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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, December 28, 2007

My View: 'Uncharted: Drake's Fortune'

By Jeffrey Davis
Special to The Advertiser

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Reviewer Jeffrey Davis says "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" is a game worth playing.

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THE VERDICT: FOUR

The ratings

5 — Outstanding: Add it to your collection now. A must-have.

4 — Great: Buy it or rent it — definitely play it.

3 — Good: Worth playing despite some flaws.

2 — Fair: Unless you're a fan of the license or series, don't bother.

1 — Poor: You'd have more fun playing Pong.

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Game: "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune"

Console: Playstation 3

Developer/publisher: Naughty Dog/Sony Computer Entertainment

Genre: Action/adventure

Number of players: 1

Rated: T for Teen for blood, language, mildly suggestive sexuality, use of tobacco and violence

The premise: Inside the 400-year-old coffin of Nathan Drake's ancestor lies the clue to a fortune. It is a clue to the fabled treasure of El Dorado. Join Nathan Drake on the search for adventure on a mysterious island filled with danger.

Gameplay: Judging by its creators, one would assume that this game would be a platformer like its previous games. It is not like Crash or Jak and Daxter, though. Instead it plays more like "Prince of Persia" or "Tomb Raider." It also combines the combat system of "Gears of War." This game feels familiar because it has elements you played from other games. It plays like an action movie, and you find yourself doing death-defying stunts with only your wits to help you.

The good/bad: It may be because of the controller setup, but it sure is weird playing an action game without a rumble feature.

Thanks to Blu-Ray, the game looks great. You will understand what I mean when you get to the scene where you get to see the ocean.

It may not be very realistic, but it would be very helpful if you were able to carry more than two weapons. You find yourself debating between a rocket launcher and a machine gun.

Even late in the game, it will still be dropping hints. It's good that there is an option to turn those same hints off.

Tips: Don't be in a hurry when doing complicated jumps. It will only make things worse.

Don't be afraid to engage in some unarmed combat because the game will reward you for your bravery with instant kills and bonus ammunition.

Take your time in gun fights. When the screen gets white, you are going to die. Hang back and let the color return. Wait for enemies to give you the right opportunity to hit them. It does you no good if you waste bullets, especially if you are surrounded.

My take: This game looks great, from the blades of grass to the ocean off in the distance. Normally I do not like games like this — they require patience, puzzle solving and, often, backtracking. But Uncharted plays like an action movie, and you will not linger on an area, doing an annoying puzzle.

Where you will get stuck is when you do the stunts, fail or are overwhelmed by enemies. Get used to dying ... a lot. Whether it be from a 100-foot fall, spike trap or bullet, death is everywhere.

I played this game because Naughty Dog titles are rewarding, not because I enjoy games like "Tomb Raider" or "Prince of Persia." This, with "Ratchet and Clank," should have been released as launch titles for the PS3, and if you have a PS3, it is a game worth playing.

Jeffrey Davis, of Honolulu, is a video game enthusiast.

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