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The Uncharted series is revolutionary, and here's why

Rikyfree

Member
I love Uncharted 2 for it's performances and gameplay, both of which I have not seen an equal in over 20 years of gaming.
 
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Deleted member 81567

Unconfirmed Member
The story isn't special to begin with.
 

cajunator

Banned
The story and performances kind of sucked in this game and the visuals are highly overrated but it's still a fucking fun game. It was kind of unnerving how everybody had dead zombie eyes though.
 

CatPee

Member
Phonomezer said:

Ehhh, texture-wise, it was sub-par. It looked good because it took CoD's Vaseline everywhere formula and bumped it up a notch and made every character look smooth and flawless as hell.

I thought KZ3 looked real damn snazzy, but not everyone's a fan of the art style.
 
BocoDragon said:
I love the story so much... But I wish there was more of an epilogue.. a more meaty ending like in a jRPG.

They have very "lighthearted hollywood fare" endings with Drake and Elena sharing a chuckle or whatever, but I'd love just a HINT more drama/importance.
Not like a JRPG, but I know what you mean. I'd love something that just smacks you emotionally like MGS3's ending

There is a lot of potential to do that, but the UC universe seems like the kind of place where the protagonists are all safe, and a predictable end to the villain is in store. I'd love to see them try and defy expectations with UC3
 

arne

Member
jim-jam bongs said:
And he's in no way biased either!

and the point is? (i almost wrote and your contribution to society is, but I fear it's been long enough that my joke would be missed).

And I clearly pointed that i'd be biased in my opinion to the OP's comment, but that doesn't prevent me from calling out that a good number of posts over 10+ pages completely missed the question/thesis.
 
the core shooting and climbing gameplay is great but not that revolutionary, the contextual animation system on the other hand, should be industry standard. I like how Drake automatically crouch when he's behind waist high object, or flinch when being shot at, these little animation really bring the character alive and it didn't feel like I'm controlling 3d model with walk and run animation.
 

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Chuck Norris said:
Not like a JRPG, but I know what you mean. I'd love something that just smacks you emotionally like MGS3's ending

There is a lot of potential to do that, but the UC universe seems like the kind of place where the protagonists are all safe, and a predictable end to the villain is in store. I'd love to see them try and defy expectations with UC3
Well said. My point wasn't jRPG storytelling per se... it's just one of the few examples of meaty endings in gaming. MGS3 ending is a better example.
 
arne said:
and the point is? (i almost wrote and your contribution to society is, but I fear it's been long enough that my joke would be missed).

And I clearly pointed that i'd be biased in my opinion to the OP's comment, but that doesn't prevent me from calling out that a good number of posts over 10+ pages completely missed the question/thesis.

You should have! I would have got it.

My reply was sort of a gentle tease considering that so much of the thread had replied to the title not the post and disagreed, so it tickled me to have one of the developers being lauded for "getting it". You're right though, most of the replies did ignore the actual point but if we didn't it wouldn't have been much of a thread; it's kind of hard to argue with the suggestion that Naughty Dog are right at the top tier as far as cinematic game development is concerned.

But I don't care. You guys will always be "those guys who made Keef the Thief" to me.
 
Some people in here are trying way too hard to downplay Uncharted. The first one, ok....that’s understandable, but the second one? Yeah, you’re only making yourselves look stupid when you say nothing is special about Uncharted 2.

And ‘revolutionary’ is a strong word. The acting is fantastic. Easily it’s some of the best from this gen, but revolutionary? Eh, I wouldn’t go that far. I think the level of polish, detail and variety is more of a revolution than the acting is.
 

BLagiver

Banned
Critical acclaim by developers, gamers, reviewers. unbelievable number of gotys and other games would throw in a we are trying to offer a uncharted like experience when talking about their games. I think its safe to say without any doubt that some of you need to stop down playing uncharted series.

Also please I don't want to hear about gears slow robocop like aiming, controls, and speed. there is no natural feeling about gears shooting what so ever. I literally felt like I was robocop vs the ninja robots in robocop 3 while playing gears 2.
 

