes).

I don't mind a cutscene as a reward, but when they're a significant driving force for the game I don't like it. And I really don't like just having exposition thrown at me.
 

WinFonda

Member
Well it's the best third person shooter I ever played.

And it's not mind numbingly offensive/doesn't fall into many of the stereotypes modern games fall into.

I think it's a wonderful game because its good and has all the hardcore mechanics locked down, but it also has broader appeal where say your girlfriend or wife could also enjoy it; for any number of reasons.
 

Snuggles

erotic butter maelstrom
jim-jam bongs said:
I think it would be in his best interests to play both really, since he's admitted to being something of an RPG virgin.

Agreed. Any RPG virgin should be doublestuffed by a Witcher/Bloodlines combo.
 

test_account

XP-39C²
jim-jam bongs said:
PS3 version has been announced, but not dated. Have faith!
If it comes to PS3, then i will most likely buy it at least for my game collection :) Hopefully i will get around to play it as well.


Snuggler said:
Did CDPR mention it recently? I read an interview with Gop right before he left, and it sounded like they were still undecided on a PS3 version.

maybe it's time for testaccount to upgrade!

or he should just play Bloodlines instead since it's old and even better than the Witcher ;)
Hehe, i actually used to be a quite active PC gamer from around 1995 to 2007 :) I also played console games, but PC was my main platform then. But now i play pretty much only on PS3.

My PC is like 5 years old, and since i do pretty much all of my gaming on consoles, i'm not sure if i can justify using like $1500 on building a new PC (i can probably build it cheaper, but i'd rather build a PC that lasts for like 3 years in terms of hardware specs for games).
 

Red

Member
test_account said:
If it comes to PS3, then i will most likely buy it at least for my game collection :) Hopefully i will get around to play it as well.



Hehe, i actually used to be a quite active PC gamer from around 1995 to 2007 :) I also played console games, but PC was my main platform then. But now i play pretty much only on PS3.

My PC is like 5 years old, and since i do pretty much all of my gaming on consoles, i'm not sure if i can justify using like $1500 on building a new PC (i can probably build it cheaper, but i'd rather build a PC that lasts for like 3 years in terms of hardware specs for games).
If you're in the US and have a Windows license and monitor, you could build a powerhouse PC for $1000. Less if you end up reusing parts. What are your current specs?
 

Ricky_R

Member
All I care about is that Naughty Dog knows that they have hit home with Uncharted in many of us and it would be a shame if they decided to mess with that cinematic mix that we (the fans) have come to love.

When I play Uncharted, I always have a smile on my face and that's the the reason why I love the franchise.
 

test_account

XP-39C²
bhlaab said:
I don't mind a cutscene as a reward, but when they're a significant driving force for the game I don't like it. And I really don't like just having exposition thrown at me.
I understand. When it comes to Uncharted 1 and 2 in specfic, i love the cutscenes and how the game is built around them. I feel that they enhance my experience with the game. But that is just my opinion =)


Crunched said:
If you're in the US and have a Windows license and monitor, you could build a powerhouse PC for $1000. Less if you end up reusing parts. What are your current specs?
I'm in Europe, so the prices might be a bit higher here. Honestly i havnt checked the PC prices lately, but i'd assume that it is somehwere around $1500 for what i want. But maybe it is lower for all that i know. I would need a new monitor as well since the old one i have is a 19" CRT :) Time to upgrade to a LCD one.

My current specs are AMD64 3500+ 2.2GHz, GeForce 6800GT and 1GB RAM. In other words, pretty old stuff :) I would need pretty much everything new. Only thing i could reuse is probably the harddrive, soundcard and mouse/keyboard.

EDIT: Oh, and the cabinet itself as well, that is a Tower, so i have good enough room. I would probably need a new PSU for it though. The one i have now is probably 500 or 600 watt or something i think.
 
iceatcs said:
I don't see make it difference from what I have played.
Actually I hate choose dialogue because you might missed out or fucked up the conversion if there is no way go back to start again.
It keep you on really nerve. I want to use my hand to be free for little break in half way, I can scratch my balls or eating the sandwich or even smoking a joint. Maybe it is why I gave up Mass Effect too easy.

Mass Effect is not the standard for choice and consequence in games. That said it's pretty hard to screw up picking dialogue in Mass Effect for the simple fact that the game gives you a win button.
 

-PXG-

Member
Uncharted is great series, but it's hardly influential, innovative or memorable. ND is an extremely talented team. However, I don't think I'll look back 10 years from now of the fond memories of playing Uncharted or how much it changed how games are made or played. As good as the games are, they will be forgotten.
 
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