Amy Hennig's Absence Contributed to Uncharted 4's Massive Identity Problem

COG writes: With the release of what looks to be Naughty Dog’s last Uncharted title, its exclusion of creator Amy Hennig has caused the game to lose its identity.

[Hoffmann]

Some people see problems when theere aren't any.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

such is life

[Dabigsiebowski]

I've played all the uncharted games and this guy is wrong about the situation. However uncharted 2 and 3 were better games imo even though I enjoyed 4 as well.

[Fez]

4 was much better than 3 for me. 3's pacing was all over the place, a few big plot holes and over emphasis on hand to hand combat which has never been that great in Uncharted. 4 focused on stealth and had a far better story arc imo.

I didn't like the new characters in 3 at all either which obviously was a big negative. The villain was poor, and Cutter and Chloe were pretty annoying. I liked all of them in 4, except maybe not Sam - he wasn't massively likable in comparison to Sully for example (but maybe that was the point)

[-Foxtrot]

There was problems...every game has them and Uncharted 4 suffered from a few

People just don't like to talk about them because "Naughty Dog", "Naughty Gods", "Uncharted"

The game was great, smooth, fluid, amazing graphics and animations but the story COULD have been better and when I say that IT DOES NOT MEAN the story was crap 100% because I know people like to think that if you don't like a few things about a game from a franchise like this you automatically hate the ENTIRE game.

Amy Hennigs original idea with Sam being the villain sounded MILES better. I mean listen to the original trailer...that's what we should have had

They tried to make it more like the Last of Us...hell even the multiplayer shows this.

[generic-user-name]

Generic evil long lost brother? You wanted a mgs game?

No thanks, I'll take the nuanced, realistic approach the ND took without amy. Although I don't even see how you can argue for hennigs version seeing as all we know is that 'Sam's the bad guy' and based on that alone you call it 'miles better'.

That's a joke.

[-Foxtrot]

OH because that's so much better then the generic long lost brother who suddenly turns up and becomes best buds with his brother again storyline.

No thanks.

To say her idea was generic is a joke it's self when Neils version was no better.

An evil brother would have cut Rafe out and actually give Nate a villain to face on an emotional level, not just physical. That would have been fantastic to see in an Uncharted game as all the villains haven't had that before.

Have you actually listened to the teaser trailer, the way he spoke alone made it come off, first impressions wise like a fantastic direction. I say it's better without seeing it because I wasn't a fan of the version we took

Off Topic

Nice to see I was right about the disagrees and the like....people saw someone critisise ND a little and suddenly they 100% hate the entire game. Thanks for proving my point guys. The same people who defend the shit out of the horrible direction the multiplayer took.

I love the fact you can go on the official forums where you'd think ND fanboys would hang out and actually get more of them admitting the faults with the game....rather then somewhere like here which is just a joke if you say anything bad about them.

[miyamoto]

No, Fox.
Sam's role in this game is perfect the way it is.
We have never cared for a video game character as much as Sam.

So you wanted a darker Uncharted? No, thanks.

[TwoForce]

Really, Fox ?

EDIT : do you really want UC milk to death like other annual franchises, Fox ? I will say this again. Remember when UC 3 director wanted to make more Uncharted in the future.i was skeptical about it. And yes, i knew Neil would kill Elena in UC 2, but Amy stopped him for doing it. Before UC 4 came out, people was predicting that Neil would kill Elena, but it didn't happen. You know why ? Because he learned from Amy. I respect Amy and Neil.

[-Foxtrot]

Yes miyamoto
Sam's role in this game is not perfect at all
We have never cared less for a video game character as much as Sam who just arrived 4 games and a spin off in

So no I didn't want a darker Uncharted, having Sam as a villain wouldn't have done that.

@TwoForce

Really...

OH GOODNESS, SOMEONE ELSE HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION THEN ME...Better make damn sure I play their comment down and make out their opinion is wrong huh?

If this game wasn't Uncharted or made by NaughtyDog having the same story told in the same way then people could criticise more easier. Just like MGSV...it was Kojima, it was the last game and it was MGS...10/10 not faults, perfection but was it really? Nope.

[Ceaser9857361]

****************SPOILER ALERT*******************

Sam being the villain wouldn't have been good Why? i dont know about you but most of us was guessing that SAM will be the villain and blah blah! but he turned out to be the one who helped Nate and stayed together... In fact a fren of mine got pissed off when i said Sam and Nate had a special bond together and he was liked damn! i thought he was the bad guy and has come to take revenge and said i just gave him a spoiler :P ... Also when Nate and Sam bumped into Rafe i thought here it is Sam's gonna double cross Nate but instead he took a bullet in his arm for him...

[Soc5]

Fox I disagree, that trailer sounded so cheesy, I'm glad they went with the current version. I agree long lost brother isn't great premise, but long lost evil brother, I didn't want that and I'm glad I got to play alongside Sam and bond with the character.

Of course some wanted the Hennig version. And I understand, but people disagree on everything I have heard some say that there was too much action I heard others say there was not enough action some said there was too much stealth some said there was not enough stealth, some like the ending some hated the ending it's hard to please everybody. But in my opinion this version was what I would have chosen.

Evil Sam doesn't sound interesting in my humble opinion. Do you remember the ending of UC3? It was pretty bad. I think the ending is why it was not as widely praised as 2. It felt too similar. And that was written by Hennig. And the franchise needed a breath of fresh air.

So the point is not that you are wrong but that I'm just someone saying nah, I prefer this version and I really appreciate the touches added that are clearly straley and druckman. Without them you probably don't get the scenes driving in the jeep bonding with Sam and Sully and you don't get the scene in the house with Sam and Nate as kids looking around for their moms things. I really loved those parts. So I disagree but in a friendly way. Nothing personal.

Also not everyone who disagrees with you is a "Naughty dog fanboy" UC4 isn't above critique for me, I found some things in the game that I would have critiqued or changed. Like the use of music for instance, I found parts of the game were oddly quiet and I would have added a more emotional score to liven the moments during quieter time and add more emotion.

