One of the biggest games of the year is swinging in next week – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, but reviews for the highly-anticipated final installment in Naughty Dog’s award-winning franchise have already begun to emerge and, as expected, it’s sounding pretty incredible.
Here’s what the critics are saying:
Gameinformer — 9.5/10
“A Thief End’s is the best Uncharted yet, delivering a story I didn’t want to end, and an adventure that concludes with a hell of a payoff. The “wow” factor of the world exploding under Drake’s feet has diminished in the years following Uncharted 2, but those moments are still effective, and a true showpiece of the developer’s exquisite craftsmanship for world and gameplay design.”
GameSpot — 10/10
“Uncharted 4 is a challenge to the medium. In its writing, in its design, in its understanding of what makes games unique, Uncharted 4 is something to aspire to. It’s a shining example. And we’ll be talking about it for years to come.”
IGN — 8.8/10
“Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is a remarkable achievement in blockbuster storytelling and graphical beauty. Though it’s let down by a lack of imagination and some self-indulgence, especially in a third act that drags on far too long, Uncharted 4 carries on the series’ proud tradition of peerless polish and style. Most importantly, it’s a gentle sendoff to the rag-tag group of characters we’ve known for nine years. A worthy thief’s end, indeed.”
Eurogamer — Recommended
“As accomplished as Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is–as heroically as it bests its predecessors, as gracefully as it sidesteps their pitfalls–it’s not possible for it to have the seismic impact and far-reaching influence that Uncharted 2 did. Nor does it redefine the storytelling scope of the blockbuster action game like The Last of Us. It still does something remarkable for a major franchise video game, though: it doesn’t overdo its exit. It doesn’t immolate itself in a blaze of glory, it tells a story about people and finds peace in its resolution. It just ends. Fin.”
Digital Spy — 5/5
“It’s the most appetising game smorgasbord we’ve ever had the good fortune to sample, with just the right blend of impactful storyline, cinematic cutscenes, explosive set pieces, exploration, discovery, puzzle solving and good old shootouts. Uncharted 4 is the perfect ending to this console-defining series.”
Polygon — 9.0/10
“There is nothing cheap about how Naughty Dog has decided to retire this franchise–no door is left open for a crass surprise sequel–and there’s nothing ambiguous about its resolution. Every other Uncharted game has, to varying degrees, posed a question–“can a thief be good?”–and summarily moved on without wagering a guess. In finding an answer, Uncharted 4’s story soars, and presents a moving, fulfilling finale.”
VideoGamer — 8/10
“So there goes Nathan Drake, off into the sunset, and with him a whole generation of memories and other lies. The first three games haven’t aged well, and so it’s a relief that Uncharted 4, base similarities aside, feels markedly different to them. It’s a confident, assured, and rather more intelligent game than it first appears, and a strong end to the series.”
Destructoid — 9.5/10
“Stunning art direction; satisfying game feel; a willingness to shake up third-person action conventions, to know when to introduce variety, or let a foot up off the gas; excellent dialogue that reveals a lot without oversharing; and a heck of a conclusion. A thief couldn’t ask for a better end.”
Telegraph — 5/5
“It is rip-roaring stuff. There is no great illusion here; any risk that may have been associated with Nathan Drake’s introduction a decade ago has long gone, swept away in a tide of crowd-pleasing spectacle. But Uncharted 4’s swagger makes it easy to succumb to the ride, its craftmanship, sense of adventure and willingness to open up to its players providing a potent sugar-rush of popcorn gaming pleasure.”
The Sixth Axis — 10/10
“Uncharted 4 is more than masterful, bearing the hallmarks of a true system seller. What struck me most as an ardent fans of the series is how much it breaks away from the original blueprint yet manages to amaze on every level. Where many studios step safely from one sequel and into the next, Naughty Dog has taken a gigantic leap, proving yet again they’re the best in the business.”
GamesRadar — 4/5
“It’s a good conclusion for the series overall. Sure, it’s a little loose at the start, and tonally it tries hard to be so serious and grown up, but once it gets all that out of its system the Uncharted-ness comes through and we get to take Nate for one last spin, ‘Oh Craps’ and all.”
Well, I’m sold.
Article originally published on MenStuff.co.za.
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IGN’s 8.8 was later changed to a 10/10.