Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is one of the greatest video games ever made. Videogamedunkey's Youtube review is quite critical, but raises some good points. He laments that the climbing has no margin of error and questions the characters' swift forgiveness of each other after layers of deception are exposed. However, Dunkey has since revisited this review and agrees that it is over critical--he was indeed nitpicking and biased. The reality is that the flaws of Uncharted 4 pity in comparison to its strengths. Everything about it is top notch, from the gameplay to the graphics to the engrossing narrative.
First and foremost, this game is extremely lean. At roughly 17 hours to complete, Uncharted 4 sounds kind of short. However, the developers justify this in two ways: (1) there is not an ounce of fat on this game, and (2) this game is extremely re-playable because of this. The gameplay consists of exploration, climbing, combat, and cutscenes. None overstay their welcome and the variety both within and across these categories feels balanced and engaging. In other words, the pacing is consistent and extremely enjoyable even on returning play-throughs. I suppose I should acknowledge the puzzles, but they are only a few in the whole game and can be solved in minutes if not seconds. At best, they offer exciting set-pieces and at worst they do nothing to take away from the endless stream of fun that is this game. Even if there was nothing else, the gameplay alone makes Uncharted 4 a must-buy.
Despite already being a great game, Uncharted 4 has even more to offer. This game is gorgeous. Everything you look at is stunningly beautiful, and somehow gets better after leaving Scotland. If you like visually striking games, then this game is a must-buy.
Lastly, this game stands above the competition with its story. The characters feel like real people with real motivations, relationships, and flaws. The dialogue and cutscenes are a treat rather than a chore like in most games. On my first play-through, the story moved me to tears at multiple times and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the conflicts would unravel. On subsequent play-throughs I was less invested, but it still felt like I was watching a cherished childhood film I'd seen dozens of times. This game is a must-buy!
Please, please, please play this game. Uncharted 4 is the gold standard of gaming and I'm excited to play it again someday.
Oh yeah, this collection also includes The Lost Legacy. This quasi sequel/DLC story is fun to check out but fails to distinguish itself from other triple A titles in the way A Thief's End does. Its visuals are also breath-taking and has some great combat sections, but the pacing is awkward and the story is entirely forgettable. I also found Chloe to be a totally unlikable protagonist, but she at least has good chemistry with Nadine who is your partner for most of the game.