Ushojax

Should probably not trust the 7-11 security cameras quite so much
I enjoyed both the Uncharted games but I don't think they're anything revolutionary. They have high quality cutscenes and the in-game conversations and character interaction are all really well done as are the action set-pieces. That's what it does best. The shooting gameplay is ordinary and for me is impossible to reconcile with the characters. I like it best when you're exploring a jungle or a ruin and not trying to shoot people in the face. When you are shooting things I find Uncharted very boring, but I love it when you're not.
 
I think the shooting is great as you have a lot more freedom during the battles than some people give it credit for, but I get why some people would prefer it being less of a shooter. I really hope they do something similar to the Yak village in 3. I guess you can do some cool things with wandering through a desert and seeing mirages.
 
bede-x said:
Agreed. And the problem with scripted games like CoD or Uncharted becoming popular is that we move further and further away from something that could actually be revolutionary. It's such a shame that developers are so obsessed with cutscenes and scripting - obsessed with mimicing Hollywood - instead of using the medium in a way a movie couldn't. Not that cutscenes aren't worthwhile and couldn't be a purpose in and of themselves. They could, but it would require a little more ambition than just copying Indiana Jones or other movies.

As such Uncharted is as far from revolutionary as can be. It's a typical blockbuster like Gears of War, Call of Duty or other games of that ilk. They are as predictable as Monday following Sunday. Not that they aren't well produced...

But for something revolutionary look for games that do things for the first time - introducing checkpoints, scrolling instead of static screens, creating Z-targeting to work around problems arising due to 3D interaction etc - or perhaps tries to use gaming as a medium in a new and interesting way. When TGC talks about how one of the major underlying themes in Journey is how people communicate, when the means of expression is limited and what will evolve from those circumstances, that sounds like something that might genuinely break new ground. Obviously it's too early to call it revolutionary at this point, but at least the concept sounds different, which is a start.
You should be upset with devs being obsessed with constantly trying to mimic the flavor of the generation. I feel that there's room for all games, including "cinematic" games. If you're going for that kind of experience genuinely, that's cool. If you're doing it because you're being forced to to match sales from trendy games, then there's a problem and it usually shows. UC made it clear from the beginning that it was aiming for the pulpy, action genre... and they did it.
 

Red

Member
The Xtortionist said:
UC2 had it's share of playable storytelling moments (climbing the train/hobbling through the wreckage, using the torch in the Borneo ruins, carrying Jeff, exploring the village, mountaineering with Tenzin), but expecting zero exposition in a story of it's scope is being a bit unfair to the game I think. A lack of exposition works in games like Portal 2 and Demon's Souls because their stories aren't heavily emphasized; they don't drive the gameplay. Though I don't think it's good or bad, just different. UC2 has countless playable moments that would be cutscenes in many other games, and what cutscenes there are are generally short and to the point, well-directed, and well-acted. I don't think they could have done it any better.
And those are the best parts, not the cutscenes. But it still uses cutscenes to push the majority of the story. That's why I disagree about calling it "revolutionary." It's mostly traditional.
 
Sohter.Nura said:
Honestly? I enjoyed the gameplay in Uncharted 1 & 2, but to me, watching the cut-scenes, all the dialogue and even the script was like watching a boring TNT afternoon movie. It bored the hell outta me.

Very few characters that I really, really liked (like Chloe and Sullivan)
Agreed.
 
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Deleted member 81567

Unconfirmed Member
The OP definitely misconstrued the definition of revolutionary.
 

Abylim

Member
Having played a lot of the games people are citing as better, color me confused.
I was playing UC2 in my room, my wife was on the computer. She heard some of the background chatter, and after a few minutes sat down on the couch and started watching. She watched me play for the next few hours. We were both blown away at how all the stuff in here didnt feel forced, but natural.

It really sounded like a witty action flick. If its not your cup of tea, I'm sorry. But calling it outright shit or subpar is just confusing.

