Uncharted 3 Drake's Deception with Fistycuffs

Uncharted 3 Drake's Deception 

Uncharted 3 Drakes Deception is an experience unlike any other. Both fans of the Uncharted series and those new to the games alike will be downright awestruck at the improvements to what has already been declared to be a near perfect formula. With an intriguing plot full of twists turns and vaults, memorable, organic characters, and a level of design and intricacy that continues to set the bar for the PS3, and indeed, all platforms, Uncharted 3 Drake's Deception is a definitely a game to look into . So take a quick breath, and we’ll dive in.

Uncharted 3 Drake's Deception Visuals

In many of my reviews, one of the first things I discuss is the visuals of the game. And I would be doing my readers a disservice if I change protocol now. Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception is a visual masterpiece. It’s beautiful in both scope and presentation. The visuals ensnare the player with the level of detail and intricacy. The amount of time that must have gone into the environments in Uncharted 3 must have been exhausting. Very well done indeed. Whether you’re traversing the vast, unrelenting heat, shielding your eyes from the sun, lips blistering, coarse sand in your throat, or trekking through lush jungles, your clothes strangling you in a pool of your own sweat, flies sticking to your skin, air so thick you feel like you’re drowning, Uncharted 3 lives the experience. This all plays well into the outstanding voice acting in the game. The performances of the voice actors stand alone as one of the best things about that game. The way they talk to each other, squabble, stab at each other, joke around, and call to each other during a fight all sounds and looks natural and realistic. Subtle shifts in stance, eyes, and tone of voice make all the difference and it’s a pleasure to see sound, voice acting, and animation all work together on such a high level.

Uncharted 3 Interactions

Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception continues to raise the standards of gameplay. The fistycuffs alone could seal the deal, but more on that soon. You will be hard-pressed to find a game with the level of interaction with the environments as Uncharted 3. When drawing near to a wall, Drake will place his hand against the wall when it’s within reach to support himself. He’ll swat those irritating flies. Like any normal human being, he’ll notice and observe oddities in the places he travels, often looking at something that catches his attention, or reacting to those near and around him, such as maneuvering through a crowded street, even stumbling and tripping if someone, or the player, is a bit clumsy. Of course, these are all small things in the long run, but it all adds up and works together to create a convincing simulation of the human body and how people manipulate and maneuver their bodies in every day tasks. Navigating through cities and the like with impressive feats of acrobatic stamina and endurance is something that may never grow old and give The Prince of Persia and Laura Croft a run for their money. As expected, there are plenty of pulse-pounding moments that will shock and surprise players. And even though crumbling walls, collapsing rooftops and the normal wear and tear poor Drake endures in each installment, Uncharted 3 manages to keep it fresh. By now, most vets of the Uncharted series know or at the very least, can predict when something big is about to go down. But, unlike so many games out there, Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception manages to play with the expected and drive in some unexpected twists. For example, you could be scaling a wall and quickly realize you have mere seconds to get to safety. You know the wall is collapsing all around you, but you won’t always know where or when, and to what extent. This is an adrenaline rush to say the very least.

Uncharted 3 Drake's Deception Trailer

Uncharted 3 Fistycuffs

Combat in Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception works very much in the same way as its predecessors. With one big and obvious exception from the start. As I hinted at earlier, there is a much bigger emphasis on hand to hand combat. Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception will challenge you to fistycuffs time and again. And the great thing is, said fistycuffs is exactly what it should be. Fast, fluent, and brutal in its execution. Who knew Drake could throw down like this? Think of a game like Batman Arkham Asylum or Assassin’s Creed. The combat in Uncharted 3 is very similar. And what makes Uncharted 3 and its new emphasis on fistycuffs even better? Quick time controls. What I love about the quick time controls in this game is, like Batman or Assassin’s Creed, the quick time controls are integrated into the gameplay in an almost seamless manner. I feel there are far too many games out there that implement a quick time/control mechanic, but take it too far and denies the player that exceptional feeling of having executed the move or counter for themselves rather than having it done for them. And it is a fine line, to be sure, but it’s just another small thing that adds to the experience. What’s even better is that the fighting is sensitive to the environments around Drake and his opponents. You’ll hammer into a guy, punch his face in, Drake will notice a bottle nearby, pick it up, and crack it over is opponents head, and them flow right into this next punch. It looks and feels natural, and the controls are spectacular in its simplicity. And of course, there is the terrific combat using all the guns and grenades one could ever desire. Drake is now smart enough to throw grenades back if there is enough time, and even hand to hand combat flows right into gunplay.

Uncharted 3 Drake's Deception Online Gameply

Uncharted 3 Drakes Deception has seen some definite improvements to the online multiplayer. Players can play through five reconstructed levels that have been reconfigured so that each challenge is all action and little to no platforming.  Manny will love that. However, I personally feel the online single player could have used some platforming rather than just constant shooting. But it’s understandable as it’s safe. This cooperative mode of play is available to three characters. Work together with your friends for some of the best online experiences you’ll have for a long time. Competitive mode is a blast. Use a wide variety of tactics used in the single player to take down your online enemies. It’s fast, much faster than the single player. So be quick, plan your next move a bit, and most importantly, react. Otherwise, you won’t last long. One of the things that makes Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception online so addictive is its character progression. Like many other online shooters, players of Uncharted 3 will be spending points, in this case money, on upgrades for their weapons and equipments. Leveling your character has an almost RPG-like feeling to it. There’s more to the multiplayer, but I’ll leave the rest as a surprise. Just don’t be surprised if hours pass by unnoticed.

Uncharted 3 Drake's Deception Gameplay

Is Uncharted 3 Drake's Deception Perfect?

As amazing as Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception is, there are some flaws worth mentioning. First, the other online modes such as Arena and Hunter are fun for a while, but can feel a bit repetitive and predictable after a while. Single player coop and Competitive mode is what will have you playing for hours on end. The animations, though sharp and right on most of the time, can fall just short at times with Drake turning a corner while he’s climbing and you see him reach out as he turns that perilous corner when there’s nothing to grab but air to his side. Sometimes Drake’s enemies just won’t die. I’ve experienced several anomalies wherein I blasted a guy in the face several times and he reacted like I was hitting him with a mere paintball gun and kept shooting at me. And that distracts from the experience, and at times, can be very annoying. I mean, who can survive half a clip to the face of an AK? Drake knows how to pick worthy foes. The puzzles can be interesting; there are a few that will stand out and others that will have you scoffing at their simplicity. The puzzles were a nice way to slow things down for a little bit and catch one’s breath, but if a game is going to do that, that doesn’t mean it can’t provide a new challenge but in a different way.

Uncharted 3 Drake's Deception Final Verdict

Overall, Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception is a stellar game that nails just about every little thing it throws at the players. The lot is interesting enough, the characters and voice acting are among the best, the combat has been improved, all while staying more or less with the same formula players have come to expect from the Uncharted series. The minor problems are few and far between and none come close to denying the invigorating experience Uncharted 3 has to offer. For those reasons and more, I give Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception a 9 out of 10. If you’re lucky enough to own a Playstation 3 and you haven’t picked up a copy, go out and buy Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception.

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