Uncharted (I don't get it)

[Kim]

I recently decided to give Uncharted a try, since people usually seem to love it to death or just find it fantastically average. I think I'm falling into the latter party thus far. The dialogue is just kind of "Eh..." and feels like it bites the style of modern American television a bit too hard. I think the most amusing thing about it is Sully going "Oh god no!" every time Drake dies. I don't know why I find it so funny, but I can't help cracking a smile. Platforming is pretty good, but having played Enslaved I can't help but compare the platforming in the two of them and Enslaved was just totally ballin.

Also: Is it just me finding it immersion shattering as fuck to see these random ass exploding red barrels in ancient as fuck ruins that haven't been touched for hundreds of years? There's no rhyme or reason to them being here, but it's like the developers thought making the barrels out of wood would make me not question it.

EDIT: I know Uncharted isn't the only game that does this, but "Push in this order here is the order you have to push in" is not a puzzle and I wish games in general would stop pretending it is.

EDIT2: Why did I die from falling like twenty feet into a pool of water?

EDIT3: Nevermind, apparently fifteen seconds of water pouring in makes it deep enough to swim in.

[EVILNess]

Hmm, well it's hard to quantify I guess. The first game was kinda above average for me at the time I played it, but I did have fun playing it. I found the characters to be suitably likable and the action fast, if a bit samey by the end of the game.

Really the second game is much better than the first, it still suffers from some of the same problems of the first game however. I find them to be pretty fun for what they were, and the location and story material is kinda different from your normal shooter fare.

Sadly, I fear Uncharted will be the closest we will ever get to a "good" Indiana Jones game.

[Solid Snake]

Based on your comments, you really aren't far enough to have gotten to the better parts of the original Uncharted, let alone the best parts of Uncharted 2, and U2 as a whole is the superior title by a country mile.

That being said, I'm surprised we'd have such different opinions on Uncharted, given that we tend to agree on many other titles. What the series isn't is by any means mind-provoking as a sociopolitical or cultural critique, or intended to leave you with a message that makes you pause and reconsider the meaning of life. It's not a 'deep' game, it's more the equivalent of a summer blockbuster movie.

That being said, I personally find the characters unique and nuanced, the exchanges of dialogue delectable, the action intense and heart-pounding (particularly in U2) and the graphics astounding in quality.

I will concede the worst part of the series by far are the puzzle sequences, though. They're just not very intelligent or well thought out, and they won't get much better than that puzzle you derided. Fortunately, they're relatively short and a small percentage of overall gametime.

[Kim]

the exchanges of dialogue delectable

This is actually one of my complaints with the game. The dialogue just feels so... stock. Like it could be lifted from any summer blockbuster or snarky American TV show.

Also, Elena gets on my nerves a tad.

the graphics astounding in quality.

They are pretty good.

[Krylo]

This is actually one of my complaints with the game. The dialogue just feels so... stock. Like it could be lifted from any summer blockbuster or snarky American TV show..

It is Indiana Jones Knock Off The Video Game.

The dialogue feels like that because it is exactly what they were going for. I mean, I don't really understand this complaint? It's like saying that your boca burgers tasted too much like like dead cow?

[Kim]

It is Indiana Jones Knock Off The Video Game.

The dialogue feels like that because it is exactly what they were going for. I mean, I don't really understand this complaint? It's like saying that your boca burgers tasted too much like like dead cow?

I think a more accurate way of describing how I feel is everyone who makes burgers is using the same recipe, so I'm sick of the taste and want a different flavor of burgers?

I mean, I'm not sure how "They were being generic on purpose" is much of a defense.

[Krylo]

It may not be a defense in that it makes you like it more, but saying that a game that was designed to be as close to a summer blockbuster as a game can be has dialogue that sounds like a summer blockbuster seems silly.

If you're tired of bacon cheese burgers, you shouldn't tell someone that their bacon cheese burger knock off tastes too much like a bacon cheese burger, in other words. You should just explain you don't care for burgers and not hold that against whatever burger you ate.

Other than that, I think the game was just pretty well polished, but I haven't played it since it was new so maybe it doesn't really hold up anymore? But at the time it was amongst the best games on the next gen consoles, and one of very few that really utilized them properly. Possibly the only game other than Heavenly Sword that was even 'fun' near the beginning of the PS3's life.

I'll also agree with Ness and Snake in that the second one is really much much better. And the first game does get better as it opens up as well.

Basically Uncharted's quality tends to start low average and increase through the first and second games.

Edit: Also, bland movie dialogue is still infinitely better than most video game writing. Especially in non-RPG games.