My wife watched me play the entire game, and was pretty much always entertained. She fell asleep during the ice caves part, but there is little talking in there =P.

Dont get me wrong, I'm not shitting on people by saying this, just stating my opinion and confusion. I wouldnt put Enslaved above the voice acting or writing of UC. I'd only put MGS above it because it's such a close game to me. People dislike mgs4 for some of the crazy, I loved it.
That being said, I dont think the acting in MGS4 was better, merely the story meant more to me, I guess.

Anywho, sorry for rambling on, just read pretty much the whole thread and couldnt stop scratching my head.
I think some people post just to piss others off. And I dont get that, either.
 
cuyahoga said:
I like Uncharted, but I completely disagree with you—game has pretty forgettable writing and performances, when compared to, say, a Tim Schafer game, something from Valve, or Deadly Premonition.

yeah honestly a voice on the intercom in portal 2 and a freaking round ball with ai implanted in it had way more personality than anything in the Uncharted series.

It's got great production values for it's games, and it is quite cinematic....but god damn what generic characters.

People give me shit for comparing it to the Mummy but please watch those films again. Nathan Drake is no Indiana Jones, he doesn't have that swagger. He's a third-rate O Conell.

Just youtube one mummy scene and you'll see.

it's pretty lame that amy hennig is getting so much credit for writing this series, it's template storytelling and characters. Legacy of Kain was where she was actually trying.
 
Not sure on one side i like uncharted the the gameplay side but i hate the scripted bullshit happening every 2 min or so and the endless amount of gameplay breaks you get with all those cutscenes.

I think im more oldschool and probably why i like crysis a lot they just drop you in a level and go loose. if it comes to game level im kinda claustrophobic i want nice big levels.

And i blame cod and uncharted for the direction this industry is going and the press also for praising those games. Now we probably get a shitty single player in bf3.
 
Discotheque said:
yeah honestly a voice on the intercom in portal 2 and a freaking round ball with ai implanted in it had way more personality than anything in the Uncharted series.

It's got great production values for it's games, and it is quite cinematic....but god damn what generic characters.

People give me shit for comparing it to the Mummy but please watch those films again. Nathan Drake is no Indiana Jones, he doesn't have that swagger. He's a third-rate O Conell.

Just youtube one mummy scene and you'll see.

it's pretty lame that amy hennig is getting so much credit for writing this series, it's template storytelling and characters. Legacy of Kain was where she was actually trying.
"Way more" is a bit much, no? The uncharted cast have amazing chemistry and personality, you mad?
 

bede-x

Member
Magic Mushroom said:
Name me a better looking console title.

Limbo, Ico, Rez, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet... Just to name a few.

MoonsaultSlayer said:
I feel that there's room for all games, including "cinematic" games.

So do I. I mean, I'm not particularly fond of cinematic games with tons of linear scripted events, mostly because they are just mimicing Hollywood blockbusters and the stories are typically paperthin(Oftentimes you wouldn't bat an eyelid if you encountered the same story/performance in a book/film), but there's certainly room for them. At times I even find them reasonably entertaining, even though they always have that design by committee feeling that triple A blockbusters just can't seem to shake these days.

Calling them revolutionary is a bit of a stretch, however.
 
Off the top of my head, Legacy of Kain, Eternal Darkness, Grand Theft Auto 4, Mass Effect, and Brutal Legend have better voice acting than Uncharted 2.

Haven't played RDR or LA Noire, but just looking at cinemas they seem better too.
 

Finaika

Member
Crunched said:
LoS runs at about half speed for a good chunk of the game, and I'm not really sure you'll find many people agree it looks as good as UC. I certainly don't.
It has better art direction though.
 
Finaika said:
It has better art direction though.

That's debatable. Uncharted doesn't have the liberty of showing off nice fantasy settings.....

With what Uncharted has, its art style is strictly at the top of its class. It’s fan-bloody-tastic!
 
Eaten By A Grue said:
Castlevania: LoS

GameTrailers

This game looks amazing in screenshots, but runs like a dog, so forget it.

