By Robert Rivera

Uncharted 4 is the newest (and possibly last) installment in the Uncharted video game series, and is widely considered to be “The best game ever made.” But why is the game widely praised by so many? What makes Uncharted 4 so special for having the praise that it got, does it even deserve it? To find the answers for these important questions, one must look at Uncharted 4’s game mechanics, its multiplayer mode, and its story.

Uncharted 4’s game mechanics show the type of game Uncharted really is, and that is an Action adventure/ Third person shooter. The main objective in the game, overall, is to get to point A to point B without dying. But what Uncharted 4 does right is the inclusion of exploration throughout each level. Exploration greatly affects how anyone would play the game, and it is ingenious how to expand the longevity of the game. For example, finding hidden treasures to add to the player’s collection, as well as, finding more ammo and new weapons will give the player a sense of accomplishment. Uncharted 4 also includes climbing rocky terrain and buildings, a series stable. The inclusion of these segments was to give the player a sense of tension and going through what seemed to be a treacherous path, but in reality, the player is not in any real danger. They are subtly choreographed to make it seem as if the players are in a challenging environment. However in actuality, it takes no skill, and at times can slow the pacing of the game. Uncharted 4’s game mechanics are solid overall and are quite essential for the game’s multiplayer.

Uncharted 4’s multiplayer has three main game modes to play with: Team Death Match, Command, and Plunder. While the avid video game player would look at this as some generic multiplayer mode for a big game, Uncharted 4 has a few tricks up their sleeves to make the multiplayer a bit more interesting. Uncharted 4 includes new ways to enhance anyone’s team with the forms of “sidekicks” AI (Artificial Intelligence) who would aid any team in different ways. These AI needed to be earned, and appeared as snipers, brutes, saviors, and hunters giving players a reward for their efforts. The inclusion of the games single player mechanics of the grappling hook is used to its fullest potential. With the hook’s ability to kill any opponent in one fell swoop gives a layer of depth to the multiplayer. Uncharted 4’s multiplayer is not perfect by any means; it is a neat inclusion that is sure to make anyone play it for fun. However, the main reason many people consider Uncharted 4 to be a masterpiece is its narrative.

The story is an interesting treasure hunting, character developing, action adventure marvel, that many people would come to expect from the series. Nevertheless what did Uncharted 4 do exactly for its story? The main character, Nathan Drake, feels as if his old life of treasure hunting is at its end, and is happily married to his companion, Elena Fisher. As much as this was a happy ending for Drake, his thought to be dead older brother (Samuel Drake) comes crashing back to his life. In addition, he brings Drake back to his roots, risking his life, and his marriage, all for his brother. This games setup is genuinely choreographed to keep the player guessing on how this will all end and encourages them to keep playing. Overall it is a surprisingly more adult approach to the Uncharted story and brings the character of Nathan Drake to his conclusion along with the player.

Uncharted 4 is indeed a phenomenal game, no doubt. Uncharted 4’s game mechanics and story mesh together beautifully, along with a multiplayer to keep the player playing. Even though this game is good, it is not perfect by any means. Although it is not perfect, Uncharted 4 has many good qualities and very little mistakes; it is understandable for it to have the title “Best game ever” and it is worth playing for anyone who is a gamer.