Does the prequel to the series live up to Uncharted’s incredibly high standards?
If you are a fan of the series, Uncharted: Golden Abyss is a must have, no doubt. In fact, Golden Abyss is half of the reason I bought a Vita. The story is great, the visuals are stunning…it’s almost everything you would expect from an Uncharted title.
However, as a huge Uncharted fan, there are a few things about Golden Abyss that bother me.
I don’t like that I have to sit through tutorials in the beginning of the game. I understand that with the Vita’s new technology it’s necessary to teach me how to use it, but it grows very tedious. Golden Abyss seems like it was made for the player that has never touched an Uncharted in his or her life, and to me, a seasoned Uncharted player, I feel like I’m being babied. For those who aren’t familiar with Uncharted at all, the tutorials will not bother you, I’m sure. They are quite annoying, but they in no way ruin the experience.
The game starts out following Drake and his obnoxious old pal, Jason Dante. Dante has hired Drake to help him on his quest to uncover the mystery of a Central American jungle. A little later in the game you meet an archeologist named Marisa Chase. I almost like her more than Elena and Chloe… almost. I love that she is really passionate about treasure hunting; she’s not just along for the ride. The chemistry between Drake and Chase is a great one that makes for some flirty and funny moments.
The controls are the same as those of the console titles, with the exclusion of the L2 and R2 buttons. You can choose to use classic controls, you can utilize the Vita’s new technology, or if you’re like me, you can do a little of both. For instance, to platform you can either use “x” to jump or you can drag your finger along the path that you want Drake to follow. I find this to be one of the best new features in the game.
At first, I found it very difficult to control the analog sticks. Once I got adjusted to them, however, I had no problem killing off bad guys as usual. I turned up the aiming sensitivity in the Options menu, and that seemed to make the adjustment much smoother.
One of the more annoying aspects of the game is the forced use of the touch screen in certain situations. In melee combat, you are required to use the touch screen; there’s no getting around it. These forced swipes of the fingertip break up the action and make the combat feel slightly awkward. I really wish the swipes were optional. I just want to use square!
One of the things I love most about the Uncharted series is its ability to make me laugh, even when I’m on the verge of rage quitting. As usual, Nolan North does a fantastic job of voicing Nathan Drake. Nolan North, and the rest of the extremely talented voice actors, make Uncharted what it is: an incredible, mind-blowing, emotional experience.
For one to expect that Golden Abyss is going to be as good as Drake’s Fortune, Among Thieves, or Drake’s Deception is ludicrous. Let us not forget: it is a handheld game. Golden Abyss is an incredible Uncharted experience that you can take with you wherever you go.
Comparatively, Golden Abyss is a lot like Drake’s Fortune in that it has a lot of room for improvement, but is still a solid a game. If there is a sequel to Golden Abyss, I can imagine that it will blow Golden Abyss out of the water, just as Uncharted 2 and 3 did to Drake’s Fortune.
Bend Studio has done a magnificent job of taking the Uncharted franchise and not screwing it up. For a first effort, Bend Studio has gone far and beyond my expectations, and I feel strongly that they could produce a fantastic sequel. Naughty Dog was very careful when choosing who to hand Uncharted off to, and they made an excellent choice.
Final thoughts
Golden Abyss is a wonderful first attempt at a handheld Uncharted experience. While it doesn’t have the “wow” factor that the console versions harness, it’s an incredible adventure for the Uncharted fan and the newcomer alike. Kudos, Bend Studio.
First impressions: 9.0. The menu is all touch. It's very simple and easy to navigate.
Gameplay: 8.5. The gameplay is typical of the Uncharted series: shooting and platforming. There are a few issues with the cover system (occasionally getting shot at while in cover, etc.) and some of the forced touch and Sixaxis controls can be annoying at times.
Sound: 9.0. Nolan North and Richard McGonagle do a fantastic job as usual, and the new voice actors are great. Some of the music is borrowed from Uncharted 1 & 2, bringing back old memories for Uncharted veterans. The new tracks, composed by Clint Bajakian, are superb.
Story: 9.0. The story is very intriguing, although it does jump around quite a bit. It's your typical Uncharted tale.
Graphics: 10. Uncharted: Golden Abyss is one of the best looking games on the Vita, period. As compared to other Uncharteds, it looks slightly better than Drake’s Fortune, yet not as good as Among Thieves. .
Replay Value: 8.5. Enthusiasts will want to platinum the game, which will be more time consuming than in the past. No more just collecting treasures; this time around you are solving "mysteries," which includes grabbing treasures, doing charcoal rubbings, collecting bounty, piecing puzzles together, taking photos, etc.
8.5