Maybe a lot of people just don't agree with your vision for what the game could be? Just because you feel strongly about your opinion doesn't mean everyone else will agree with you and if they don't then they must be fanatical. When u think like that it makes you similar to the people you are attacking no? Maybe some disagrees are from fanboys but screw em if they are. but I just wanted to chime in to let you know not all disagrees are from that camp.

[Geekman]

You know, I'm gonna have to agree with Foxtrot here. You people need to learn to look at criticism, or just different opinions in general, objectively. Without going ape shit.

[Rachel_Alucard]

@Fox

Trying to think outside of the norm here is frowned upon. If you criticize games like Uncharted, Last of us, Halo 5, gears, you name it and point out ANY flaws the game has a handful of close-minded fans will jump out to defend it because (insert your favorite game here) is perfect and has 0 flaws whatsoever according to the consesnus. (Hell even the first comment on here cements that statement). If you even think saying an original idea is better than a cliched idea then you can also bet a rush of comments acting like they work at (insert your favorite developer here) and will how the original idea was shit and the one we got was much better, despite having no insight to the former.

This is also probably one of the few sites where you can point out everything wrong with a universally terrible game and get disagrees and one of the few sites with a system that tracks disagrees instead of just negating agree points like everyone else. You end up with comments that sweep everyone under the same rug despite everyone having differing opinions, you just only see the people who go out of their way to defend it if its allowed.

[TheDivine]

The story was amazing IMO. The gameplay too, most fluid and fun gunplay and stealth of the series. Where they fudged up IMO was the pacing. I remember four sections each over an hour long where the only purpose is to essentially pad the game. Driving around Madagascar was terrible IMO as was the boat section. Driving the jeep through the jungle was a nice Un2 throwback but dragged on and killed momentum. The Scotland section (I think) where you go through all the sliding puzzles was terribly boring also. Could've cut hours off the slow sections and it would've made it infinitely better. I also hated how they kept taking control away anytime a conversation happened, someone pointed out something in the distance, and all the cart puzzles. Momentum killers and it took over a minute anytime a companion made a remark so Nathan would slow to a crawl until they finished. It also needed a few more set pieces. Nothing lived up to my expectations of a next gen Uncharted. Nothing bombastic at all. Still loved it but I will never replay it due to these issues.

Highlight of the game for me though was the freedom to tackle combat anyway I want. Encounters were set up like a playground with stealth, rope swings, platforming to flank or escape exc. it was where the gameplay shined in the same way MGS5 did. It breaks my heart that we won't get another one now that ND has finally made the gameplay fun. Before It was mediocre tps with epic setpieces, great characters, and story. It nailed the blockbuster feel but it was never tight and fun to get into shoot outs like gears was. This game changes that and holy shit is it amazing. I remember stealthing a whole encounter until spotted, swung away and wound up doing a KO drop on a guy I didn't know was there, immediately rolled off a ledge and wound up doing another KO kill dropping on a guy I didn't know was there, rolled behind cover and killed one guy, jumped up to climb a ledge and pulled a guy down I didn't know was standing there, swung over and KO dropped on a a guy, and then shot the rest all in about twenty seconds. It was all spontaneous and emergent. That is what ND needs to focus on. AMAZING!

[NotanotherReboot]

Agreed Foxtrot.

[Aeery]

Sorry but between "generic evil long lost brother" and "generic long lost brother who suddenly turns up and becomes best buds" there is no comparison.
ND took the right approach and works really well.
From any perspective that was the right choice and I'm sorry, you are not right.

[ShadowWolf712]

Sam being the villain would have been the lamest idea in that entire series, bro.

[BeardedPriest]

I think you're right Fox. It's too bad that people will not allow criticism. I have platinumed both UC1 & UC2 and TLoU... I loved all those games.

UC4 was good but I would have preferred more shooting.

I guess gamers these days don't need action as much. Look at the criticism for Bioshock Infinite... Some claimed it had too much action. Look at TLoU's DLC... Many people were ok with it having less action.

[Christopher]

***Sam's role in this game is perfect the way it is.
We have never cared for a video game character as much as Sam. ***

No and no.

Sam was shoe-horned in and made no sense in Nate's past.

Sam is not even close to the top of the list of cared-for characters for me.

The game was fine overall, but the whole "brother from outta nowhere!" thing just felt contrived on its own. They handled well the writing around that, but I honestly think they could have presented a better ending to the story. Is what we have horrible? No. But, it felt like a TV show that wanted to have some sort of "last season" surprise that couldn't be guessed at all because it existed completely outside of the story you have been told in the first three seasons of the show.

[jcnba28]

Agreed.. for once.. lawl!

[NecoTehSergal]

Am I the only one who thinks Amy is being given too much credit for Uncharted's story? Everyone is acting like she's a Godess of story-telling and it's like they're trying to make it sound like most of Uncharteds' story and success are all thanks to her.

I really get a feeling she's getting too much credit, Naughty Dogs ability to tell a story without her is perfectly fine and nothing is lost. "She is gone, the game is likely not as great as it could've been!" is all I see from time to time. Yet no evidence to prove such claims.

[ChronoJoe]

Yep, in fact Naughty Dogs most successful narrative driven games were all written without Amy.

If anything I think her story telling is rather dull. Uncharted 3 has the most plot holes of any Uncharted title, and it's story is just a rehash of Uncharted 2, with some unexplained elements (Talbot) and a less interesting villain (Marlow).

This is just one example of why I prefer U4 to Amy's Uncharted titles, but I feel that Uncharted 4 had the courage to do what Uncharted 3 lacked, which is featuring a female villain who actually comes across as strong and formidable. Talobts only role in Uncharted 3 was to serve as the hand of Marlow, making him a very dull character in himself, while she failed to prove intimidating as the games villian. The dynamic worked much better with Uncharted 4 where Nadine and Rafe present as a much more interesting pair of antagonist. Uncharted 3 barely explains Talbot and his motivations, his character isn't one-dimensional, it's near non-existent, and that's Amy's work.

[Saigon]

@Foxtrot

you are giving her too much credit. ND was famous before she came into the picture and I expect them to continue. Remember they where the first to develop the no loading during certain sequences during video game play...to me if they were able to figure out the biggest piss off for a gamer, they had high hopes. Uncharted pushed ND into the legendary status, but to be honest they have been there since jak and dexter. Now the questions is, whats next.

