Uncharted: The Lost Legacy was introduced as an extension of some sorts, prolonging the joys of the spectacular Uncharted 4. On its own, Uncharted 4 was a ride that was nigh impossible to forget. It’s showered with ridiculously fun scenes, sandwiched between stellar character story and interaction. Overall, it was a great contender for last year’s game of the year. With that hunger in mind, the developers, Naughty Dog, decided to capitalize on the game’s success and dish out a game worthy of its predecessor. But is Uncharted: The Lost Legacy able to sate that hunger?
Into the Wilds
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy takes the player into the heart of India, taking on a quest to search for the lost Tusk of Ganesh, a symbol of power in the forgotten empire of Hoysala. In this adventure, the players assume the role of the charismatic Nicole Frazer, and accompanying her is the iron lady of Uncharted 4, Nadine Ross. Their adventure takes them into long lost jungles and temples, mixed in with some heart-stopping action and grand sceneries.
Gameplay
They see me rollin’…
Gameplay is similar like Uncharted 4’s. That’s as clear as I can be. So much similar that it might not be a good point in this case. The sort of open-world approach makes its return, together with the beloved jeep and its sidekick, the wench hook. If you’re not in the know, the game is mostly composed of 3D-platforming with some cover-shooting spliced in-between. It also has one open-world map that isn’t quite big as with other open-world-centric games, but the scenes do feel handcrafted rather than generated lazily.
Back to climbing impossible heights and having a body made out of titanium.
The puzzles are also back, most of which offer a certain degree of challenge, but nothing quite difficult if you’re discerning and smart.
Quite sad that the puzzles can usually be solved in under three to five minutes.
Sadly, gameplay is where Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, shows some scars. Why? Because it was initially planned as a DLC, rather than a stand-alone expansion game. A lot of the mechanics introduced in the main game are retained here, albeit with a change of face and figure. Not saying that the rope mechanic and open-world-esque adventure is bad, but with the limited scope of the game and the lack of innovation, it does feel a bit off.
Encounters take about roughly a quarter of Uncharted The Lost Legacy’s playtime. Same with Uncharted 4, it gives players the chance to plan. Stealth also makes a comeback as an option.
The game does however, introduce a number of guns, all of which can also be accessed in the robust multiplayer.
The Beauty of the Jungle
Sights like this one are the “usual” stuff in Uncharted The Lost Legacy.
Central India’s vibrant flora and fauna are bought to life by Uncharted’s tried and tested engine. Most surprising is the minimal impact it gives on Sony’s console, the game being capable of maintaining a steady 30 FPS.
A feature that makes its return is the Photo Mode. Given the number of great sceneries that you pass through in your adventure in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, this feature does come in handy in creating those oh-so glorious snaps. It also adds a quirky feature: the ability to alter Chloe’s face. During incredibly serious scenes, the player can pause the screen and change Chloe’s “way” of viewing the current scenario. Just take a look at some shots I got below:
Verdict
Should you buy it? Yes. If you look at it as an action-game, it is a good one. Should you play it before Uncharted 4? Sadly, you’re better off buying Uncharted 4 prior to playing this one. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy might be a good adventure, but it certainly isn’t the best in the established universe of Uncharted. However, given that it’s an expansion to an already amazing franchise and expecting it not to be great is naïve. Naughty Dog still has their own unique take on adventure and it fully translates into this game.
To add length to the game, visual effects and other game modes can be unlocked. This in turn gives a new look (figuratively and literally) to the game.
The chemistry between the overly serious Nadine, and the sly and cunning Chloe, is also one great asset of this game. It’s fun watching them exchange banters in-between tense firefights, and share disappointments and dreams during breaks. Nadine has been established as an incredible fighter in Uncharted 4 and seeing more of her here is a very welcome sight. Fan favorite Chloe also has her charms with her wit rivaling that of Nathan Drake’s.
Sad that in an Uncharted game, every historical location gets wrecked.
However, the mistakes and the cracks show once you see the bigger picture. This should’ve been a DLC. It doesn’t introduce anything into the platter. It moves, does what its predecessor did and that’s just about it. Think of it as an Uncharted 4: Lite Edition. For me, it wasn’t a ten-hour retreat, but more of a five, six-hour one. I was disappointed given the short adventure as I craved for more Chloe, Nadine, and crazy battles. But alas, such was the case. The game ended as fast as I could say, “that it?”
All in all, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is a game that you should own if you have already been enamored by the Uncharted series of games. It’s a game that’s has that “Uncharted” vibe down to its very core. But be forewarned of the shortness of the game. It’s a ride that can be finished in one or two sittings. But if you wish to TRY to get in Uncharted, this is a good bet, though I’d recommend the more expensive, but juicier and meatier Uncharted 4: Thief’s End. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy also includes a full copy of Uncharted 4’s multiplayer, so it kind of balances and justifies the price of about US$40, or roughly PhP 2000, though I did some research and saw some retailers offering it at PhP 1,800.
