Review: Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

September 24, 2017 Josh Gilbert

Platforms: PS4 (Reviewed)
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date: August 22nd, 2017

With Nathan Drake’s treasure hunting adventures coming to a close, the Uncharted franchise looks to live on for at least one more entry without its title character. What started out as a DLC expansion, Naughty Dog’s Uncharted: The Lost Legacy became so ambitious they decided to release it as its own stand alone title. But how would an Uncharted game with two previously supporting characters stack up to the juggernaut quadrilogy? The answer is surprisingly well.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is the first Nathan Drake-less adventure of the series, focusing on the unlikely pairing of two past supporting characters. Chloe Frazer, introduced in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves with her business and romantic relationships with Nathan Drake, attempts to track down the tusk of Ganesh deep in the mountains of India. Before embarking on the treasure hunt, she enlists the help of former Shoreline leader Nadine Ross, who was first introduced in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Much like the other entries in the series, the pursuit of the tusk becomes a race, as a group of insurgents led by Asav have their own plans for the artifact.

In the opening chapters of The Lost Legacy the relationship between Chloe and Nadine is strictly business. There are plenty of moments that have some friction between the two, battling for the leadership role. As the game progresses the near-death experiences cause the two to forge a friendship, and overall they develop a pretty good chemistry. The reckless nature of Chloe and the calculated military background of Nadine provides an interesting contrast, and eventually they begin to rub off on each other.

The Lost Legacy dives deep into the pasts of Chloe and Nadine, something we did not see in any of their previous appearances. They find out they have more in common than they think, and are really just two daughters who have followed in their fathers’ footsteps.

The Lost Legacy take place entirely in India, and is arguably the most breathtaking setting in all of the Uncharted series. Throughout the 6-8 hours of gameplay you’ll explore gargantuan temples in the heart of the Indian jungles, unraveling the lore of Hindu deities.

While the Uncharted series has always had a balanced mix of platforming, gun combat, and puzzle-solving, The Lost Legacy can feel a little too puzzle-heavy at times. One chapter in particular features over a dozen puzzles, which could potentially lead to some frustration for players who aren’t puzzle savvy. The Lost Legacy doesn’t introduce any groundbreaking new features to the Uncharted formula, but there are a few handy items that will assist you in finding extra treasures and weaponry. Chloe proves herself as a resourceful thief, as she brings a lock-picking ability into the fold. There are lockboxes scattered throughout the areas of the game which Chloe can open using her bobby pins.

Also as a reward for solving the dozen puzzles previously mentioned Chloe will receive a bracelet called the Queen’s Ruby. This bracelet will chime when you’re in the vicinity of a hidden treasure, making those pesky treasure-finding trophies a lot easier to obtain.

A new story mode is not the only mode you’ll experience when purchasing The Lost Legacy, as you’ll also gain access to Uncharted 4‘s multiplayer and survival modes. There are six multiplayer modes in total, including King of the Hill, Bounty Hunter, Command, and Plunder. The newest mode is Survival Arena mode, which is essentially a horde mode where players team up to take on waves of enemies.

The Lost Legacy proves that the Uncharted series can still provide the same thrills without its face of the franchise, utilizing two supporting characters that form into strong leading characters as the game progresses. The Lost Legacy undoubtedly scratches the Uncharted itch for longtime fans of the series, while also providing a stand alone adventure that can be enjoyed for those who haven’t played the other four entries of the franchise.