Since the PS4’s launch we’ve found Sony’s first-party support somewhat questionable. Knack, Killzone: Shadow Fall and inFamous were pretty yet vacuous, DriveClub had a botched launch, The Order: 1886 was woefully short and for the past year or so Sony has churned out little more than HD remakes of PS3 games, all of which seemingly didn’t bring in the big bucks first time round.
A season of change is ahead, however. Ratchet & Clank is currently riding the UK chart high, while No Man’s Sky is just a month away. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End meanwhile has arrived to a slew of 10/10s, with many critics calling it both the finest in the series and the finest this generation currently has to offer. Still not sold? Most reviewers claim that it’s one of the best looking games ever, too.
“A Thief’s End is an impossibly good-looking game, with lavish rendering and art budgets spent on every location from windswept cliffs to domestic interiors. This is premium game-making that takes Naughty Dog’s heavily cinematic aesthetic to the next level†chirped Eurogamer, before giving the franchise finale their recommendation.
As for the multiplayer mode, those able to give it a go (the servers are apparently suffering from pre-launch issues) found much to enjoy. “Thanks to nice map designs, the cover-based combat exchanges are fevered, and rarely experiences lulls in the matches†said Game Informer. “Uncharted 4 excels as a single-player experience, but make sure you give the multiplayer a whirl†they concluded.
Here’s a full review round-up:
5/5 – Time: “Developer Naughty Dog brings its action tetralogy to a rip-roaring and beautiful closeâ€
5/5 – Giant Bomb: “This is one of the most fully-realized action campaigns of all time, and it sets a new bar of quality for what’s possible in the genre”
5/5 – GameRant: “Uncharted 4 is the best game of this generation, proving once again that Naughty Dog is filled with master storytellers and brilliant designers”
5/5 – Digital Spy: “It’s the most appetising game smorgasbord we’ve ever had the good fortune to sample, with just the right blend of impactful storyline, cinematic cutscenes, explosive set pieces, exploration, discovery, puzzle solving and good old shootouts”
5/5 – The Telegraph: “This is a developer having a lot of fun, hitting the glamorous notes while being exceptional at the little things”
100% – GamingTrend: “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End brings closure with a lovingly crafted goodbye to its hero, one that leaves the series on a near universal high note”
10/10 – PlayStation Lifestyle: “Naughty Dog could beat the series into perpetuity, but they chose to close this chapter of their story at a high point and allow themselves and players to move on”
10/10 – TheSixthAxis: “Where many studios step safely from one sequel and into the next, Naughty Dog has taken a gigantic leap, proving yet again they’re the best in the business”
10/10 – Push Square: “A fitting end for one of PlayStation’s most famous franchises, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End sits alongside The Last of Us at the apex of cinematic action experiences”
10/10 – GameSpot: “Uncharted 4 is a challenge to the medium. In its writing, in its design, in its understanding of what makes games unique, Uncharted 4 is something to aspire to. It’s a shining example. And we’ll be talking about it for years to come”
10/10 – God is a Geek: “I’ve loved this series from the beginning, but a new high bar has been set in Uncharted 4. Naughty Dog have created a truly memorable game, and one of the very best of the current generation”
9.5 – Game Informer: “A Thief End’s is the best Uncharted yet, delivering a story I didn’t want to end, and an adventure that concludes with a hell of a payoff”
9.5 – Destructoid: “Stunning art direction; satisfying game feel; a willingness to shake up third-person action conventions, to know when to introduce variety, or let a foot up off the gas; excellent dialogue that reveals a lot without oversharing; and a heck of a conclusion. A thief couldn’t ask for a better end”
9.0 – EGM: “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is a true work of art, and the only time the slightest apprehension may surface is when one compares it to the titanic installments that came before”
9/10 – The Metro: “An incredible technical achievement but also one of the most cleverly crafted and most cinematic action games ever made”
4.5/5 – US Gamer: “It’s one of the best-looking games on PlayStation 4, the environments are huge, and the action set pieces are great. The pacing falters in the middle due to new vehicle sections, but once Uncharted 4 gets going, it’s a great ride”
9.0 – Polygon: “There is nothing cheap about how Naughty Dog has decided to retire this franchise — no door is left open for a crass surprise sequel — and there’s nothing ambiguous about its resolution. Every other Uncharted game has, to varying degrees, posed a question — “can a thief be good?” — and summarily moved on without wagering a guess. In finding an answer, Uncharted 4’s story soars, and presents a moving, fulfilling finale”
9/10 – gamesTM: “This is a masterful piece of storytelling from Naughty Dog, packed full of wonderful and genuine character moments, great performances from the main cast and no small amount of little references for fans of both the series and developer”
8.5 – The Jimquisition: “As cornball as it can be, however, Uncharted 4 remains a damn classy romp with a sensitive side, and fans are undoubtedly going to adore it. If this is to be Naughty Dog’s series swansong, they ended on a note to be proud of”
4/5 – GamesRadar: “Sure, it’s a little loose at the start, and tonally it tries hard to be so serious and grown up, but once it gets all that out of its system the Uncharted-ness comes through and we get to take Nate for one last spin, ‘Oh Craps’ and all”
8/10 – VideoGamer: “The first three games haven’t aged well, and so it’s a relief that Uncharted 4, base similarities aside, feels markedly different to them. It’s a confident, assured, and rather more intelligent game than it first appears, and a strong end to the series”
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is out next Tuesday.