Uncharted to this day is one of the best looking games I have ever played and it was no shock to see it be the best looking game on the Vita that I’ve seen yet. Using the same equation that they assembled the other 3 games with this blockbuster is a perfect pickup for anyone looking to kill time on their new Vita.

Sony’s new handheld runs Uncharted beautifully and the dual-analog controls make the gameplay fluid. Playing something like this on a single thumb stick would have been brutal, (no offense PSP 3000). Golden Abyss is packed full of Drake’s usual one-liners as you run along side Dante and Chase in pursuit of one of the 7 cities of gold. Following the Journal of Chase’s grandfather you are guided from jungle to cave researching ancient relics and unlocking puzzles.

The game itself took me about 5-6 hours to complete. I probably found 30% of the unlockables and died 5 or 6 times, it isn’t terribly challenging, (I say that because I played simply on hard not on crushing.) and the combat system is fluid. You can aim with the six-axis style accelerometer or keep it old school and use the thumb sticks. I was impressed with how often I found myself tilting the system ever so slightly to get the perfect headshot with the dragon sniper. Climbing ropes can be done 2 ways: option a press up, option b stroke the rear touch screen in a motion simulating climbing a rope and Drake will climb. Once again the thumb sticks were my weapon of choice, the rear touch pad felt a bit too gimmicky. My favorite addition to the game are the God of War style cut scenes during certain combat scenarios. While fighting an enemy you have to swipe across the screen in the correct directions to avoid being punched, shot, stabbed, or ya know…maimed. I loved this addition to the combat, it made the battles feel a thousand times more intense than simply hiding and shooting.

The story is pretty standard issue as far as Uncharted games go, it flows incredibly well and is enjoyable, but I definitely wasn’t surprised by any of the plot twists. I don’t want to be an apologist for predictability but I enjoyed the game play and content so much that its hard to knock em for following their tried and true story formula. It was also so well written that my gripes are merely based on my experience with the series previously.

The soundtrack is beautiful, the game sounds like a AAA title should, perfect. The music keeps you locked into whatever is happening and the voice work is top notch. The weapons all sound right and the explosions sound, look, and feel gorgeous. Truthfully this game is a must own for anyone with a Vita if you didn’t buy this with your system then what did you buy? I’d love to know.

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