[NecoTehSergal]

@Foxtrot - You praise her this much, but we do not know what she did outside of Uncharted 1 and what her ideas mixed with the team, how much were her own etc, and what she did or didn't do. Or simply took all the credit for herself in what would normally be a team-coordinated story that the main guys at Naughty Dog 'With' her all devised.

It's the same stereotype where Miyamoto will be given all the praise for any game he's involved in, but any talented staff under him working on the game will get zero credit. Everyone is stuck at believing the mastermind is one person. Kojima at the very least makes it clear, as much as he throws his name everywhere on his games, that his team is extremely important and nothing would be as it is without them by his side.

Now we got Amy, where, every and all piece of credit goes to her, even though much of what makes the game great, gameplay, story, plot, seamless mechanics and the Ice Teams contribution, all of it is nothing - because Amy isn't there to help with the story. Bruce Straley and Neil Druckmann I think have proven themselves competent players in their own right, they begun to advance and participate more in the story with Uncharted 2 and The Last Of Us, which are arguably the strongest games of both franchises of the modern time, Uncharted 1 and 3 weren't praised as high but Uncharted 2 was the best to most people and TLoU. Naughty Dog no doubt will continue making great stories and new IP's with great stories and prove that they're still on fire.

You downplay Neil because he wanted to kill Elena? So? Gaben wanted to kill Alyx in Half-Life 2. No one starts crying at Gaben about what could've been.

[showtimefolks]

hoffmann

uncharted 3 was the worst uncharted game for me so i was one of the happy gamers when she left(or was let go)

uncharted 2 co directors
the last of us co game directors
uncharted 4 co game of directors

and soon to be co the last of us 2 game directors

best in gaming

[-Foxtrot]

Highly unfair on Amy with Uncharted 3.

If you read into the development videos and interviews Sony pushed for Uncharted 3 a lot more with Uncharted 2 being so big meaning in a sense they were rushed and didn't get the time like they did with Uncharted 2.

I thought 3 could have been better but considering the time she got with it she did an alright job unlike the team for the Last of Us who had more time and a fresh new IP to captivate us more.

[Naughty_Cloud]

@fox I have never heard of Sony pushing UC3 to be shipped early. Sounds like u are so fanboying to Amy, that u will make any excuse for her own mistakes. She is a perfect human being, she possibly can't make any mistakes.

[showtimefolks]

fox

that's the first i am hearing about sony actually pushing nd at anything

nd have repeatedly said sony gives them freedom to do what they want and how they want

ammy just wasn't a good game director. nothing wrong with being very good but not one of the best

uncharetd 2
the last of us
uncharted 4

that's 3 games that were very well received so there is a different standard and ammy didn't meet the standard

[miyamoto]

Chapter 22 of Uncharted 4 is one of the best levels ever made!
Unforgettable Uncharted Level.

[IamTylerDurden1]

Yet, Uncharted 4 is going to be GotY.

Most would agree that Uncharted 4 had a better story and was a better game than Uncharted 3. Amy Hennig wrote Uncharted 3 and had the most creative control out of any Uncharted game in number 3.

Face it, Neil wrote a better game in Uncharted 4 than Hennig did in Uncharted 3. I think Uncharted 4 had a perfect tone for the a final chapter. It's a nearly flawless game.

[showtimefolks]

neil

uncharted 2
the last of us
uncharted 4

ammy uncharted 3

game of the year awards
sales
etc, all favor games neil directed

[ShadowWolf712]

@showtime

Amy was co-director on Uncharted 2 with Bruce Straley dude.

Now you're not giving her enough credit and giving Druckmann a bit too much.

[Christopher]

I admit the story in Uncharted 4 is better than Uncharted 3, but that's honestly not saying much. Heck, the writing in DA Inquisition is better than the writing in DA2. That doesn't somehow make Inquisition a stellar piece of writing.

I don't think it was too hard for any competent writer to write a better story than Uncharted 3. That doesn't mean the Uncharted 4 story is deserving of the praise it gets, IMHO. It's a good story, better than 3, but still less than 2 and, IMHO, less than the original.

[trooper_]

They're running out of nitpicks for this game.

[frostypants]

Exactly. The only Uncharted that felt "off" to me was Uncharted 3, and Hennig was involved in that one.

[jcnba28]

I agree with the article though. Uncharted 4 was just missing something the previous games had.

[Horyzon]

lol Uncharted 4 with "massive identity problems" is the best game of the year, best game of the generation, and 3rd game with most perfect scores (38) of ALL TIME, only losing to Uncharted 2 (39) and The Last of Us (42). Lmao, I think we need more games with "massive identity problems", God of War is probably going to be the next one, looks so different. Thank God.

[KiloFive]

The game has no set-pieces (and by that I mean UC level set pieces), no supernatural twist, the super linear pacing is destroyed, etc. I wrote the article, and just to clarify I think Uncharted 4 is a phenomenal game that will almost definitely be GOTY. But it still has identity issues that are especially noticeable for those that have played through the trilogy a lot.

[Deadpooled]

'no set pieces (and by that I mean UC level set-pieces)'

Lol what game were you playing? From the top of my head (having completed the storyline a month ago, been a while) there were at least three.

'no supernatural twist'

Was a main complaint from some players of previous Uncharted games, but even in UC4 those traps set by Avery of mummies blasting out death circle things?

'the super linear pacing is destroyed'

Another complaint from some players of previous Uncharted games, UC4 is much more open world allowing players to explore but has a direction based on the storyline the writers are trying to present.

[KiloFive]

@Deadpooled I don't want to get into spoilers, but if you've played Uncharted 2 and especially 3, can you honestly say Uncharted 4's 'setpieces' are even remotely close to it in terms of spectacle and quantity? I mean think about Uncharted 3's ship sequence, or the plane falling out of the sky in real-time. Nothing came close to that in UC4. There was only the E3 demo setpiece which is a sequence, as I explain in the article, that has been in all Uncharted games.

[johndoe11211]

you wrote this tripe? I swear, I thought this was a satire piece. I didn't think anyone would be serious about an article like this. Uncharted is an adventure game about finding ancient treasure, that and that alone is the ONLY thing that defines this series. It doesn't need to have any supernatural twists to make it an uncharted game. If U4 was about going into a country to steal secret files to topple the government THEN you could say it wasn't an uncharted game.

