Why Remastering Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune Was The Right Move

There must be a beginning of any great matter, but continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory

Sir Francis Drake, 1587

Back when the Playstation 3 was still in its infancy, I remember seeing commercials for a game that reminded me of a modern day Indiana Jones. The game centered around a young, handsome, charismatic adventurer who went by the name of Nathan Drake. This game was of course, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune I thought the game looked interesting, but being a Playstation 3 exclusive and me being an Xbox guy at the time, I never really had a chance to give it a shot. It wasn’t until the release of Uncharted: Drake’s Deception that I had my chance to experience the series, and I was immediately hooked. I was completely immersed in the adventures of Nathan Drake, Victor Sullivan, and Elena Fisher, so much so that I completed the trilogy in a weekend.

I sang its praises and recommended it to everyone I knew who hadn’t played the series yet, and most of them who gave it a shot gave me a common response. They would say the shooting mechanics weren’t that great, or they just couldn’t get into it because the game felt a little dated and they would move onto to something newer. At that time Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was 4 years old, and I will admit it did have its issues. Being one of the Playstation 3’s first big titles, it definitely lacked polish when playing it years later. I would always suggest that they just power through the first one, trying to convince them that the game’s quality improves leaps and bounds from the first game to the second (my personal favorite of the series so far). I also strongly advised against skipping the first game, as it would cheapen the overall experience of the trilogy.

Now, almost 8 years since its release, players who have not experienced the Uncharted series have a new reason to give it a try, with the release of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection. This not only remasters Drake’s Fortune, but the rest of the trilogy as well. The first game of the series definitely needed a tune up, and it was the right move to package the entire trilogy in a bundle so you can play the series seamlessly, the way it should be. Naughty Dog could have gone the easier route and just remaster the third game, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, but kudos to them for taking the time and resources to revamp the entire series.

The timing is almost too perfect, with the highly anticipated return of Nathan Drake in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End coming early next year. It gives the franchise a chance to gain a larger fan base, and it also let’s Uncharted veterans re-live the series and challenge themselves with new trophies and game modes. If you feel like you know Drake’s Fortune like the back of your hand, why not try the new speed run mode? And while you’re at it why not try speed run mode as “Doughnut Drake”.

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was always an excellent game, but with a smoothed out frame rate, polished visuals, and extra add-ons, the first installment of the franchise is taken to the next level. So once again, I will sing its praises and highly recommend to anyone who has not yet experienced the Uncharted trilogy to give it another shot. After nearly half a decade since first playing Drake’s Fortune, my love for the franchise has been rekindled, and my anticipation for A Thief’s End has never been higher.