Uncharted: Golden Abyss Review for PS Vita

System: PS Vita
Dev: SCE Bend Studios
Pub: Sony
Release: February 15, 2012
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: 544p	Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence

It sounds great as well. As soon as you fire up the game, you'll be greeted with the classic Uncharted score. It only gets better from there, as the gun sounds are absolutely fantastic. I played the game with headphones on, and found myself amazed at just how incredible each of the gun sounds was. When this is paired with the responsive gunplay controls, it makes firing weapons an absolute blast.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss Screenshot

However, I felt the voice work wasn't up to the standard of an Uncharted game. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad here. Nolan North is as spot-on as ever, delivering Nate's one-liners with the passion and emphasis that keeps Nathan Drake feeling more like a real-life person than a video game character. The new characters are exceptionally acted as well. It's just the one-off characters—Enemy Gunman Number Six, etc.—who aren't portrayed as well as they should be. I don't know if I would even bring this up in any other game, but this is Uncharted for crying out loud; exceptional acting is one of the hallmarks of the series.

Another Uncharted hallmark that I am sad to see not included is multiplayer. I know the original Uncharted was a completely solo affair, but Uncharted 2 delivered one of the best multiplayer experiences on the PS3, and Uncharted 3 followed it up with its own multiplayer suite that I still find myself going back to regularly. Golden Abyss takes things back to the lonely Drake's Fortune days. But even this is forgivable, as this new Uncharted title offers an incredibly entertaining solo campaign.

What really matters here is that, yes, Golden Abyss feels like an Uncharted game. If you own a Vita already, this is the game you should be playing right now. It looks and sounds fantastic, the "ledge painting" is a great new feature, and it gives us another story of our favorite treasure hunter Nathan Drake. Sure, it's not perfect, but it's certainly a worthy entry in the Vita's already strong launch lineup.

By
Josh Wirtanen
Editor / News Director

@joshuajwirtanen
Date: February 15, 2012

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.8

Graphics
You'll forget you're looking at a handheld game.

4.0

Control
Fantastic gunplay, at the expense of some sloppy run/jump controls. "Ledge painting" is a great new feature, but swipe-based quick time events get old pretty fast.

4.2

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
A score worthy of Uncharted and incredible gun sounds make this a treat. There are only a few minor characters who could have been voiced better.

4.3

Play Value
A full-length Nathan Drake adventure in the palm of your hand.

4.5

Overall Rating - Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Experience the adventure of uniquely acrobatic Uncharted gameplay, optimized with PlayStation Vita controls.

Touch, and tap the screen to swing, jump, and traverse non-continuous game sections, like crumbling bridges and river crossings.

Rub the screen to take important imprints of in-game relics found.

Utilize the motion-sensing controls of the PS Vita's internal gyroscope to balance Drake as he crosses slippery logs, and as an aiming method in shooting situations.

Puzzle solve as you collect the relics hidden throughout the game.

Epic single-player campaign that takes players through richly detailed realistic environments and undiscovered lands.

Through utilizing the technology of the OLED screen, Uncharted: Golden Abyss delivers the signature Uncharted cinematic experience on-the-go.