I recently beat Enslaved and was kind of blown away by how good it looked at times, incredible vistas and detail out the wazoo... but again, the framerate made my eyes bleed. It's a shame that most console games that approach UC2 in fidelity can't get their shit together and move at a good clip!
 
Okay, OP makes me know why people love this game so much. Me? i didn't really like it. I usually like adventure games but really the game felt really off-putting to me.
Nice cut-scenes yeah and the story makes for good viewing but the gameplay wasn't all there.

It kinda felt like the game was saying 'jerk around in this room for some and figure out what you CAN do. You CAN'T do everything like you did just before this puzzle, you have to know the one way to get out of this room.'

I'd much prefer a Mario game where i know the limitations of my character and limitations of the environment.
 

Vorg

Banned
revolverjgw said:
It's a shame that most console games that approach UC2 in fidelity can't get their shit together and move at a good clip!

Resident Evil 5. Still looks mindblowing at times.
 
The sort of revolution Uncharted is ushering in is precisely why I have 0 interest in owning either of the HD twins right now.

If I want a cinematic experience I'll go to a cinema.
 
I dunno...I guess the cutscenes were a little better than most games due to slightly above average voice acting. But, I'm pretty anti-cutscene, so they didn't do much for me besides prevent me from actually playing the game.
 

Sloane

Banned
I think Uncharted is revolutionary in that it shows everything that's wrong with the gaming industry and modern games in general right now. It's as simple as games can get, almost everything is scripted (i.e. you never have a choice how to do achieve a goal), its story and dialogue is aimed at 15-year-olds, and it never gives you the feeling that you actually have to explore something or figure something out. So, in a sense you're right -- it is a lot like watching a TV show or a movie. If that's what you want from a game, great, but I'd rather watch, you know, a TV show or a movie instead, and play a game that doesn't treat my like I'm stupid. I hope it doesn't become a trend but I fear it already has because it's easier than creating a complex game and it seems to sell better.

That is all.
 

NinjaBoiX

Member
Mortrialus said:
I truthfully don't see the appeal of shooters, this one in particular. I don't see what exactly is so fun about dragging a cursor over an enemy.
Come on dude, you couldn't make it sound any duller. It's like saying, "I don't see the appeal of racing games. All you do is hold a trigger then push the stick left or right into a corner."

Shooters, Uncharted in particular, require spatial awareness, judicious use of cover, resource (read "ammo") management, competent timing (reloading and melee) and a steady aim.

I get that you don't jive with them, that's cool. But there is much more to it than, "dragging a cursor over an enemy".
 

MrOogieBoogie

BioShock Infinite is like playing some homeless guy's vivid imagination
Sloane said:
I think Uncharted is revolutionary in that it shows everything that's wrong with the gaming industry and modern games in general right now. It's as simple as games can get, almost everything is scripted (i.e. you never have a choice how to do achieve a goal), its story and dialogue is aimed at 15-year-olds, and it never gives you the feeling that you actually have to explore something or figure something out. So, in a sense you're right -- it is a lot like watching a TV show or a movie. If that's what you want from a game, great, but I'd rather watch, you know, a TV show or a movie instead, and play a game that doesn't treat my like I'm stupid. I hope it doesn't become a trend but I fear it already has because it's easier than creating a complex game and seems to sell better.

That is all.

This thread is rage-inducing.

ARE YOU HAPPY, GAF?
 

scitek

Member
Mortrialus said:
I truthfully don't see the appeal of shooters, this one in particular. I don't see what exactly is so fun about dragging a cursor over an enemy.

You realize that's exactly what shooting an actual gun is, right?
 
Sloane said:
almost everything is scripted (i.e. you never have a choice how to do achieve a goal)

I already explained why this is BS and an ignorantly simplistic opinion. I can come up with countless examples of totally different ways of approaching any given fight in a UC game, using force, environmental traversal, stealth, etc. Uncharted isn't any less dynamic than 95% of the best action games in gaming history.
 
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