[Kim]

I think the key thing here is that everyone acts as though this is one of the best burgers, so going into it seeing that it tastes just like any other burger leaves me feeling very meh. I'm not saying the game is bad. I'll pretty readily concede that it's decent so far, but I guess when I hear that the game's writing is really good and then find out that the writing is good because it's very good at being generic as fuck leaves me a tad confused as to why the writing was sold as so strong.

EDIT: Ah goddammit random-ass QTE.

EDIT2: This game's shooting is pretty good, but there's far too much of it.

[EVILNess]

I think the key thing here is that everyone acts as though this is one of the best burgers, so going into it seeing that it tastes just like any other burger leaves me feeling very meh.
On the PS3, at the time it was the best burger. The game is 4 years old now, and standards are a bit higher now for video game dialog to be considered spectacular.

... I guess when I hear that the game's writing is really good and then find out that the writing is good because it's very good at being generic as fuck leaves me a tad confused as to why the writing was sold as so strong.
Okay, you obviously went in expecting Shakespeare. Uncharted is a playable Action movie. If you cannot turn off your brain and just enjoy it then no, you aren't gonna like it.

Besides, the point we are trying to make is that it was really the first game to kinda approach the shooter genre like a a big budget action movie. It was different when it was released. It was new.

Like I said a moment ago, on the PS3, at the time it was the best burger. The game is 4 years old now, and standards are a bit higher now for video game dialog to be considered spectacular.

I'm not trying to bash your opinion, I completely understand your complaints, and they are valid. It's just that you seem kinda jaded about the whole thing and are letting a few complaints bring down your whole experience. You are not looking at the game as a whole, which is really a pretty damn good ride.

Even if you aren't meaning too, you sound like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y95qPw0FTGA). ;)

EDIT:
EDIT2: This game's shooting is pretty good, but there's far too much of it.

Goddamn it Nonsie, you have convinced me that you must be trolling. You are complaining there is too much shooting. IN. A. SHOOTER.

[Kim]

Okay, you obviously went in expecting Shakespeare. Uncharted is a playable Action movie. If you cannot turn off your brain and just enjoy it then no, you aren't gonna like it.

If I have to turn off my brain to enjoy it don't tell me that the writing is good is all I'm asking. Telling me I must have been expecting Shakespeare to not like the writing as much as everyone else in the same breath you tell me to turn off my brain to enjoy it seem like two at-odds statements.

It's just that you seem kinda jaded about the whole thing and are letting a few complaints bring down your whole experience. You are not looking at the game as a whole, which is really a pretty damn good ride.I never called it bad. All I'm saying is I don't get all the hype, and yeah I get that time has passed and it isn't as fresh, but I can't really look at it from the perspective of four years ago, I'm stuck looking at it from the perspective of now, wherein my experience is fairly meh compared to the expectations I had. It's a decent game thus far. I like the gameplay despite my complaints with it, but I guess I went in expecting a great game and it's not one.

Even if you aren't meaning too, you sound like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y95qPw0FTGA). ;)-_-

Goddamn it Nonsie, you have convinced me that you must be trolling. You are complaining there is too much shooting. IN. A. SHOOTER....le sigh...

I mean more that each encounter lasts way too long. I don't like having to spend as long as I do because fifty guys keep running into a room that started with ten. I'd much rather kill ten guys, climb, kill ten more guys, climb some more than kill fifty guys, kill fifty more guys, kill fifty more guys, climb. Exaggeration, but I don't think my point is too hard to understand.

ADDENDUM: This game is in dire need of stealth segments.

[EVILNess]

If I have to turn off my brain to enjoy it don't tell me that the writing is good is all I'm asking. Telling me I must have been expecting Shakespeare to not like the writing as much as everyone else in the same breath you tell me to turn off my brain to enjoy it seem like two at-odds statements.


What I am trying to say is that you seem to be over-thinking the writing, which for an action game is really good. No one is necessarily disagreeing with you, you asked why everyone likes it so much and I am trying to quantify it in words you can understand. You also kinda went into the game with the bar set kinda high due to all the praise you heard.

I never called it bad. All I'm saying is I don't get all the hype, and yeah I get that time has passed and it isn't as fresh, but I can't really look at it from the perspective of four years ago, I'm stuck looking at it from the perspective of now, wherein my experience is fairly meh compared to the expectations I had. It's a decent game thus far. I like the gameplay despite my complaints with it, but I guess I went in expecting a great game and it's not one.
I think you kinda answered your self there. The game is 4 years old, and most of these opinions that you are saying everyone has are probably 4 years old. Like I said earlier, it's a little different now.