"Hours pass with minimal gun combat as puzzles and platforming sections are littered everywhere. Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley’s decision to open up the environments also effects the pacing in a negative way by both not giving players enough people to shoot at in those sections and further messing with the Uncharted’s identity that is entrenched in linearity without shame"
This right here is THE most ludicrous negative statement I have ever seen about this game. Please state those sections with hours of minimal gun combat. How the hell could opening up the environment affect the pacing negatively? Does that statement even make any bloody sense? They gave you a whole new way to tackle every situation catering to the different play styles of players. You could play the same section 5 times and tackle it 5 different ways, how in any universe is that a bad thing? not giving enough people to shoot at??? did you even play the bloody game?

Ok, I'm out. Just how desperate are you for clicks?

[ShutUpDonny]

The no surnatural twist was my favorite part.

[KiloFive]

@johndoe11211 let's keep it civil. When we speak this way it makes games criticism look childish and worthless, we should be trying to raise the level of criticism.

When they open up the environment, it takes more time to get through it. I was exploring it in depth and that is what killed the pacing. Because now the next gun fight, as the game already has much fewer than past titles, is even further away.

This then creates a domino effect where between the intro and final act, the pacing is all messed up. That is how opening up the environments negatively effects the game's combat* pacing (as I think the narrative pacing was dealt with brilliantly)

[KiloFive]

@ShutUpDonny It's not that there wasn't any supernatural twist in and of itself. This is what I meant:

"What certainly contradicts the series’ identity – going back to the set-pieces point – is the missing supernatural twist. I was indifferent about the decision and actually didn’t mind until the game ended without a grand spectacle of uncovering a lost city full of riches after unlocking a mile-high gate adorned with trinkets, akin to Uncharted 3’s ending, and escaping as the world crumbled around you. That’s all gone, and instead the player swims towards a ship and is done with it all. This is also after what seemed like a lifetime of platforming. When I entered the room with all the treasure I had been hunting throughout the campaign, I only took a cursory glance at it before making my way to the door and dueling Rafe Adler. That’s not how to end an Uncharted game. I understand Druckley’s – yes, that is a combination between Druckmann and Straley – creative need to change things up a little, but the change should improve on what was already there. And to change things so violently in the fourth and final entry of an established series just doesn’t work."

[MONOLITHICIDE]

Completely agree. What set pieces are in uncharted 4. What a building being blown up from artillery fire. Where was the super natural. Mummies exploding. Wow not super at all. Love the game but i agree. Major let down. Love the multiplayer though. I played through uncharted 1 and 2 i dont know how many times. 3 a couple but 4 i just dont care. There wasnt any holy crap moments. Just some oh here we go now were getting somewhere oh wait nothing. Why didnt we fight any of the pirates ghosts or see the huge battle taking place to reclaim their treasure. So on so on.

[Cohagen420]

Pass that stuff you're smoking, I need to be delusional for a couple of hours.

[Ashunderfire86]

So that live 14 minute gameplay demo we all saw at E3 2015, and online of Uncharted 4 wasn't a set piece? What game were you playing? That whole level especially with the Clock Tower and Puzzle was a series of set pieces. That Cathedral in Scotland had the slide in the cave set piece! Or what about the bridge in the jungle that collapse as Nathan and Elena drive on it, only for them to fall in the river leading towards a waterfall! You claim that is not a set piece? This game has more set pieces than Uncharted 1,2, and 3 combine!

[jer1122]

What are you talking about the Madagascar set-piece is the best set piece ever played Uncharted game are you kidding me . Driving the jeep and then you're being pulled on the back of the truck then get on the motorcycle that was the best that piece in Uncharted with all the crazy destruction and stuff that was happening

[Dark_Knightmare2]

What the Jeep chase in kings bay is better than any setpiece in the series,the military apc chasing nathan towards the end of the game through the libertalia docks and buildings, the jeep hanging off the cliff in Madagascar was heart racing, the clock tower setpiece,the Jeep setpiece with Elena and Nathan through the raging water, the elevator setpiece with Nathan and Elena, the tower exploding in libertalia with Nathan and Sam while fighting Nadine, the crumbling tomb thing in Scotland to name just a few. I'm one of the biggest uc fans and always hated the supernatural twist so thank god it wasn't there in 4 especially since it wouldn't have made sense tonally with the story 4 told, people always nitpicked about the linear nature of the series so they listened and I for one appreciated the open design of the levels and actually getting to explore like Nathan would. I'm sorry but these reasons you named sound like nitpicks to hit a word count for an article made for nothing but clicks.

[SamPao]

Uncharted 3 had a supernatural twist?

[P_Bomb]

What do you mean "especially noticeable to those that have played through the trilogy a lot"? Speak for yourself. I've platinumed all 4 games and I disagree.

Game had UC level set pieces. The car chase/truck rope pull/motorcycle chase was fantastic. I enjoyed the cave collapse in Scotland quite a bit too along with the military gauntlets in Libertalia. Loved the open driving sections. All of them.

If you were expecting a supernatural twist, is it really a twist? I'm glad they kept it grounded for once and a more personal story. Keeps it interesting for "those that have played through the trilogy a lot".

[Soc5]

It's called growth, if anything the game industry is in an identity crisis. All the past gaming stereotypes and cliches are being questioned and reevaluated. Artists make the mold and then break the mold. They are not content in remaking the same thing over and over ala set pieces, supernatural twist( which many many people hated) linear pacing( uh you want this??)

I mean if it were up to me they would have had even more of an identity crisis by changing even more than they did.
But a big game company can only Change so much without fear of alienating fans.
So I call for more "identity crisis" in games we need fresh new ideas and gameplay and Ai innovations.
Get with the times buddy or they will pass you by.

[ShadowWolf712]

Actually, I'd argue the lack of a Supernatural twist is what made the game and really drove home its point.

As I was playing, I was waiting for this twist, some cursed idol or treasure that drove men into madness, made these captains turn on each other, cursed pirate gold, etc. I was practically rolling my eyes as we approached Avery's ship. It was coming. I could feel it. And then... no Supernatural element. Nothing forced these people to turn on one another, nothing cursed anyone who touched it, no outside force corrupted them. It was sheer human greed, plain and simple.

