"Nathan Drake is an awesome character in Playstation’s best exclusive series. But the one criticism that Uncharted’s hero just can’t get away from is that he is a mass murderer. Nate is a character with great hair and a clever quip for every situation, plundering tombs and discovering lost wonders with a cast of entertaining accomplices and villains. Yet, some people think the sheer number of people Nate has killed contradicts his happy go lucky attitude.-- PlayStation Enthusiast
Drake doesn't have control of most situations and when he kills is in self defense always. He doesn't do it for fun. He just have no other choice. After all he saves more people than he kills.
This character has many interpretations, and to me he is some cocky badass treasure hunter than knows what he does is wrong but does it anyways. Treasure Hunting and discoveries are his passion; it's how he makes a living and a name for himself in this world. ND knows some players may think of him as a mass murderer, and if you notice this is stressed in many of the dialogs. Like when Drake says, ''I never ask for trouble'' to Elena or when jokingly says in the end, ''I save the world.''
No, he's a sick monster who enjoys genocide. Why else would he pop one-liners during his numerous rampages.
Let's end this tired debate. Nate risks his life for treasure and glory. It's his purpose from a young age, and I'm sure what drives him will be further expanded upon and wrapped up in UC4. When he encounters enemies, they are not good people working for good people and will attack him first for simply being in the same vicinity as them. In that sense, he is surviving a formidable enemy to do his work, as criminal as it is. He CAN attack people first, but that is a player choice. That is where this article has a great point.
So... It's a video game. Naughty Dog does likeable protagonists. Uncharted is their contribution to the pulp action genre which is easily defined as "shocking subjects portrayed as non-shocking". They also do great combat encounters. Would Uncharted be as fun and exciting without action combat encounters to break up the rest of the adventure gameplay? Basically, Nate's true crime is not heading away from the danger of his job, but defending himself and his friends, when it becomes too dangerous.
Pretty much most Game protagonist is a mass murder if same standards are set for others like Lara croft, all heroes with gun even games where heroes are fighting Alien because Aliens are people too don't be racist by saying it's ok to kill them as they don't look like humans lol.
That thumbnail says it all... I feel like that too ;p