-_-
Well you do. :cool:
Exaggeration, but I don't think my point is too hard to understand.
I get what you are saying now, and I agree with you. (Where are they all coming from?) but the way you worded it...
ADDENDUM: This game is in dire need of stealth segments.

SECOND GAME.

[Kim]

SECOND GAME.

I DON'T OWN THE SECOND GAME WHAT DO I DOOOOOOOO

[rpgdemon]

I DON'T OWN THE SECOND GAME WHAT DO I DOOOOOOOO

BUY IT.

I dunno, actually. My only experience with Uncharted is a friend of mine raves about Uncharted 2.

[EVILNess]

I DON'T OWN THE SECOND GAME WHAT DO I DOOOOOOOO

Kill your parents.


...


Or... you could just go down to your local game store after you are done with the first one? The plots aren't connected by the way. You can just go straight to the second one.

[Solid Snake]

I played the first Uncharted less than a year ago and still loved it, so I'm not entirely convinced I agree with the consensus that the game has really lost much of its luster over time.

As for "the hype," what you have to remember is that Uncharted was really the first really good game released as an exclusive for the PS3. It's certainly the only PS3 game I own that goes that far back in time. Uncharted was elevated to its status because it was the single vessel for the hopes and dreams of Sony fans and PS3 fanboys everywhere at a time when Microsoft was otherwise unquestionably kicking the PS3's ass.

If the original Uncharted was released even a year later -- in November 2008 instead of November 2007 -- PS3 exclusive titles like MGS4 and Valkyria Chronicles would have been floating around, inFamous would be coming out soon, and Uncharted wouldn't have been nearly as hyped as the PS3's savior. It still probably would have received compliments for above-average writing for an action/shooter, introducing cool new characters and other stuff, but you'd probably feel less misled as to its quality.

[The Wandering God]

I think the root of NonCon's confusion might lie in the fact that he really doesn't empathize with the characters. ("Also, Elena gets on my nerves a tad.") If that were the case, it would really explain a lot.

NonCon, do you know how the cutscenes were made? Maybe you missed it, but it's part of the reason why Uncharted was considered so groundbreaking.

Rather than cast separate mo-cap actors and voice actors, they actually had the voice actors act out each scene as it happened. Because of the symmetry of the voices with the bodies by virtue of actually coming from the same source at the same time, the cutscenes feel more life-like. And I believe that the actors managed to do a fantastic job of making the characters come alive. Yes, the dialogue can be hokey, but it never takes itself that seriously, and when it does, the snarkiness mostly drops away.

And to join the chorus, the sequel is easily one of my favorite PS3 games. (Having http://stargate-sg1-solutions.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/vala-03.jpg as Chloe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoKeelGk5JE&feature=related) really seals the deal. No matter how bad the line, she makes it sound good.

[Kim]

Writing's getting better. Still not great, but not bad.

Also, the more I play the more I get sick of the shooting in this game because there's too goddamn much of it.

ALSO ALSO: FUCK THESE FUCKING MONSTERS FUCK FUCK FUCK

ALSO ALSO ALSO: WHATEVER SHITBURGER DECIDED THAT THERE DIDN'T NEED TO BE CHECKPOINTS BETWEEN MONSTER ENCOUNTERS WHEN RESTORING THE POWER NEEDS TO DIE TWICE

[Kim]

Uncharted 1 finished~~~

Where's Uncharted 2. I want me some fuckin' stealth segments.

[DarkDrgon]

i got uncharted 2 with my ps3 last year, and i agree with noncon here. its a good game, but not the second coming. a friend of mine is personally hurt when i say i prefer infamous

[Marc v4.0]

I pegged uncharted 2 as an meh-fest when every commercial break and internet video i was being assaulted with Ads about how fucking rad it is and you should pre-order it/go buy it now cause holy fuck what have you been doing with your life.

Came on a little strong.

[The Wandering God]

I pegged uncharted 2 as an meh-fest when every commercial break and internet video i was being assaulted with Ads about how fucking rad it is and you should pre-order it/go buy it now cause holy fuck what have you been doing with your life.

Came on a little strong.
Sir, I think you are being entirely too silly.
http://images.wikia.com/montypython/images/7/7f/Graham_Chapman_Colonel.jpg

[Lumenskir]

I never played the original Uncharted, just the sequel.

Really, as a variant on krylo's burger argument, I'd say that if you view AAA title videogames as trying really hard to be photocopies of movies, Uncharted does a passable job of photocopying Indiana Jones, or at least a better job that similar Indiana Jones-photocopies like Tomb Raider.