The greatest twist in this entire series came when there was no twist, and Nathan and Sam learned that the greed of man is one of the greatest, most deadly curses of all. A fitting way to end off, imo.

[InTheLab]

How would a writer affect the set pieces?

[jessionpc]

Couldn't agree more.

The pacing was awful, the puzzles weren't there and the non supernatural twist was SO UNLIKE the ENTIRE rest of the series. Lets just make a new Halo game: Bachelor BBQ getaway and just leave that covenant out of it.

This is 1 of those games that are indeed really really good, but as a ~~GAME~~ <--- it's shit. No replay value, shit multiplayer. It's a 1 time story playthrough 80 dollar 14 hour movie.

I feel like games like this should be reviewed in their own SEPARATE catagory, like, "Interactive movie game". It would make a lot of sense. People are going to get 1000 hours playthrough of the shitty downgraded 7 days to die ps4 game, yet those same people get 15 hours in this game, then it's destined to rot in your library for all time.

[MatrixxGT]

Hahaha, if anything the supernatural twist at the end of the trilogy games broke the immersion.

Identity problem my ass. If anything U4 set out to be grounded, realistic, believable, and heart touching ending the series and naughty dog nailed it. With or without Amy.

[The 10th Rider]

Actually, this gen there's also been Super Mario 3D World, Metal Gear Solid V, and Witcher 3 (on PC) that are just as highly acclaimed. Uncharted 4 is great and all, but it's hardly a unanimous game of the generation.

[remixx116]

Take mgs 5 off that list, it was a decent game but was a bad metal gear solid game and got over blown praise.

Also I don't think 3d world is game of the generation material, I'm about 3/4 of the way through it and it's very good but no super Mario Galaxy.

Witcher 3 I agree with though but so far bloodborne, uncharted 4 and Witcher 3 are the only game of the generation level games. Hope horizon zero dawn, the last guardian and zelda BoTW reaches that level.

[The 10th Rider]

Oh, I don't think Metal Gear Solid V deserves it at all. Nor Super Mario 3D World. . .But they are just as highly acclaimed. I'm just saying that Uncharted 4 is hardly the unanimous game of the generation. Maybe on this site, but certainly not elsewhere.

Right now I'd have to say it's probably Witcher 3, if you've got the PC version that runs at a solid FPS. On consoles I'd probably lean towards Uncharted 4. I think the best games of this gen are still to come out, though.

[supes_24]

@The10th Rider,
I've played Super Mario 3D World, MGS V, and Withcer 3 (on PS4). Here are the results of those games: Beat Mario with my 4 yr old, returned MGS V ( couldn't stand that game, and I've played 1-3), and I couldn't get in to the Witcher. Having said that, I've also played Uncharted 4 and IMO, it blows all of them out the water by a friggen long shot. There's my vote for unanimity.

[lobocob]

If anyone was fanboy enough to call 3D world game of the generation I'm jumping off a bridge

[OnceUponAGoat]

@supes_24
You're saying you didn't give the Witcher 3 a proper go but also saying UC4 blasted it out of the water. Maybe play the Witcher 3 before you make a statement like that. It is hard not to say that was a generation game.

[dRanzer]

"Witcher 3 on pc?"
You realize that not everyone playing on 970/980 right?
Do you mean pc or high end pc?

[The 10th Rider]

I openly just said that I don't consider 3D World the game of the generation, juat that it's as highly rated.

You don't need a 970 or 980 to run Witcher 3 better than a console, you could run it fine on the new RX 460. My brother is running it on a 3 year old $900 gaming laptop. Today, that's not even a $400 desktop. It runs on higher settings than a console and at a better frame rate.

[Erik7357]

I was expecting it to be a little darker based off the original reveal for it

[IGiveHugs2NakedWomen]

Exactly. Uncharted 4 did just fine without Hennig.

[jessionpc]

Best game of the generation?

Oh my gosh, hahahahahahaha <- that would go on for quite awhile if I didn't fear repercussion.

It's a 1 time playthrough at best with ZERO replay value with the most polished mediocure mutliplayer I've ever seen in a video game in the last 20 years. It was a good single player game. Long for a movie game, with great acting, voice, mus- well, just pretty much perfect everything.

But to match that VS The rest of the generation, "which isn't finished", is absolutely fkn insane. Witcher 3 ruins this game. Zelda will ruin this game. Bloodborne ruins this game, and several, several others. It's great, but it's not ONE of the, "greats". Nobody will be coming back and playing this 20 years from now like we still do Chrono Trigger till this day.

BTW: Reviews are subjective and absolutely nothing else. Don't let yourself fall into tribalistic mentality, you'll work at Walmart for the rest of your life. If you love the game above all else then that's so awesome and i'm happy for you, but drop an IMO where it's appropriate, your coming off as a school bus kid swearing the coolest game EVR is the one everyone talks about.

Loved the 4 hours of climbing btw.

[Trez1234]

But somehow ALOT of gamers that actually bought the game are enjoying that " mediocre " multiplayer. You should try it, it's a blast :)

[Nyxus]

I guess I missed that massive problem.

[ritchi45]

I think we all did lol

[Pongwater]

If only more games had such massive problems.

[Deadpooled]

What massive identity problem? If there was one the game would not be praised as highly as it currently is.

[KiloFive]

Read the article to find out.

[Deadpooled]

And give you ad click revenue after being proven by almost every commenter on here about how clickbaity it is (which in turn is starting to generate heat here on n4g, almost always the ridiculous ones that get heat)? Um, how about...... no.

[KiloFive]

@Deadpooled I have a big issue with the level of games criticism. We can converse like adults and have an actual conversation instead of stooping to 'I don't want to give you ad revenue'. And just a disclaimer, I'm not out to hate on Uncharted. I think the Uncharted games are some of the best ever. And I think The Last of Us is the best game ever period. Uncharted is my 2nd favorite series, I'm not out to bash it.

I wanted to get the reaction of those who have played UC 1 2 3 dozens of times and see if they felt the same way as I did.

[remixx116]

It seems like your problem with the game is its overall maturity level and difference from the previous games. They were trying to step away from the over the top set pieces though they still had a decent amount.

