Make no mistake, this is a big title for Sony – a company looking for an exclusive triple-A title able to shift millions of PS3s. “I know the industry has been talking about titles that are ‘just like playing a part in a movie’ for years,” says Sony’s product manager, Phil Lynch.
“But in all honesty, it’s only now with the power of next generation consoles that we can really say that with confidence. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune’s storyline, production values and character development really engage the player and lock you in emotionally. You really can’t wait to see what happens next.”
You play Nathan Drake, a gung-ho adventurer with his sights set on discovering the lost treasure of El Dorado. The game opens with Nathan and his companion Elena having discovered the coffin of Sir Francis Drake, which contains a diary that hints that the great explorer might have headed into the Amazon on one last quest for the fabled treasure of El Dorado.
“Naughty Dog’s research went back as far as the adventure pulp novels and to the Saturday morning movie matinees of old, to Indiana Jones and right up to contemporary historical detective stories like The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure,” continues Lynch.
“The gameplay possesses many popular elements that consumers respond to in other games, but combines them all in a very fluid and accessible way. The pillars of Uncharted’s gameplay are fast, edge-of-your-seat mêlée and gun combat, beautifully animated platform-based action and fiendish, but rewarding puzzle solving.”
While all this may sound a little Tomb Raider 2.0, Naughty Dog has ensured the game gets its own unique flavour by adding some of the most glorious animation and visuals to ever grace a console. The animation layers in movements to create incredibly spontaneous reflex actions while the Wrinkle Mapping system is capable of generating minute facial detail.
If previews are anything to go by then Drake’s Fortune is set to become one of the greatest arcade adventures of recent years, with IGN commenting: “Naughty Dog’s art team is at the top of their game here, as is the technical department for getting so many whiz-bang features running so smoothly.”
Of particular note is the fluid movement and sublime control of the protagonist who is able to run through the forest, vault an obstacle, reload his gun, fire a few rounds and snap behind some cover with hardly pause for breath.
“We wanted our lead, Nathan Drake, to have realistic movement and believable weight and physics for a guy his size,” adds Lynch.
But Drake’s Fortune is not just about exploration, there’s also a heavy emphasis on gunplay with cooperative features built in for social types. A supporting cast of characters, which includes documentary film maker Elena Fisher and veteran explorer Victor Sullivan, ensure enemies can be defeated using clever teamwork with flanking and cover among the tactical options.
Sixaxis will also be supported, with players able to lob grenades, balance on beams and complete puzzles by using the motion sensing technology in Sony’s standard controller.
As you’d expect, this jewel in Sony’s crown is being supported by a massive £1m marketing spend. Alongside specialist and mainstream print ads, which includes a feature in Empire magazine highlighting Drake’s archetypal hero qualities, an online campaign is gearing up in earnest.
“It’s the most ambitious and engaging I’ve ever been involved with,” says Lynch. “We’ve produced an\ online creative which will be hosted on some of the UK’s biggest video gaming and entertainment sites. It really has to be seen to be believed.
“In addition, we’ve also put together a really strong site at www.unchartedps3.com which hosts a detailed game overview and a massive interactive treasure hunt with the chance to win a fantastic prize.”
Expect more hidden treasure, bullets, pirates, foxy heroines and death defying stunts when the Drake’s Fortune is release on December 7th.
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