Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Developer: Bend Studios
Publisher: Sony Entrainment
Release Date: 22/02/2012
Format: PS VITA
Nathan Drake has wowed PlayStation gamers since its beginning in 2007. Every follow up game has matched or surpassed all the criteria to make an epic and memorable game. With near perfect scores form major reviewers, could its PS Vita cousin match the scale while on the move?
First impressions are just unbelievable, how can they get this quality of graphics from a device that fits into your hand? Well they have, my eyes almost hurt while looking at it, (not in a bad way) but as with most games with the Vita, it’s the small screen that knocks the experience down a peg or two. Okay, I know it’s a portable game I can’t carry a 42inch plasma TV on the bus, but with most games on the Vita I needed to lower the sensitivity right down to be able to track objects and people while the screen moves. Drake is as you would expect, a cocky wise guy who doesn’t know when to shut his mouth. The atmosphere and look of the game is the same from the PS3 titles. Everything is in place to make you believe this is Uncharted 4.
It’s not, Golden Abyss is set before Drakes Fortune, not that this matters. After a short introduction to climbing and gun fighting. You begin your adventure by following an old friend of Drakes, Dante. Here you are properly introduced to the Vita aspects of Uncharted. Most climbing movements can be used with the front and back touch screens. Instead of jabbing X every second, track your finger across the screen where you wish Drake to go. The ledges will shine as to say, the route has been accepted and Drake will move accordingly. This is a great use of the Vita, saving the button mashing, trying to get Drake to move as quickly as possible. But there are a few hiccups. You may require several swipes to get Drake where he needs to go, as not all the climbing ledges can fit on screen. And as with all Uncharted games, the some ledges will break forcing you to rewrite your path. Don’t get me wrong, it works. But having to move your finger from the norm position holding the Vita and swiping, felt unnecessary and I found myself jabbing X instead.
Publisher: Sony Entrainment
Release Date: 22/02/2012
Format: PS VITA
Nathan Drake has wowed PlayStation gamers since its beginning in 2007. Every follow up game has matched or surpassed all the criteria to make an epic and memorable game. With near perfect scores form major reviewers, could its PS Vita cousin match the scale while on the move?
First impressions are just unbelievable, how can they get this quality of graphics from a device that fits into your hand? Well they have, my eyes almost hurt while looking at it, (not in a bad way) but as with most games with the Vita, it’s the small screen that knocks the experience down a peg or two. Okay, I know it’s a portable game I can’t carry a 42inch plasma TV on the bus, but with most games on the Vita I needed to lower the sensitivity right down to be able to track objects and people while the screen moves. Drake is as you would expect, a cocky wise guy who doesn’t know when to shut his mouth. The atmosphere and look of the game is the same from the PS3 titles. Everything is in place to make you believe this is Uncharted 4.
It’s not, Golden Abyss is set before Drakes Fortune, not that this matters. After a short introduction to climbing and gun fighting. You begin your adventure by following an old friend of Drakes, Dante. Here you are properly introduced to the Vita aspects of Uncharted. Most climbing movements can be used with the front and back touch screens. Instead of jabbing X every second, track your finger across the screen where you wish Drake to go. The ledges will shine as to say, the route has been accepted and Drake will move accordingly. This is a great use of the Vita, saving the button mashing, trying to get Drake to move as quickly as possible. But there are a few hiccups. You may require several swipes to get Drake where he needs to go, as not all the climbing ledges can fit on screen. And as with all Uncharted games, the some ledges will break forcing you to rewrite your path. Don’t get me wrong, it works. But having to move your finger from the norm position holding the Vita and swiping, felt unnecessary and I found myself jabbing X instead.
Not much to interfere with the screen, options appear on the HUD when needed.
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How is graphics like this possible on something so small?
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Stealth and hand to hand combat is nothing Drake will shy from, but with less buttons to map controls. The touch screen again comes into play. A fist symbol will appear both on the character you can attack and on the right hand side of the screen for easier reach with your hand. It doesn’t feel like there is weight behind your attacks, Uncharted3 finally nailed the hand to hand combat, with its Batman Arkham approach and it worked. This is a step backwards; engaging with hand to hand will often end in failure, not because you lost the fight, but because the guys standing next to you with AK47s shot you, A problem that plagued the first two Uncharted games. Stealth kills work, as the idea is you remain hidden and there are several areas you can happily kill everyone without raising the alarm. Just when it does, stick to cover.
Gunfights are no different to any other Uncharted. Various pistols, machine guns and shotguns do lay waste to anything in your path. A neat and often overlooked feature is when aiming, you can move the entire Vita for pin point accuracy. This comes more useful when using the Dragon Sniper rifle, where moving a finger up and down the rear touch pad will zoom the scope in and out. The whole set-up will have you looking rather odd on the train, but I must admit works rather well. Thankfully the game has auto-aim, something I didn’t dare take off, enemies are not as varied as with the PS3, but still offer enough variety. Some will stay in cover, others will charge at you with shotguns. The game is still a cover and shot affair. Throwing Grenades is another great way to show off the Vita capabilities. By pressing the Grenade icon on screen and simply move it to where you wish to throw. No messing with the analogue sticks trying to successfully arch the grenades path; however, your finger will block the view as you try to land it on the correct side of the cover the enemy is hiding.