They played with what you expected to happen, you thought crumbling city, supernatural monsters, big revelation. How many times can you beat the same horse.They played on all of your expectations and you are mad that what you assumed was going to happen didn't happen.

Trust me if they tried the same thing over again, everyone including possibly you would have found another criticism, maybe something along the lines of "uncharted 4 plays it to safe" or "uncharted 4 is to scared to break away from its identity" or how about "uncharted 4- the recycling dude raider".

You people need to find something has? Can't please everyone.

[Pongwater]

My reaction after playing the previous games multiple times :

UC4 is easily the best in both story and gameplay. Reading some of your "problems" in comments above, what I see are positives mixed in with idkwtf you're talking about. I was particularly glad there was no supernatural twist. If I hadn't known there wasn't one ahead of time I would have been dreading such a twist.

[Number-Nine]

Uncharted 3 wasn't great either and she was behind it. I don't think that's quite it.

[KiloFive]

I agree but UC3's sins are its in plot hole filled story. It is still an Uncharted game through and through. UC4 just takes so much of its identity and tosses it to the side.

[BiggerBoss]

What plot holes are you speaking of?

[KiloFive]

@BiggerBoss Honestly my friend, I could write a 10,000 word essay on the subject. You can find a lot online. I've not spoken about a game as much as UC3, my mind is literally numb. And I still think it's a 10 :P

[Sparta07]

Dude!! Puff, puff and pass.

[shuvam09]

In all fairness to your article, did you ever notice the premise of the game???
The PS3 trilogy was an entirely different timeline, when Nathan had young blood flowing through his veins...
On one side you had Nathan flirting with Chloe, and on the other you had him behave manly with Nadine...
Nathan is an aged, married and thus a more sensible man, looking for one last opportunity to go on a swashbuckling adventure only because of his brother, Sam...
That is where the sense of Uncharted's reality stems from, evoking humane emotions...
How would you feel about an aged, married man going on grand adventures???
Could you ever relate to him then? No...
Agreed Hennig brought a sense of adventure to the Uncharted series, but here we are talking about possibly a final sendoff to Drake...
Would you have the game end on another cliffhanger or a satisfying ending to an incredible journey???
I choose the latter one and that is what Druckmann and co. delivered...

[wellard]

Uncharted 4 had an identity problem? I never noticed. I thought it was epic.

[BLKxSEPTEMBER]

UC4 was a good game but the pacing was off. To much downtime not enough shooting. Other than that it was a good game. Not my personal game of the year but still a very good game.

[WickedLester]

Ridiculous! A Thief's End is my second favorite in the series behind part 2.

[T2X]

No set pieces? Does the writer know what qualifies as a set piece? How about the opening sequence, the clock tower, the chase? There was no identity crises at all that I could see. And the super linear pace being destroyed? These games are crafted in such a way to not really allow for open world. Otherwise you'd just be traipsing through jungles or cities without much purpose. They have to resolve at some point although I wish it went on forever, it's not feasible. And I believe we can live without too much supernatural stuff, but that's my opinion. I thought it was a fitting end for now. Although you just know his daughter is going to star in the next one, or be kidnapped and need him and ElEna to rescue her in UC5 on PS5 I'm calling it right now........title too: A Thief's return! Or Revenge!

[KiloFive]

This is a point I am very passionate about. From the outside, I understand how my argument sounds insane. But what people must realize is that Uncharted set-pieces are not just any kind of set-pieces. In Uncharted 3, I explain more in the article, the player literally, in real time, gets into and flies off a falling plane. The opening sequence was not a UC setpiece. A ship just hit you. The clock tower was more like a half-set piece, and the chase sequence is in every Uncharted game. Now even if we say the clock tower counts, does it compare to a ship capsizing, again in real time, in Uncharted 3? Of course not.

About the linearity point, the game opens up but theres nothing to really do. And there are only a handful of enemies. The driving part in Madagascar is the best example.

[morganfell]

"Does the writer know what qualifies as a set piece?"

No. No they do not.

[kranker]

Nonsense article. Best game of the year so far. The supernatural twists were the worst part of the previous games.

[Christopher]

Disagree on the supernatural twists being the worst part of the previous games. Those solidified the game for me as being akin to Indiana Jones in that they were meant to be pulp action games and not games with more "reasonable" tones that can be reflected upon easily by mundane beings. They also allowed you the opportunity to play against something more than just human, allowed the gameplay to elevate above the standard "shoot human here". Was it a huge elevation? No, but it added to the potential gameplay more than just throwing more humans at you or a vehicle that required a rocket launcher to take out.

[yomfweeee]

Did the author really just complain about it not being super linear anymore?

[Deadpooled]

Yes he did lmao

[KiloFive]

Uncharted is unabashedly linear and many have criticized it for that. I'm a big advocate for linear games. I was fine that they opened up the environments for the combat but their application of that screwed up the pacing. They could have had bigger areas for combat while still keeping the pacing tight.

[Soc5]

Kilo you're obviously a passionate fan and not being treated that well lol so I'll dialogue with you respectfully.
Here's what a lot of people with strong opinions like you have trouble with. Your opinion is your opinion it's subjective, so if you love linearity then great, but a lot of people including myself like choices, I like a more open world I like to go traipsing over to the waterfall and look around and see what I find. I like checking out the environment. Maybe you don't. So ND gives you the option to just cruise on through you don't have to look under every nook and cranny, so if you're that type of player than just go to the next stage, it's not like you're going to get lost. Just speed to the next checkpoint I go back and play some missions and speed through since I already looked around. You have the option to dawdle or have a more direct route, it's up to you. And that's what good game design is about, giving players choices, choice involves the player more. Choice makes the player feel more like he's the character rather than a mindless drone moving in a line from point a to b. If you like linearity that's fine for you but many also like big areas. So for you to critique that option is like saying putting pickles on a burger is wrong. It's not wrong it's a choice you are given. It's up to you to figure out what you put on your gaming burger lol
And being given choices usually isnt considered a bad thing. Unless you are a child then you just get two options
Hot dogs and chicken tenders. But as you grow up then so do your options. Gaming is growing up.

