Games News and Reviews | High Def Digest
Film & TV All News Blu-Ray Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders 4K Ultra HD Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders Gear Reviews News Home Theater 101 Best Gear Film & TV
Games : Highly Recommended
Ranking:
Sale Price: $ Last Price: $ Buy now! 3rd Party In Stock
Release Date: May 10th, 2016 Movie Release Year: 2016

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (Digital)

Overview -

As the saying goes, father time is undefeated. For the lead character of Naughty Dog's PS3 dynasty, time is at the door. In fact, both Nathan Drake and the 'Uncharted' franchise have been out of action since 'Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception' back in 2011. In the meantime, a little game called 'The Last of Us' made a big mark for Naughty Dog and PlayStation. There's also been a pair of new AAA 'Tomb Raider' titles produced within a reboot framework that clearly had 'Uncharted' in mind.

The intervening years have also seen the world take to a new console from Sony, and before Naughty Dog leaves Drake & co. for good, a new game, 'Uncharted 4: A Thief's End,' will see a proper, all-out production for PS4 from the famed developer.

OVERALL:
Highly Recommended
Rating Breakdown
VIDEO
AUDIO
Tech Specs & Release Details
Release Date:
May 10th, 2016

Video Review

Ranking:

On the PS3, the 'Uncharted' series pushed the quality bar way up in terms of visuals. That was specifically true in the area of animations, but this game really has the full package. There may always be a repetitive texture, light artifact, mip pop, or streaming leak to distract my eye, but it really doesn't take away from the overall visual fidelity in a significant way. Each new biome brings with it new vistas, new flora and fauna, and a happy routing. All named characters are incredibly detailed, and the uncanny valley is kept at bay for most of the time. Basic enemies have a bad habit of looking samey, but they do move well.

I once got a cave to partially unload where I could see out of the world. I also once slid down a zipline into a box, which for some reason caused my 4x4 to be launched on its side. Sully then ran and got into the overturned vehicle while promising to bring it over but there it sat, not going any further.

There were dips in performance but nothing like a slideshow or else sustained low fps. The texture work is some of the best in the biz, and the lighting effects, as further extrapolated by the robust Photo Mode, are enviable. This is must-have demo material for any new TV.

Note: To follow up on the pre-launch review, here are some of my own screenshots. By time of this update, I'm hoping that the extremely top secret/no spoiler feeling of the game have relaxed somewhat. What the screens show in terms of spoilers are really just some of the different biomes featured in the game.

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End PS4 screenshot (real capture)

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End PS4 screenshot (real capture)

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End PS4 screenshot (real capture)

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End PS4 screenshot (real capture)

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End PS4 screenshot (real capture)

Audio Review

Ranking:

The audio options, right down to tuning surround placement, are appreciated, and being able to play something so sporadically bombastic while still hearing the important ongoing, localized dialog is a treat for a top system. Even so, it is the voice acting which sticks out as being first rate. That leaves the score as less important. Like the score, the sound effects and ambient are high quality but not at all stunning.

Final Thoughts

We've had a few years with the PS4 now, and while I've cherished games like 'Until Dawn' and 'Bloodborne,' there has been a void when it came to the question of a must-own exclusive. 'Uncharted 4: A Thief's End' is that game. It's not ahead of its time like its series' forebears, but the elements of story, gameplay, and visuals come together like a masterwork. For me, the final product beats the impressive previews. It's not a revolution, but it is Naughty Dog at the top of their game.