Editorial: Will Uncharted 4 Get Slammed For Being Linear?

After The Order: 1886 fiasco, it seems clear enough that linearity is looked down upon these days. Does this spell trouble for Naughty Dog's title?

[DarkOcelet]

Great, now we are done with The Order 1886, its time for Uncharted 4 to take the heat.

On Topic: I think the demo was already open enough.

[Jalva]

"Great, now we are done with The Order 1886, its time for Uncharted 4 to take the heat."

Yeah... because The Order's problem was its linearity -_-

It might as well have been a tutorial on all the 'what not to do's' of making a video game.

[OB1Biker]

The Order has flaws and so do many games. That s not the point here.
Its the NUMEROUS articles and comments beating it about what they think it should be like.
It already started with Uncharted with framerate, graphics etc and the 'linearity' (also meaning the length) will be more closely scrutinized for obvious wrong reasons.

[LonDonE]

Agreed, but thing is i dont think the linearity was the issue with order it was the complete lack of flexibility within the level designs and the combat sections, the developers had a very rigid set way they wanted u to play and traverse through the game.

Look to the left kill that guy, look up kill him etc walk slow and enjoy our graphics, wanna skip our cutscenes on every subsequent playthrough? No way u have to look at this piece of paper and so on.
Then complete lack of half breed combat was another sour point, the few encounters u do have r just quick time events with one shooting part with recycled senarios.

I do think the media are hypocrytes since the order was punished fort he same things other games are praised for.

The older uncharted games dont have any of these problems! In uncharted the levels r like mini sandboxes, u decide how u approach each enemy, u can stealth, or climb high up for an advantage using the verticality of the maps etc also then they have the artifacts to find which forces u to explore.
And uncharted 4 is set to ratchet everything up by another 10 notches!

The uncharted while they still have a linear story progression, game play wise the vertical levels and flexible enemy encounters set it leagues appart from the order.

Either way compairing uncharted is stupid! the order was made by a smallish first ever aaa studio while uncharted is made naghty dog for petes sake!

[DarkOcelet]

I am pretty sure when Ready At Dawn makes a sequel. They will improve on many aspects of the game.

[LonDonE]

@DarkOcelot
Agreed i defo think ready at dawn will only get better considering this is the teams first console game and a AAA at thst.

They actually put allot of bigger studios to shame considering they have less budget and resources and experience compared to say some of the teams behind the ac games.
And still i applaud them for releasing a game which is s technical marvel and without bugs and glitches we so often have ween so far this gen.

I am anticipating the sequel to the order and also other games by them.

They just need to take the criticism on the chin and learn from where they went wrong.

Sorry for typo typed on tge wiiu game pad.

[miyamoto]

Nothing can touch Uncharted now.

Nothing.

[DarkOcelet]

Nothing can touch Naughty Dog. nuff said.

[Snookies12]

They already said they were making it more open, didn't they?

[GameDev1]

ND certainly made it clear UC4 will have sandbox gameplay, even the PSX demo showed that

They clearly said they will no single golden path and also the new tools like the piton showed are for players to use numerous paths incase a rock falls while drake is climbing

Somebody clearly has not been paying enough attention to write such an awful headline

[Torque_CS_Lewith]

Yes, because linearity is the only reason 1886 was slammed! Let's forget that Uncharted has always had top shelf gameplay, engaging and meaty campaign AND an industry inspiring multiplayer to go along with its cinematic delivery and linearity!

Trying to compare the two games is an insult to what Naughty Dog have done to further the genre. The Order was a major step back and I hope that is not where cinematic games are headed and I trust ND to prove that later this year.

The Order was simply a glorified graphics tech demo and the lemmings lapped it up because they believe graphics are the most important aspect of a great game.

[GameDev1]

Pretty sure you have not played the Order as you are using that generic tone towards it when it clearly had loads of gameplay elements

But point in case, UC4 has clearly been described as sandbox gameplay by ND and they showed this with the demo

[nicksetzer1]

Loads of gameplay elements, sure, all games do. Well executed gameplay no. Uncharted on the other hand had great gameplay, story quality, graphics, etc.

The order mainly consisted of cutscenes or walking. The knife fights with the werewolves are terrible and consist of following on-screen promts. There is stealth in the blimp and near the end (don't want to spoil) that is just walk up behind this guy and hit triangle at the right time. The gunplay is decent.

Where as almost every aspect of uncharted is satisfactory OR better. This article makes a moot point in a lame attempt to defend the order. The games are not comparable, nor is the order's ONLY issue it's linearity as this article claims. LInearity can be done right, the order didn't.

[Lamboomington]

Many gameplay elements, but how many at a given time ?

I've only watched it, so I don't know. Please tell me though, is the combat anything more than Gears Of War style wave based cover shooting ?