[King_Lothric]

Definitely not the Uncharted 4 that I played. How people dig problems where there is non is amazing.

[fatsodubmo]

To me UC4 was by far the most engaging UC story. It also trumped all of the other UC's in combat, visuals, mechanics, locations, dialogue, etc etc etc. To me, not having Amy Henig seemed to be a huge net positive. I never thought Id say this before playing UC4, but I might actually like it more than TLOU.

[Ashunderfire86]

Great game with the best set pieces, but I still think The Last of Us was the best, especially with the story.

[fatsodubmo]

I said "might"...😉

[SmokingMonkey]

Call me when Bruce Straley and Neil Druckmann leaves Naughty Dog.

[game4funz]

You bet it has an identity problem. It's already been forgotten and shelved by most.
Don't remember that with uncharted 2 or last of us.

It trys to be open world needlessly and the open world aspects are a complete bore and trivial.in other words... Unnecessary.

Set pieces are gone. Except for that e3 trailer sequence. If any other part of the game can be considered an uncharted set peice... Then please move onto other games for set pieces as many games have set pieces the likes of those.

The interesting characters you want with you are never with you... Instead you get a forced in brother who you don't care about.

No supernatural.... And no the mummies are booby traps.. Heck the game even pokes fun at you for expecting a supernatural enemy.

All in all a decent game but for me at least it's far from game of the year. Heck I think ratchet has a better chance. Not an insult. Ratchet and clank is a good game.

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

There were mlre setpieces than previous games. Juat because teb camera doesn't zoom in/out in a cinematuc way to gake the control from you while in the action doesn't mean they aren't setpieces

[game4funz]

Not at all what I consider an uncharted set peice.
Where did I say it involved the camera moving in and out?

The. Biggest set peice in the game is actually the climbing sequences. I never knew climbing in uncharted could drag for the entire game.

[windblowsagain]

I haven't read the article, but I really wanted it to have a supernatural ending. Ghost pirates etc.

I don't know what Hennig's ending would have been or how much her version differs etc, But as much as I loved the game. There was something missing and I don't think it's Amy's input.

[TChanGaming]

Uncharted 4 pacing was the biggest problem. I know this is an Uncharted game but damn this game had a ton of unnecessary climbing that could of easily been cut out. The Jeep sequence was the only memorable set piece in the game. I think the game ended perfectly for Drake to conclude his adventures. Overall good game just expected more.

[jer1122]

Click bait dont do it. The article is stupid and nonsense

[Ashunderfire86]

This entire article is a pointless clickbait that doesn't make any sense! This whole game had more set pieces and action in any of the Uncharted games! Even the quiet moments and mystery to the story were great! The enemy A.I. is the best I seen in an Uncharted game. I find the really intense moments in the non scripted moments facing the enemies. Here look at my playthrough:

https://www.facebook.com/as...

[crazed_shadow27]

I liked the game, but was slightly disappointed. Pro's for me included the gameplay, mechanics, more open spaces, the graphics, and locations. Con's included story and pacing issues. I guess I was not invested in the whole Avery story as much I was with El Dorado, Shangri-La, or Iram of the Pillars. Those seemed a lot more mysterious to me. I would have loved to see a different legend or legendary city with a deep dark secret or supernatural element, rather than a pirate treasure. Heck, would've been ok with a plot more like Pirates of the Caribbean, Calypso, Davey Jones' locker, rather than just a ship with gold. I know many people mention pirate ghosts, but maybe those mutated creatures from PotC would have been cool enemies, or a giant squid guarding the treasure as a boss before the sword dual with Rafe. Also, I know the game was about Sam, but I wish it gave equal attention to Sully and Elena, and maybe included Chloe (we all know we miss that ass). My final gripe is that it was too predictable; the others kept me on the edge of my seat.

[WelkinCole]

So because it didn't follow the exact formula as the previous games it is lost its identity?.

Funny that. If they did I am pretty sure everyone is going to say that its the same game but better graphics lol!

[justGAMES]

The headline is ridiculous, no click for you 😊

[Big_Game_Hunters]

I just gave this site a click for everyone in this comment section saying they wont click, People need to calm down and stop letting someone else's opinion about a video game mentally harm them to such a degree.

[pootymcpoockle]

I thought it was the best entry in the series...

[Naughty_Cloud]

Well, you can't please everybody. Also to be fair UC3 was the worst of the series for me. UC2, UC4, UC, and then UC3 for me. With Druckmann behind UC4 and UC2.

[opinionated]

Absolutely.

[Jivesh]

Wow, we had completely different experiences

[Skankinruby]

All this nonsense nitpicking about pacing and set pieces makes absolutely no sense. Uncharted 4 was the best in the series in every way and it's success was completely deserved. No amount of straw grasping will change that.

[ASBO-5]

Identity Problem? could have fooled us

[kingoftheschnorrers]

Uncharted 4 was an absolute masterpiece. Only one thing could have lessened the joy of that game for me; reading a stupid article like this one. Close call!

[MasterCornholio]

Aer finishing The Witcher 3 I'll pick it up.

:)

[deafdani]

***** UNCHARTED 4 SPOILERS *****

I agree with some of the criticisms.

When the most spectacle you get from Uncharted 4 are:

A. When Drake uses the rope in the wrong way, making a giant boulder throw all of them off a cliff with their jeep and everything, and

B. When Drake falls from the church tower, and has to flee the falling giant bell...

...you know it just can't compare with the previous games when it comes to epic sequences.

Uncharted 3 had the whole plane section, and the whole pirates and giant ship section, the part where you flee a mansion that's being consumed by fire, etc. Uncharted 4 had the EPIC train sequence, and the falling building, among a couple other more. Uncharted 4 had... a jeep hanging by a cliff, and a giant falling bell. It was highly disappointing in comparison.

Also, the game had a lot of narrative discrepancies between gameplay and cutscenes. How came that Drake, Sam and Sully CONSTANTLY had the clues to know exactly where to go, and the bad guys didn't... and yet the bad guys always beat them to the punch every single time? That was stupid as hell. Not to mention how Rafe boasted that Sam wouldn't be capable of killing Nadine... when up to that point, the Drake bros had already murdered dozens of Nadine's men. Seriously?

