During PlayStation Experience 2016, Naughty Dog stole the show when they revealed both Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and The Last of Us Part II to millions of diehard fans around the world. The timing of The Lost Legacy announcement was especially surprising given that the Santa Monica based studio had just released Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End back on May 10th of that same year.
After successfully completing the game at around the 10-hour mark, I can now confirm that Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is another fantastic entry in the action-packed series and living proof that the franchise can continue without Nathan Drake’s involvement. Here are a few more details on what you can expect from this title when it officially launches on August 22nd.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy takes place 6-12 months after the events of Uncharted 4 and revolves around professional treasure hunter and thief for hire Chloe Frazer forming an unexpected alliance with mercenary Nadine Ross to find an ancient artifact called the Golden Tusk of Ganesh. This joint exploration takes them through the Western Ghats amid a tense, civil war and finds them face-to-face with a ruthless rebel leader and main antagonist named Asav. Players are also treated to a deeper character study of Chloe in the form of revelations about her backstory and Indian-Australian heritage along with how these factors relate to the expedition.
At the centerpiece of Lost Legacy’s core narrative structure is the strong bond and comradery that builds up over time between Chloe and Nadine. Honesty, trust, and communication are important components in every relationship and the masterful performances by both Claudia Black and Laura Bailey really drive these points home beautifully. Their chemistry bleeds off of the screen and may leave many wanting to see more from the duo should Naughty Dog decide to include them in future Uncharted games.
In direct contrast, Usman Ally’s performance as Asav is menacing, mysterious and brilliant. While I wish we could have gotten more explanation behind his motivations and personality, I will admit that every time the character appeared on screen he commanded my undivided attention and the obstacles that he poses to the player makes him an ideal villain for this title.
As with every Uncharted game, fans can expect plenty of non-stop action sequences, plot twists, challenging combat scenarios, intense driving encounters, platform climbing, rope swinging and creative puzzles to solve. Much like Uncharted 4, stealth is a viable option in most cases but there are some notable exceptions to this rule given the circumstances.
When engaging in hand-to hand combat, Chloe is a martial arts specialist meaning that she will often throw punches and roundhouse kicks. Your computer-controlled partner in Nadine is also capable of handling herself and can assist you in taking down one or numerous enemies simultaneously if needed. There’s also a vast array of firearms that you’ll gain access to while playing through the campaign. With all that said, evading confrontation is also optional but might not be quite as much fun as taking the fight directly to your adversaries.
Rounding out the gameplay features are two new noticeable additions in the form of lock picking and up to 28 unique photo opportunities. Chloe’s lock picking skills come in handy when trying to access crates for special weapons and collectibles. I used this feature most when unlocking crates in areas filled with patrolling soldiers and was rewarded with silenced weapons to take them out. Additionally, Chloe uses her cell phone to take stunning photos from various vantage points throughout her journey. There’s also the standard Photo mode option that can be used to apply facial expressions, sun angles and logo overlays to further accentuate the true essence of beauty found within India’s surroundings.
Speaking of beautiful settings, The Lost Legacy looks just as visually impressive as Uncharted 4. The Western Ghats is one of the largest free-roaming environments in franchise history and the designers did an exceptional job at putting painstaking detail into bringing this real world setting to life. PS4 Pro owners will have the benefit of full HDR and 4K support but even still, standard PS4 players won’t be left out in the dark. From cascading waterfalls to lush and muddy mountain tops, it’s clear to see why Naughty Dog wanted to spend more time creating this game and I’m pleased to say that the end result will amaze you.
Once you’ve completed the 9 chapter single-player story mode, you’ll gain access to new multiplayer content in the form of a comprehensive survival arena mode. This feature allows you to team up with two other players to take on 10 different waves of enemies including warlord bosses. New character skins for Chloe, Nadine, Asav and other bonus characters are also unlockable. If you never tried any of the additional post launch multiplayer content from Uncharted 4, then you’ll be happy to know that everything is included when you purchase The Lost Legacy. This is a nice incentive for those who enjoy Uncharted multiplayer and are anxious to try out the new survival mode.
As a complete package of only $39.99, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy far exceeded all of my expectations. With a 10-hour campaign, 68 treasures to collect, 17 optional conversations, 25 weapons to add to your arsenal, new trophies and a new survival arena multiplayer mode, there is no doubt about it that there is a staggering amount of content for one to consume. This title is longer than The Last of Us: Left Behind and shorter than Uncharted 4 which is the perfect sweet spot for both new and diehard fans of the series.
While Naughty Dog is currently shifting all of their focus towards The Last of Us Part II, they have set themselves up perfectly to return to Uncharted again down the road. Chloe and Nadine’s story feels like it’s only just beginning and I’m very curious to see where they take these characters in the future. If there is one title that you do plan to buy this month, make sure that Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is at the very top of your list.
This review was based on a digital review copy of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy for the PlayStation 4 provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
