[NO SPOILERS] Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Review; Would Be Better Off As DLC

The last time we saw an Uncharted game was Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. The game managed to sell a chart-topping 8.7 million copies as of January this year. Since it was the final entry in Nathan Drake’s story, it would be the perfect way to end the series and go out in a blazing glory. All of a sudden, we are greeted with a spin-off game known as Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. If you’re one of the fans that are wondering if it’s any good, then let us satisfy your curiosity.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Synopsis

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is an action-adventure game featuring protagonists Chloe Frazer, a fortune hunter, and Nadine Ross, an ex-mercenary. They are on a journey to find the Tusk of Ganesh, a quest that consumed Chloe’s father, in the mountains of India in the midst of a civil war.

In order to find the fabled tusk, they had to steal a map made by an unknown expert and a disc which acted as a key from Asav, an insurgent leader. Asav is also looking to obtain the Tusk of Ganesh in order to spark a civil war that will wipe out modern-day India and return it to the way of the old kings.

Asav

After escaping Asav’s wrath, they have to race against him to obtain the tusk before it’s too late. Unlike previous entries in the series, we will not be seeing Nathan Drake in the game. However, it has been hinted that a “familiar face” will indeed be aiding players in their quest.

The Characters

After getting used to Nathan Drake for the past several Uncharted games, having Chloe and Nadine act as the duo protagonists is a breath of fresh air. At the same time, the odd pairing takes a bit of getting used to. Hearing them talk feels like both of them are constantly trying to one-up each other, with both characters having a hard time trusting each other initially.

Chloe and Nadine go through a lot of emotional dips and peaks as their stressful adventure puts multiple strains on their partnership, acting like old pals at one moment and blood rivals in the next. But none of these emotional beats feels especially earned.

Instead, the game ends up with a lot of actions that seem to make sense more for narrative convenience than for the purposes of believable character and relationship building. In fact, it feels like the only mutual ground both characters have is a sense of loss; Chloe for her father and Nadine for her mercenary group.

Visuals

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy has some of the most breathtaking visuals that we’ve seen in the PlayStation 4. The Indian setting allows the writers to craft a tight mythology around the lore of a few Hindu gods and the ancient societies surrounding them. This lets the developers to create some of the best architectural and scenery works in a series that is already filled with them.

From cities hidden deep in forested mountains to gigantic statues of mythological kings, there’s usually a new breathtaking visual experience every few minutes or so. In fact, even some of the game’s puzzles such as the block-pushing and platforming ones seem awe-inspiring. However, that’s just the visuals and not the actual gameplay yet.

Generally Suitable for All Kinds of Gamers

For most parts in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, you’ll be spending time exploring the jungle ruins or searching for a path to progress further in the game. Especially when you’re going through the highly detailed world via the map with your trusty jeep, it can be quite easy to feel lost in the game.

Do not fret as the game has a very subtle hint system that will be able to help you progress through the game. Instead of having the game outright tell you what to do via an on-screen text, listen to what the characters are saying. For instance, when I was struggling to figure out how to climb up to an out-of-reach area, Nadine suggested that I try using a nearby trolley to reach it.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy still feels practically the same as its previous entry, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, so much so that it felt like the game should have been a DLC add-on rather than its own standalone game. It’s worth noting that this game features more Assassin’s Creed-style climbing and parkour, which is surprisingly fluid and easy to do.

As far as combat is concerned, it’s something most people should not have any trouble with. The enemies will usually blindly charge at you which leave them vulnerable to melee attacks. Even those who are shooting at you from a distance will stand out in the open as if they’re asking to be shot. Added together with the fact that your health will automatically regenerate after not receiving damage for a bit of time, you’re practically invincible for most parts of the game.

Seriously, the melee combat is a simple 2-button system and the enemies can be easily divided into 3 classes; armored, unarmored, and sniper. You don’t need complicated strategy and you’re usually good to go with just running and gunning towards the enemies. While this might make combat sound like a chore, the fluidity of the battle alone and working together with Nadine is surprisingly entertaining to experience. If you need a better challenge, you have 5 difficulties to choose from so no worries there.

Conclusion

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is a pretty good game. However, due to not having much difference compared to the previous entry and the fact that the Story Mode is a little short, it feels like it should have been a DLC add-on rather than its own standalone game. I managed to finish the game in about 7 to 8 hours of gameplay time.

But don’t let that scare you away from getting a copy of the game yourself. The story is generally enjoyable and there’s a lot to see in this game. Especially if you are a fan of the Uncharted series, you definitely won’t be disappointed by the game. If this is going to be your game in the series, avoid it at all costs as you’re going to feel lost very fast. Overall, I’d give Uncharted: The Lost Legacy with our Silver Pokdeward!

For digital purchase in the Asia region, click here to buy it directly from the PSN Asia.