If that's the case, then it definitely does not have enough gameplay elements. I would want complexity and depth for immersion. That means complexity at any one time, especially for basic combat

RAD should REALLY move away from Wave based gallery shooting levels. It simply hurts their game. Doesn't fit the tone at all. Directly hurt the story for me too ! That was the worst part about it.

For a game trying to push the boundary for cinematic experiences and being bold etc, it's combat system seems to be one of the safest,oldest, least immersive things out there. Wave based gallery shooting ? For me, it makes no sense to have it in this kind of game. It does not lend anything to immersion, but takes away from it, when you have to shoot down the next 100 people in waves every level. At certain points, like I said, it more or less directly hurt story believability for me, which is sad.
It only hurts their game. They MUST not do the same for their sequel.

[Rimeskeem]

I agree with the first part and disagree with second part

I liked The Order.

[4theplayers]

Will Halo 5 get slammed for being linear?
Will Rise of the Tomb Raider get slammed for being linear?
Will Quantum Break get slammed for being linear?

Answer: No.

[Fireseed]

You actually think Playstation games get bashed more simply because theyre Playstation games?

[gunnerforlife]

Oh my friend what world are you living in? Besides uncharted 2 and TLOU, all PS3 and PS4 games get bashed for ridiculous reasons! Some of the reasons 1886 was bashed for Xbox games get a free pass over it!

[ChickenOfTheCaveMan]

They do, the same way Nintendo games get it so easy. M$ games are somewhere in the middle.

One of the most recent example (besides 1886) is Knack. I grabbed the game a few weeks back when it was 10$ on that PSN sale and I was honestly expecting a fat stinking pile of trash based on that 54 on Metacritic, a lot of 40 and below...Boy was I wrong, sharp presentation, great gameplay, frustrating at time (which is awesome). Story is okay, so would I give it a 10, no, but the game critics should have placed it in the high 70s or low 80s.

Then there's LBP 3, DriveClub, ...So yeah.

[Lamboomington]

Hyprocritical nonsense

Did TLOU get slammed for being linear ?
Did KZ SF get slammed for being linear ?
Did any Uncharted game every get slammed for being linear ?

Answer : No.

Yeah, I mean, that's why The Order got low reviews, right ? Linearity. That was clearly the main issue. There were no other legitimate issues, nothing at all. You can clearly see that just by looking at reviews. Their main gripe was linea... oh, wait.

You know, there's a slight chance that... good games, regardless of whether they are linear or not, get good reviews, and bad games, linear or not, get bad reviews. (based on the reviewer's opinions ofcourse)
Would you like me to start listing non linear games that got crap reviews ?
Saying The Order was slammed because it was linear is just being hypocritical or ignorant - either one.

Never mind though, I'm sure it's just because journalists all turned xbox fanboys, and PS haters. Yeah. I mean, it makes sooo much sense, right ?

*facepalm*

[Rimeskeem]

Being linear has never stopped games from being masterpieces

[FromTheAshes]

Exactly. The Last of Us is one among many linear masterpieces.

[PistolsAtDawn]

It shouldn't get slammed for being linear, that's the style of game that it is. I'm really looking forward to UC4, UC3 wasn't my favorite of the series, but it looks like UC4 will be a great game on all levels so far...and I love the setting.

[-Foxtrot]

If it does then I'm sorry but I'll just point out the hypocrisy of it all. The other 3 games were well received and they are probably going to end up looking more linear judging by ND comments back the new one being more open.

[TheJacksonRGN]

Why would it get slammed for being linear? The past three games were linear and are some the best reviewed games period. ND has stated this will be a little more open ended than the others. You could even see that, in the gameplay demo.

Being linear was not the order's biggest or only complaint. Some didn't like the story, others felt there wasn't enough gameplay in between the cutscenes.

[lolosgolos]

No not for being linear. Questions will be asked about the intention of the E3 60fps in game trailer if the final release doesn't get to 60 or drops a frame at 30

[FromTheAshes]

That's like saying "Will GTA 6 get slammed for being open-world?" Wow anyone who's played the Uncharted series knows that their is a good mix of linear and open action set pieces. The gameplay style was always dependent on the environmental action.

[iain04]

If Uncharted 4 is anything like the other 3 games in the series it will be a masterpiece.

[Vegamyster]

"After The Order: 1886 fiasco, it seems clear enough that linearity is looked down upon these days"

The Order was criticized for more then just being linear, it was a game that could be completed 100% in a short amount of time and didn't really offer replay value + many of other little things like too much hand holding or cutscenes that added up, not saying you're not allowed to enjoy the game but generally that's why it received flak.

Uncharted 4's 15 minute gameplay debut in my opinion looked like more fun then anything in The Order, it wasn't linear corridor shooting with predictable AI paths.

[Spotie]

But it WAS criticized for being linear, which is the point. Not even for being TOO linear. Just for being linear. As if it wasn't designed to be.

