Naughty Dog, one of PlayStation’s most celebrated first-party studios, isrereleasingUncharted 4: A Thief’s EndandUncharted: The Lost Legacyin 2022. Both games will be available on PlayStation, and will also be ported to PC. LongtimeUnchartedfans will be happy to see some of the best games in the series modernized and retouched. However, the collection, titledUncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, will also attract several new players to the legendary adventure series.
While many gamers will likely jump intoUncharted 4first, there is good reason to suggest thatUncharted: The Lost Legacyis the best game in the series and the best game for newcomers. Although often overlooked, Chloe and Nadine’s wild romp in India provides the best of the series in an easy-to-digest package.
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Why The Lost Legacy Is the Perfect Introduction to Uncharted
For gamers that areon the fence aboutUncharted, it may seem like the logical thing to do is to start with the first game in the series. However, that may not be the smartest decision, becauseUncharted: Drake’s Fortuneis quite dated at this point. The game is still great and offers some exhilarating action set-pieces, but it is still a 2007 game that shows its age even when the remastered version inUncharted: The Nathan Drake Collectionis played.
For those experiencingUnchartedfor the first time viatheLegacy of Thieves Collection,Uncharted 4may be the more alluring option to start with. There are some downsides to starting with this game, though. It features lots of references to earlier games, and understanding Nathan Drake and Sully’s backstory is made harder if prior games have not been played. Most importantly, it is a long game that may end up being frustrating as a first introduction to the series.
The Lost Legacyprovides a smoothentry into the franchise for several reasons. Firstly, the game veers away from Nathan Drake and instead focuses on Chloe as she goes on a quest to seek the Tusk of Ganesh. Joining her is Nadine, who is an ex-mercenary. During their adventures, they also have to deal with Asav and his team of insurgents who wish to spark a civil war in India. Though Nadine and Chloe appear in prior games, they serve as minor characters and it does not take much backstory to understand them and their motivations. For anyone who wishes to jump intoUncharted’s fun without being bogged down by too much ofUncharted’s narrative history,The Lost Legacyoffers the easiest entryway.
As the last game in the series,The Lost Legacyoffers the mostrefined gameplay. Stealth is at its best, and while the earlier games do tend to turn into generic cover-shooters,The Lost Legacyallows for players to jump in and out of hiding, resulting in some truly dynamic and unpredictable gameplay. Climbing feels great, there are no puzzles with strange and unexpected solutions, and the setpieces ofThe Lost Legacyare simply unforgettable, to say the least. Best of all, the game features an open-world section that strays from the usual linear style of gameplay the series is known for, allowing players to complete tasks in the order they choose to. AlthoughUncharted 4does feature its own open-world area in Madagascar,The Lost Legacypulls it off better and does so in a way that complements the narrative instead of grinding it to a halt.
Most importantly,The Lost Legacynever overstays its welcome. The game was originally meant to be a DLC toUncharted 4, but was eventually turned into a standalone game. As a result, it is notably shorter thanUncharted 4. This works toThe Lost Legacy’s advantage,asUncharted 4can be a marathonto get through. WithThe Lost Legacy, everything from the plot to the gameplay feels streamlined and refined to allow it to fit into a shorter playtime. The result is a game that feels tighter and more focused than its predecessor. This is perhaps the best way for players to get a taste of what the series offers before they jump into the mammoth game that isUncharted 4.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacyis easily one of the most gorgeous games in the series. With its beautiful vistas, stunning architecture, and lush environments, every moment in the game is photo-worthy. It is a culmination of everything the series has gotten right in the past, and while it may not beas popular asUncharted 4, it is still one of the bestUnchartedexperiences available.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collectionis set to release on January 28 on PS5 and later in 2022 on PC.
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