Uncharted 3 - A Modern Indiana Jones With Guns

November 26, 2011

It started off slow, but has been steadily building up steam.

I already escaped a burning building, warded off crazed spider swarms, and took on a bloodthirsty pirate crew.

#funsofar

1up.com Review - A

AV Club Review - C

Reaction to AV Club Review

I have played “Uncharted 3″ and I do think it’s one of the best games the industry’s produced recently. But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect or beyond reproach. Is it art? God, who the hell knows. Would you call the word “OOF” painted on a blue canvas art? The Museum of Modern Art would; they’ve got a piece just like that by Edward Rusha in their collection. Would you call an intricately designed interactive world that required hundreds or thousands of man hours from dozens of artists and technicians art? Some would say no, because a video game is something you play rather than experience. Art will always be in the eye of the beholder.

In the eye of this beholder, “Uncharted 3″ isn’t perfect, but it is awesome. On an emotional level, it represents a real achievement for video games. After three “Uncharted”s, the characters of Nathan Drake and Victor “Sully” Sullivan have evolved into an unforgettable buddy combo. Actors Nolan North and Richard McGonagle deliver creative director Amy Hennig’s witty dialogue with brilliant timing and charm. It is a little weird to care about the fates of two characters who are not only fictional but immortal — since you have unlimited lives in the “Uncharted” games, there’s no way to lose — but I genuinely do. “Uncharted 3″ pays particular attention to Drake and Sully’s relationship, how it began and developed, and it pays off in an ending that is about as poignant as any in any game I’ve ever played (or, for that matter, any movie I’ve seen in the last couple months).

Linkage:

Uncharted Interview with Nolan  North

So how does it feel to be Indiana Jones in the minds of everyone born after, say, 1987?

If only that were true! But it's funny you mention this. I don't know if you've seen the commercial of Harrison Ford playing Uncharted 3.

I did.

I was sitting with my son watching it. My son turned to me — you know, I was in awe — and said, "Wow, Dad. Indiana Jones is playing you." Harrison Ford has always been one of my favorite actors. I grew up with Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and Regarding Henry is one of my favorite movies of all time. So, yeah — if that were true, it would be really cool. Just to be mentioned in the same sentence as Harrison Ford is cool.

Watching the Harrison Ford video, I thought his eyes were filled with a strange kind of puzzlement as to why the last Indiana Jones movie was not nearly as good as what he was playing.

A lot of people weren't sure about that one.

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