And that's why this question is now being asked: Uncharted is designed to be linear, but as games- of which The Order is only the most recent- are coming under fire for lacking open world areas, then is it likely that the next title from Naughty Dog will similarly suffer?

[Vegamyster]

There is different kinds of linearity and people/critics did not like it the way the The Order 1886 tried to do it, it was short segment of gameplay - cutscene with QTE - short gameplay segment - cutscene ect along with instafail stealth that were based around quick time events rather then being sneaky. Uncharted offers good gameplay segments that break up the cutscene and can be pretty diverse.

[TekKing]

No, it will get slammed for being a Playstation exclusive.

[magiciandude]

Really? Why were the majority of PS3 exclusives generally well received? Killzone 2, God of War III, Uncharted 2, and The Last of Us ring a bell?

[THC CELL]

Uncharted could have one level with a six pack il still play it, n4g don't start this crap again like the order, will uncharted fail crap just stop. Doubt naughty dog people will slain you. Then again sites like the attention.

[MasterCornholio]

I've seen trolls slam it for being 30FPS which is retarded in my opinion. So I'm guessing those same idiots will slam it for being linear as well.

Uncharted is one of those games where it's linearity is its greatest strength. When I played Uncharted 2 I didn't complain about the linear nature of it because it offered an incredible cinematic experience. Watching the hotel collapse around me while I was inside made my jaw drop and I'm pretty sure a non linear version of that event wouldn't be as good.

[TheFallen1327]

the order was too linear theres a difference

[megaworm25]

The Trolls will slam it for being 30Fps

[thief]

I hope so, it will just be another nail in the coffin for reviewers, after a game which got positive reviews from the majority of actual gamers, also got 4-6 scores from tge "professional" reviewers who also, simultaneously, lavished 8 or 9 on a game like evolve.

[Rainbowcookie]

Probably , it won't matter though since people slamming most games nowadays don't own the platform of the game they are slamming. Games get slammed well before they even release and with the dark cloud hanging above reviews nowadays I'd take it with a pinch of salt. Let the consumer talk with their wallets. TLOU was pretty linear , but it was awesome so =linearity doesn't mean "crap"

[FrostedFire]

Whoa whoa whoa whoa,one game at a time guys we can't bash on all of them,we need rules..without rules we'll be no where,besides its bloodbornes turn to be nitpicked,its next on the chopping block....Uncharted comes after that..gosh its like people have forgotten the way of the trolling.

On topic,

I think Naughty Dog said that they're going for more open areas this time around,if its anything like the Demo we saw at E3 I'll be happy with that.

[fitfox]

Should games get slammed for being non linear? this is silly.

[Zabby91]

They clearly said it's going to be more open than last of us. Time wasted.

[Chapter11]

The Order 1886 was slammed because it wasn't a very good game.

[MasterCornholio]

But you dont know if a game is good or bad until its out.

You forget about all the pre release bashing right?

[Maxor]

The Order proved that the pre-release bashing were right. We should listen to those more.

[maniacmayhem]

Pre release bashing? You mean when critics played the demo and was giving their impressions from that and it all turned out to be true.

I think we all knew, it's just a lot of us refused to listen and believe it.

[Gatsu]

I think it will be like TLoU, quite linear parts with bigger open areas once in a while.

[_LarZen_]

Who cares? Reviewers are "dead" anyways.

[Predaking77]

Today's gaming media is all about hate and creating controversy where is non in order to create traffic and clicks so I wouldn't be surprised at all.

[PersonMan]

I'm getting tired of open world games. They're saturating the market in my opinion. It was such a nice breath of fresh air to play something like The Order 1886. It has that classic video game feel with levels and a story.

Plus, I like how Uncharted has different locations. Generally, in an open world setting, you only have 1 location and you can become bored of looking at the same stuff all the time.

[KnownAsEpic]

Ugh! For fuck's sake!

[46889337]

It would be, if linearity was the only reason The Order got low review scores.

[jaelegend]

Well I think this looks to be the most open for sure. good story and gameplay is everything don't compare the order and uncharted.

[omarcomingyo]

Absolutely, that's what people who don't own a PS4 do! Slag off the exclusives!!!

[Skankinruby]

What the HELL is this stupid obsession with open world games? It adds absolutely nothing to the game other than tedious travel time. And there has yet to be a single open world game with a story mode worth giving two craps about. Linear gameplay simply cuts out all the pointless nonsense and focuses on the game. Any critic who slams a game for being linear doesn't deserve their job.

[skratchy]

Oh great, more MS fanboys writing click bait articles about PS4 exclusives. Just give it up already.

[Killzoner99]

After The Order I've lost a lot of respect for the gaming media. So much unwarranted hate towards that game for trying something different. Those who actually played it know it is an excellent game.