Despite the Vitas constant touch me controls, It plays like any other Uncharted game, scale, epic cut-scenes and death defying leaps across chasms. And collectables, in fact, there’s now plenty more to collect and do. During the early levels you are shown the Camera you carry and tout the controls to take pictures. Using the same controls as the sniper rifle, it’s another great idea but after its introduction it is possible to complete the game without it again only used to take pictures to help solve the side mysteries. You can collect charcoal rubbings of the many ruins, again you are introduced to this by instruction and by wiping you figure across the screen the rubbing magically appears. A part from mid-way thru the story it is vital to do one, it’s not seen again unless trying to complete the side collectables. At random places during the levels you will find a puzzle, which will require putting together. You need to rotate and place the correct piece on the board showing an outline of each piece. Not even 5 minutes and you’re done, and each will leave you asking why this was here? Only good and useful addiction is unlocking safes, pad locks and ancient doors by turning dials. These can prove to be confusing at first, but vocal hints will help you know that what you’re doing is correct or not.
Gunfights are no different to any other Uncharted. Various pistols, machine guns and shotguns do lay waste to anything in your path. A neat and often overlooked feature is when aiming, you can move the entire Vita for pin point accuracy. This comes more useful when using the Dragon Sniper rifle, where moving a finger up and down the rear touch pad will zoom the scope in and out. The whole set-up will have you looking rather odd on the train, but I must admit works rather well. Thankfully the game has auto-aim, something I didn’t dare take off, enemies are not as varied as with the PS3, but still offer enough variety. Some will stay in cover, others will charge at you with shotguns. The game is still a cover and shot affair. Throwing Grenades is another great way to show off the Vita capabilities. By pressing the Grenade icon on screen and simply move it to where you wish to throw. No messing with the analogue sticks trying to successfully arch the grenades path; however, your finger will block the view as you try to land it on the correct side of the cover the enemy is hiding.
Despite the Vitas constant touch me controls, It plays like any other Uncharted game, scale, epic cut-scenes and death defying leaps across chasms. And collectables, in fact, there’s now plenty more to collect and do. During the early levels you are shown the Camera you carry and tout the controls to take pictures. Using the same controls as the sniper rifle, it’s another great idea but after its introduction it is possible to complete the game without it again only used to take pictures to help solve the side mysteries. You can collect charcoal rubbings of the many ruins, again you are introduced to this by instruction and by wiping you figure across the screen the rubbing magically appears. A part from mid-way thru the story it is vital to do one, it’s not seen again unless trying to complete the side collectables. At random places during the levels you will find a puzzle, which will require putting together. You need to rotate and place the correct piece on the board showing an outline of each piece. Not even 5 minutes and you’re done, and each will leave you asking why this was here? Only good and useful addiction is unlocking safes, pad locks and ancient doors by turning dials. These can prove to be confusing at first, but vocal hints will help you know that what you’re doing is correct or not.
Don't look down
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Climbing and shooting, who says men cant multi-task?
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The story itself is not as grandeur as its PS3 cousins, but it has been adapted to be played on the move. The game is broken down into many more than normal chapters, acting as natural breaks between the gameplay. No area is massively over time consuming to complete, allowing you to switch the Vita off and exit the train. The slow motion quick time events are still there but now mapped to swiping the screen in the correct direction, during the later boss fights, you feel like you’re playing Fruit Ninja as you constantly swipe the screen avoiding attacks and landing blows to your foe. The finger swiping may be over used in this game, also required to cut down Bamboo blocking your path and re-grabbing ledges after and massive jump before Drake falls. But it’s all to show what the Vita is capable of. The game is still very linear, offering only slight changes of pace to with defending your partners as they traverse the area and aiding their escape from the enemy. A few bugs exist still; Drake will fall to his death while nowhere near a ledge or miss the rope that was right in-front of him. But the checkpoint is almost right where you died.
Only major gripe I have with Golden abyss are the various cards that keep popping up almost constantly for Black market and Fight for fortune. These appear after completing certain tasks, collecting collectables and killing enemies. And really do get in the way of enjoying the gaming experience. But don’t let this deter you from a technical showcase for the PlayStation Vita. Uncharted: Golden Abyss shows what the Vita is capable of and why it stands out from the crowd from portable gaming. Every function the Vita has to offer is put thru its paces and works perfectly as intended. Although many of the new functions may be ignored, like the climbing swipe. It still offers a new and exciting way to play on the go. It may start strange and awkward to play, but as you progress you get used to the twitchy controls and play style. If you plan or own a Vita, this is a must have.
Only major gripe I have with Golden abyss are the various cards that keep popping up almost constantly for Black market and Fight for fortune. These appear after completing certain tasks, collecting collectables and killing enemies. And really do get in the way of enjoying the gaming experience. But don’t let this deter you from a technical showcase for the PlayStation Vita. Uncharted: Golden Abyss shows what the Vita is capable of and why it stands out from the crowd from portable gaming. Every function the Vita has to offer is put thru its paces and works perfectly as intended. Although many of the new functions may be ignored, like the climbing swipe. It still offers a new and exciting way to play on the go. It may start strange and awkward to play, but as you progress you get used to the twitchy controls and play style. If you plan or own a Vita, this is a must have.
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Positives + Every Vita function and capability used, + Drake as you would expect, just you can now play on the bus, + Great looking game. Negatives - Fight for Fortunes cards popping up, - Swipe function over-used, - Good functions not used again after its introduction. |
FUN-O-graph
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Chris Sowry 8/10
"That Prince of Persia guy has nothing on me"