Overall, the game's direction felt highly influenced by The Last of Us, in terms of gameplay AND narrative. I liked the character interactions in Uncharted 4 a lot, and the cutscenes were among the best in the whole series, but gameplay-wise, it felt lacking compared to the previous games, very toned down and inconsistent when stacked up with the game's narrative.

One thing I disagree with, though: the actual gunfights. I thought they were, far and large, the best of the whole series. The open ended nature of the levels when it came to the gun fights meant you had much more ways to handle any given confrontation than previous games, and that was a superb change in my opinion.

Overall, I still think Uncharted 4 is a great game... but it's my least favorite in the series, sadly. It just didn't blow my socks off in the same way than the first 3 games did.

[MasterCornholio]

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!

Yes there are people who haven't played this yet.

[deafdani]

The nature of this article calls for analizing this game, gameplay wise and story wise. It's directed to people that have already played it, so they can discuss whether they agree with the author or not.

If someone hasn't played this game, they shouldn't even be reading this kind of articles and comments if they don't want to be spoiled.

But still, I'll take note of your observation and edit my other post to add a spoiler alert.

[Subaruwrx]

I would've liked more gunplay vs more platforming and puzzle solving. Didn't like the introduction of Sam - the long lost brother trope is just soap opera bs and it didn't make any sense. I mean you'd think that Nate would've told Elena that he once had a brother. I'm a big fan of UC and I enjoyed UC4 but, it's my least favorite game in the franchise.

[cooksauce]

I know im going to get downvoted to hell but... I would agree. This game was great but, It didn't feel epic and the story was lackluster compared to previous entries. There were what? 2 puzzles? come on! They spent more time on "open" areas than they did on actual gameplay challenges. It felt like a very different uncharted for me and I guess thats why Its not my Favorite. Its close but would come in at number 2

[TwoForce]

This is a clickBait article. And I respect Amy and other her works. But things have changed even we like it or not, we have to move on. Uncharted 4 is still Uncharted with more personal, but it still contain light heart.

[thawind]

One of the takeaways of the Uncharted Series for me was always the supernatural element, which I thought took away from the games overall appeal. Amy Henna's Is a phenomenal writer and has contributed a lot to the series but her overall approach with the supernatural felt kinda Cliche' in sense. I personally feel Neil Druckmann and others really fleshed out the story better than Amy ever could, just my personal opinion. I think all the gripe surrounding UC4 is due to it's lack of set pieces compared to the previous Uncharted Games.

[fluxmulder]

I miss Hennig too. ND's games aren't as lighthearted and fun as they used to be.

[Soc5]

Game(s) plural? there has only been one, UC4, and her version was going to be darker making Sam evil

[PistolsAtDawn]

UC4 was a great game...not perfect, but the story/storytelling was not an issue it had...that was excellent

[StormLegend]

Really? and Uncharted 4 is awesome! Uncharted 3 was my least favorite, I got bored from the story and got tired of shooting the same type of enemies over and over. That game dragged on way too long. I didn't notice any difference from Uncharted 1-2 with U4. It's amazing in every way and miles better than U3

[CamBulls12]

From the same company. http://i.imgur.com/hsJXrBH....

[Christopher]

Different people can have different opinions and write for the same source.

[Sy_Wolf]

No, it didn't. The team that made 2, also known as the best one, worked on 4. They didn't start on The Last of Us. They implemented elements from The Last of Us to make the world feel more grounded in reality for sure, but it fit with the game and story. It wasn't forced in with no regard to the universe the game takes place in.

[Underworld]

I love Uncharted but I can see some of his points. Also, it seemed to me that 4 had A LOT more climbing than the others.

One thing I don't like about Uncharted fans is it seems you're not allowed to criticise it or you're a "hater". Very annoying. Excellent games but they're not perfect.

[PiperMCFierceson]

Yeah it was a really good game. Very enjoyable. In my opinion the best of the series.

[EmperorDalek]

The game is possibly the best action game out there, but the whole "Nate has a brother" story felt forced. If it was mentioned in previous games it would have been fine, but no. Same with the grappling hook, If he didn't use it as a kid in UC4 it'd be fine, but they created a big plot hole by forcing that into his past. He was so good at using it that he would have got another one, and there's plenty of situations he could have used it for. It should have been introduced in the current time, not the childhood backstory.

[Manubiggs]

Can't please everyone when you do something a little bit different

[SolidDuck]

Does the author realize the uncharted 4 team made uncharted 2. Stupidity everywhere.

[Christopher]

Henning was co-producer on Uncharted 2... not that stupid.

[madforaday]

She was a co-writer and co-director, she was working with people who also wrote/directed The Last Of Us.

[agame914]

Fuk outta here

[corroios]

I think title is wrong. They must be talking about another game. That got crap reviews, floped big time in sales, but some thought it would be a system seller.

[The_Sage]

This article is stupid. He harps on there not being and "set piece" multiple times then mentions the bell tower in passing, completely missing the fact that there are many small moments in the game rather than one large one. He also complains about there being less combat and more exploration, which is what fans have been asking for. Don't waste your time.

[Mr_Luke]

*meanwhile, in the real world, Uncharted 4 is a masterpiece*

Ah, the hatred and the sadness...

[NotEvenMyFinalForm]

Always like clockwork. Someone brings up some solid criticism about a game many people like and without even reading the first paragraph of the article everyone starts accusing the author of clickbait and blah blah blah. Fanboys gonna fanboy I guess.

[Circuitburnout]

omg

[Ethereal]

While I respect what Amy has done with the previous Uncharted games, I felt that Uncharted 4 was a step above in the writing department and character development/interaction.

[Jon_Targaryen]

My only plot hole was why was Drake alone in Uncharted 3 as a kid before meeting Sully, wouldnt his bro track him down if he was living off the streets? Plus Drake was quite the bad ass there, in UC4 he is a wimp as a kid... One doesnt go from wimp to sarcastic dude in about a year or so.

[Sweetbrandigirl]

What a load of Crap this story is ! I think the writter is trying to start a shit storm where none exist !

[yeahokwhatever]

Uncharted 4 is basically a perfect video game.

[jcnba28]

I agree with the article. Uncharted 4 was just missing something the previous games had. Didn't really enjoy it. Some parts felt like a chore.