Uncharted: Golden Abyss

[Neon Ignition]

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/302704/news/uncharted-ngp-is-prequel-to-uncharted-1/

They've confirmed that the game is a new story which is set before the original Uncharted, hinted at UC3 connectivity and stated June 2 2011 for some sort of pre-E3 reveal.

It'll be interesting to see how the prequel aspect is handled as not only does it rule out Elena from events but having the traditional 'monsters' turn up would seem odd in light of UC1 where it's presented that Drake doesn't really believe such things can exist.

[Neon Ignition]

Updated now it's officially titled and looking SEXY

[Number45]

PSV/Vita/NGP is going to make searching for PSP2 games unnecessarily difficult (I think I've covered all bases for this thread now though! :-p).

With that said: UNCHARTED!

[Flabio]

I suspect we'll get a final name for the hardware next week. I'd suggest sticking with psp2 till then...

[Nocturne]

Screens here.

Screens there.

Screens everywhere.

More!

More!

MORE!

[Neon Ignition]

That looks sexier than Gillan! That's right, I said it!

[Neon Ignition]

http://www.the-magicbox.com/1108/game110817e.shtml

New screens and two new video's of the game which are startign to show it getting closer to the level of polish found on PS3. The second story trailer suggests that the game follows Drake before he was wreckless, picking it up off someone else when things get out of hand.

[JSR]

Yeah, here we are.


I really like the Uncharted series, but this handheld version has a few aspects that make me a bit uneasy. First of all the gameplay seems too altered to fit the consoles' new input features. As you've surely seen by now, you can stroke a path on the screen for Nathan to traverse and then simply watch as he does all the legwork. Why is this presented as a good thing? They are essentially taking the key gameplay aspect of the series and turning it into a cutscene. The usual fun parts of climbing and exploring can now be several minutes of observing with some swiping in between. Yes, this is all optional, but why bother doing something the hard way, when this much easier option is constantly suggested by on-screen cues? Taking enemies out silently seems to require touch screen use. In the gameplay videos, narrators tell that an on-screen prompt is the way to do it, without mentioning a button alternative. One part I do like however, is the motion based aiming. This works really well using the bow in Ocarina of Time on the 3DS, so I imagine it will work just as well here.

Then there's the thought of playing Uncharted on a handheld device. The games in the series have always been remarkable for extravagant set-pieces and overall polish. I believe the scope and general feeling of awe will be greatly diminished playing this game hunched over a 5 inch screen (even though it's a fancy OLED screen). And if we look at the history of Sony's handheld exclusives, we can expect to find this game at PS3 with 3D support at half the price within 12 months. Wouldn't you rather play it from the couch, in HD?

[Mr M0by]

And if we look at the history of Sony's handheld exclusives, we can expect to find this game at PS3 with 3D support at half the price within 12 months. Wouldn't you rather play it from the couch, in HD?

To be fair isn't the only just released God of War Collection: Vol 2 the only PSP to PS3 conversion to date? Other than the JPN re-master of Monster Hunter...

[JSR]

To PS3 perhaps, but the PS2 received tons of PSP conversions, so I doubt that this handheld to console routine will cease any time soon.

[Shozuki]

Yeah, here we are.


I really like the Uncharted series, but this handheld version has a few aspects that make me a bit uneasy. First of all the gameplay seems too altered to fit the consoles' new input features. As you've surely seen by now, you can stroke a path on the screen for Nathan to traverse and then simply watch as he does all the legwork. Why is this presented as a good thing? They are essentially taking the key gameplay aspect of the series and turning it into a cutscene. The usual fun parts of climbing and exploring can now be several minutes of observing with some swiping in between. Yes, this is all optional, but why bother doing something the hard way, when this much easier option is constantly suggested by on-screen cues? Taking enemies out silently seems to require touch screen use. In the gameplay videos, narrators tell that an on-screen prompt is the way to do it, without mentioning a button alternative. One part I do like however, is the motion based aiming. This works really well using the bow in Ocarina of Time on the 3DS, so I imagine it will work just as well here.

Then there's the thought of playing Uncharted on a handheld device. The games in the series have always been remarkable for extravagant set-pieces and overall polish. I believe the scope and general feeling of awe will be greatly diminished playing this game hunched over a 5 inch screen (even though it's a fancy OLED screen). And if we look at the history of Sony's handheld exclusives, we can expect to find this game at PS3 with 3D support at half the price within 12 months. Wouldn't you rather play it from the couch, in HD?

I just think you need to calm down... First and foremost all of the touch screen stuff (minus the gesture stuff) is all optional. I take your point of the Uncharted experience, but this is a supplement to main games not a direct sequel and as such could provide a nice plate of sides to the main dish. The same could also have been said about the PSP Resistance/God of War games, but they turned out to be fantastic ways to expand the source material.

Sony's recent trends of ports isn't an issue in my book as it certainly won't be simultaneous on day 1 anyway. Should it happen in the future then all it does is help those whom couldn't afford to catch it initially.

I'm really looking forward to the device anyway, so perhaps I'm being overly positive but I'm just offering my reflection on your thoughts.

[Brad]

A 960 x 544 res 5" screen is gonna look amazing and I think it'll do Uncharted justice. The PS3 games render at 1280x720 so this is only slightly lower res than those and on a 5" screen rather than 32" +. I'm pleased that they're shaping the game around the controls to some extent. PSP games that used the 4 face buttons as a kind of first person digital thumbstick weren't that great and Mario 64 on the DS was a struggle whereas Killzone on PSP was really good because they didn't try to just put a full console version of Killzone onto the PSP.

To be honest, I thought I was done with handheld consoles but the thought of Uncharted on it means I'll simply have to buy one now. The definition of a system seller (to me anyway).

[JSR]

I just think you need to calm down... First and foremost all of the touch screen stuff (minus the gesture stuff) is all optional. I take your point of the Uncharted experience, but this is a supplement to main games not a direct sequel and as such could provide a nice plate of sides to the main dish. The same could also have been said about the PSP Resistance/God of War games, but they turned out to be fantastic ways to expand the source material.

Sony's recent trends of ports isn't an issue in my book as it certainly won't be simultaneous on day 1 anyway. Should it happen in the future then all it does is help those whom couldn't afford to catch it initially.

I'm really looking forward to the device anyway, so perhaps I'm being overly positive but I'm just offering my reflection on your thoughts.

I don't consider it a reflection on my thoughts as much as I see you "sweeping them under the rug". And thanks, but I'm already quite calm. Just said a few aspects made me a bit uneasy. Didn't even use any exclamation marks.

And yes, they are optional. I even said so in the text you're quoting. My issue is that finding out where to go/run/climb next was much of the joy in Uncharted. If the game now encourages you to simply drag a finger over a clear path, much of that joy is gone. Even if the game only highlights your path, it will still feel less engaging than the other Uncharted games.

Seeing as this is a game made by a different developer, on a completely different console, addressing and discussing these changes is only right. Or would you prefer a thread filled with "OMG IT LOOKS FANTASTIC!"?



Edit:
For the record, I'm looking forward to it too, and will probably pick it up on day one along the console. I just want to make sure that this game isn't dumbed down in any considerable way.

[teddymeow]

New screenshots on andriasang.com show what looks like sections of the game where you play as a new female character rather than Drake. Something I always thought Naughty Dog would introduce but seems Bend have beaten them to the punch.

So. Excited. For. This. Game!!!

[Shozuki]

wow yeah, looks great. Bring on December!!