However, it's just a photocopy. Compared to what it wants to be (and since it is basically calling out its inspirations the comparison is required) the dialog always feels a little too strained, the plot a little too pat, etc. The gameplay sometimes looks like an action movie, but because they have to make levels out of it what could be a thrilling sequence in a film is extended into an hourlong, repetetive shooting slog. Your reward is a cutscene with more not-quite-worth-it character interaction that sets up the next group of people to shoot. So on and such.

I look forward to the movie, because photocopies of photocopies are great?

[Solid Snake]

i got uncharted 2 with my ps3 last year, and i agree with noncon here. its a good game, but not the second coming. a friend of mine is personally hurt when i say i prefer infamous

As someone who just started playing and felt completely underwhelmed by everything inFamous, let me say, your insinuation does quite nearly mortally wound me.

inFamous: Where everything is colored in varied shades of grey and you're stuck with literally the most annoying one-note sidekick ever.

[Marc v4.0]

Oh boy, this will be fun~


To me, it was just as uncanny valley as brown'n bloom: the shooter 2 and adventures of space marine chunk beefsteak. Ok, yeah, it was really good at being a photocopy of a mindless action movie in game form, but being the best meh fest is still being a meh-fest.

[Krylo]

inFamous: Where everything is colored in varied shades of grey and you're stuck with literally the most annoying one-note sidekick ever.

....I liked the side kick guy...

[Lumenskir]

As someone who just started playing and felt completely underwhelmed by everything inFamous, let me say, your insinuation does quite nearly mortally wound me.

inFamous: Where everything is colored in varied shades of grey and you're stuck with literally the most annoying one-note sidekick ever.
I'm not exactly sure why these two games are being compared head to head, but inFamous is another game I'd say that gets vastly more love than it deserves. Mostly because I enjoyed Prototype's looser (and funner) movement and action, but more because Sucker Punch made it instead of more Sly Cooper, which is a misdemeanor in some states.
Ok, yeah, it was really good at being a photocopy of a mindless action movie in game form, but being the best meh fest is still being a meh-fest.
I don't think it was a meh-fest so much as every element of the game being the methadone version of something better. Like, the dialog and plot isn't laughable, but it always makes you want to just pop in an actually good summer movie. The action isn't bad, but it isn't as good as a more platform or shooter based game, etc.

I guess it should get credit for not being terrible at any of the mash of elements, but they should probably have tried to have been the best at one of them.

[Marc v4.0]

I don't think it was a meh-fest so much as every element of the game being the methadone version of something better. Like, the dialog and plot isn't laughable, but it always makes you want to just pop in an actually good summer movie.

I would count a game that makes me want to stop playing to watch something more interesting as a meh-fest or possibly even shitty. I mean, that's pretty much how you define a meh-fest, by how many times you think of something better you could be doing with your time.

[Solid Snake]

Man

I guess all I could possibly say is that I suppose my opinion is diametrically opposed to many of your opinions

But I liked Uncharted 2 so much I beat it twice, and I own other good PS3 games that I've barely even touched

It's weird to read the criticism here though and say to myself "Most of their criticism is actually valid and I agree with it in theory," while simultaneously saying "Flawed or not, Uncharted 2 was seriously freakin' amazing, up there with Valkyria Chronicles as the best game I've played on the PS3."

Incidentally, I think the perfect comparison that NonCon could possibly relate to is that my perspective on the Uncharted series is probably similar to his perspective on Nier. It's easy to pick apart why certain gamers would dislike both games. They fit somewhat narrow categorizations and fail to appeal to everyone. But despite the flaws in its experience if you're a certain type of gamer who's really capable of appreciating what the title does well, you'll think so highly of it that any criticism of its flawed moments is overridden by the number of times you just say "Woah."

I guess on the bright side I now fully appreciate how some of y'all felt when I criticized FFVI as mediocre and overrated way back when. It's never fun to read others bash your favorites (even when they're mostly right.)

[Lumenskir]

I would count a game that makes me want to stop playing to watch something more interesting as a meh-fest or possibly even shitty. I mean, that's pretty much how you define a meh-fest, by how many times you think of something better you could be doing with your time.
I dunno, I think we have different definitions of meh-fest.* For me, it's when I literally can't remember anything specific about it after consuming it (like Just Cause 2 or a network procedural), while Uncharted 2 had things I can remember, but which were lacking when compared to the things it was aping.

*To the OED!
They fit somewhat narrow categorizations and fail to appeal to everyone.
What.

I can't speak to Nier, but Uncharted was clearly designed to be a title with as broad a reach as possible (again, like the blockbusters it's aping). It's basically a Big Mac in game form.

[Marc v4.0]

Nothing at all wrong with having different tastes in entertainment then anyone else, but that doesn't mean they are bashing it or can't apprechiate or any number of things no one has really said but always comes up in these sorts of discussions.

