Intro/ Set The Scene
We are gamers and let be honest the world moves fast for us. For the most part we always have a new game to play. Think I’m lying. It’s early 2022 and look at how solid titles have already dropped. Sifu, Horizon Forbidden West, and Elden Ring. With shiny new experiences always vying for our attention should you pay attention to remastered games? Should you play Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves collection?
Let’s dive into it.
The Visuals and Framerate
Let’s just come out and say it. This is now the best way to play Uncharted the Lost Legacy and Uncharted 4 A Thief’s End. Naughty Dog has this insane otherworldly ability to create bombastic set pieces and provide players with a sense of adventure. These two titles are prime examples of that.
Both games still look amazing and honestly on par with most modern games today. There are moments that will wow you visually. A game changer the collection brings to table is giving the players the ability to choose how they want to play. There are three graphic modes to choose from. There is a 4k fidelity mode, but it looks you in at 30fps. A Performance plus mode that has a frame rate that aims for 120fps but locks the game at 1080p. Then there’s Performance mode that locks the game at 60 fps and plays at 1440p. Playing both games on performance mode feels right. Both titles are smooth as butter at 60 frames per second. Even though the Resolution drops to 1440p the game still looks stunning. The smooth gameplay is worth the slight resolution drop.
Gameplay
I hadn’t replayed Uncharted 4 since its initial release back in 2016. It’s so good to see the Nathan Drake and the crew again. This game still holds up remarkable well both visually and gameplay wise. While this game is showing its age a bit in places this is still a blast to play. The narrative in Uncharted 4 is solid. All the characters have realistic motivations, and this is a great send off for Nathan Drake. Newcomers to the series will probably be lost in some parts but can still enjoy what is a fantastic experience.
I have a confession to make. This was my first time playing through Lost Legacy. Yeah, I’m late to the party and I was sleeping on this game. I must have been out of my mind because Damn is this game impressive. It is everything great about the Uncharted 4 but slimmed down and more contained. There are some things that Lost Legacy does better than Uncharted 4. For one it feels Zipper and more responsive. The combat is more fluid and the team up combos with Chloe and Nadine feel next level compared to Nate and Sam. I love the dialogue in this game. The back and forth between Chloe and Nadine is sooo damn good. They have good chemistry together as protagonist and ultimately prove that they are more that supporting characters.
Pros
Three major pros of this game are:
Stunning Presentation: Both games feature breathtaking environments, top-tier animation, and blockbuster set pieces.
Technical Upgrades: On PS5, you get performance modes up to 60fps (or 120fps options), near-instant SSD load times, 3D audio, and DualSense haptic feedback. On PC, it supports ultra-wide resolutions, unlocked frame rates, DLSS, and FSR.
Standalone Appeal: While they are later entries in the franchise, both games do a great job of letting newcomers jump in without necessarily playing the first three titles—though knowing the backstory adds extra emotional weight to the character dynamics
Cons
There is a bummer with this collection and that is The Price. If you are new to Uncharted or never got around to playing either of these games this fifty-dollar price tag might be an expensive entry point. I’d recommend tracking a used copy down at a best buy or gamestop and popping it into the ps5. Then all you have to do is pay the 10-dollar upgrade fee to play the ps5 versions of these games. That’s paying twenty to twenty-five bucks versus paying fifty. If you are a digital only gamer, I recommend waiting for a sale on the PSN Store.
The collection does not include Uncharted 1, 2, or 3 (which are only available separately or via cloud streaming on PlayStation). If you are a strict continuity purist, you might miss some of the history between Nate and his supporting cast like Elena and Sully. It feels like a poor choice to not include the first three games in this collection.
Is This a Good Single Player Experience?
Yes simply put this is a excellent way to play Uncharted 4 and Uncharted Lost Legacy. Both games that are (in this gamer’s opinion) must play games if you own a playstation4 and especially if you own a PS5. This collection might be a smidge of a cash grab but the quality alone is worth shouting out. Def go play it if you don’t own the game seperately.
Why This Passion Score?
If you haven’t played one or either of these titles you are in for a treat. This is a magnificent way to way to experience both Uncharted 4 and the lost Legacy for new and returning players. The Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is a must have for a ps5 owner.