I dunno, I think we have different definitions of meh-fest.* For me, it's when I literally can't remember anything specific about it after consuming it (like Just Cause 2 or a network procedural), while Uncharted 2 had things I can remember, but which were lacking when compared to the things it was aping.

I don't really equate memorable with good. It had parts I remember well, and I remember many of them for being really 'eh'.

[Nikose Tyris]

I can't speak to Nier, but Uncharted was clearly designed to be a title with as broad a reach as possible (again, like the blockbusters it's aping). It's basically a Big Mac in game form.

I disliked Uncharted 1, and traded it in after getting about 3/4 of the way through the title.

I borrowed Uncharted 2 and it wasn't much better. It was tomb raider with better graphics and less boobs. [I also don't like Tomb Raider.]

[Lumenskir]

I don't really equate memorable with good. It had parts I remember well, and I remember many of them for being really 'eh'.
I guess by memorable I mean "not generic". I thought it was slightly above median in everything in what was trying to do, but spectacular in nothing. But again, differing definitions/experiences.
I disliked Uncharted 1, and traded it in after getting about 3/4 of the way through the title.
Kind of tangential, but everyone around here seems to buy an awful lot of games with no replay value. Does Gamefly not deliver to a lot of areas or something?

[Nikose Tyris]

I can't afford to buy a lot of games, only about 2 a year, not counting ones people gift to me- but I can get games that are bundled with controllers at christmastime, which was when I received Uncharted.

[Marc v4.0]

I can't afford to pay for "Maybe you will get what you want, but not this month"-fly. They had serious supply and shipping issues when I tried them last year. If it really was more like Netflix, i'd be all over it.

[DarkDrgon]

I wasn't really comparing it to infamous so much as remarking on how some people treat the game as the best thing ever, to the point that they bash other good games

[Sky Warrior Bob]

EDIT2: This game's shooting is pretty good, but there's far too much of it.

Second game (which you haven't played), really does a lot to fix this. And the battles are much more varied. And the types of weapons you use, really make a difference. Plus, you fight more than people & monsters. Vehicles & better constructed backdrops also add to the flair.

The first game, seems fairly mediocre at the start, but builds in story & play value. It really shines better in retrospect.

Alternatively, Uncharted 2 is better from the get go. Both in terms of story & play value. Also, steath is only a must in the first part of the game. After that, its a optional thing. (Well somewhat optional, as your battles become a whole lot more pitched if the baddies know your there.)

Kevin

[Krylo]

Wait wait wait... Uncharted had shooting in it?

I thought it just had a bunch of punching guys with guns. Shit guys, I think I played wrong.

[The Wandering God]

I'm afraid I can't agree with the only complaints I think I'm seeing ("It's repetitive and the dialogue sucks, especially in the first one").

The game went out of it's way to try and switch things up as much as it could. The different ways need to defeat enemies for medals and the search for treasure kept me invested in always trying something new. The platforming was pretty solid for the most part and it combined well with the gunplay. (Compared to say Gears of War, where the controls weren't quite as ironed out as one would like.) The enviroments were varied out every few acts and there are plenty of setpieces.

But if you don't like cover based shooting, I can't see how that's really the games fault.

As for the dialogue, I understand where you are coming from (one of the writers basically said, "You can write crap, but good actors can make it work.").

However, I DO think they got some really good talent to play the parts. While Nathan Drake is a cocky guy, he never whines about his responsibilities. Elena is neither the overly aggressive bitch, nor the damsel in distress. Instead, she is strong willed while also knowing her limits. Sully is that really great uncle we all wish we had.

And I believe in all that because the actors really put their hearts into it. Did you guys watch the interviews with them?

[Kim]

Been playing Uncharted 2. My thoughts thus far.

I like the stealth, but something feels off about it. Like it's lacking some fundamental aspect of what makes me love stealth as much as I do. If I have any profound thoughts on that, I'll let you guys know.

I love the treasure hunting, but I feel like I put too much effort into trying to find the treasures and it breaks the flow of the game. There's also times when me trying to find treasures has shown elements of the game that the developers would rather I hadn't noticed.

I've encountered a couple glitches, like one time I got caught between Sully and a wall, and the game interpreted it as me falling and I "fell" to my death.

I really wish there was better stuff to spend the money on. Like, I wish there was an upgrade mechanic of some sort, because Uncharted isn't a game I'm going to be replaying, and a sepia filter and slow-mo just doesn't do it for me. Slightly better accuracy, being slightly sneakier, being more resilient, being able to hold more ammo, stuff along these lines. That's what I want to see.