Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Reviews
Uncharted 4 is the ultimate video game adventure, a visual masterpiece, and a heartfelt, triumphant conclusion for a PlayStation icon.
Over the nearly 20 hours I spent with this game for review, I found myself enthralled with its approach to adventure, combat, emotion and narrative. Naughty Dog have once again shown that they're fantastic when it comes to telling a piece of Nate's story, and I'm pleased with what was created.
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. Naughty Dog's ability to tell engaging tales is unmatched, with Nate's final chapter expertly balancing bombast against genuinely relatable themes. It won't redefine the genre quite like Uncharted 2, but the developer's boundless ambition means that this is a bigger, better, and more beautiful adventure than ever before.
Dreamlike conclusion of the series: Nathan Drake's greatest and most beautiful adventure should not be missing in any game collection.
Review in German | Read full review
Naughty Dog gives us here an incredible title that writes the last pages of a now cult saga. A true masterpiece.
Review in French | Read full review
Uncharted 4 is awesome, the game your PS4 needs. Undoubtedly one of the best Naughty Dog games and the best closing for one of the most influential series among the contemporary video game industry.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Uncharted 4 is one of the best action game ever created. The story doesn't have the same emotional impact of The Last of Us, but it bravely focus on the characters and their relationships. On the other side the tension, the diversity, the pace and the aesthetic value of Nate's last adventure is something we never experienced before.
Review in Italian | Read full review
"A Thief's End" is less a conclusion to Nathan Drake's story than an affirmation of the inconclusive wreck it has always been.
The best in the series, and another Naughty Dog classic.
A visual tour de force, Uncharted 4 rarely drops its cinematic facade and reminds you that it's a video game. The visuals and presentation elevate the fairly ho-hum gameplay.
Naughty Dog has delivered something rare in this industry of milked franchises: the gift of franchise closure for its fans.
Nathan Drake's quest in Uncharted 4 successfully bridges the uncanny valley between adventure game, action movie, and real-world exploration.
The idea of old life versus new life is a recurring theme throughout Uncharted 4 — Drake asks Sam at one point what they're even doing in this situation — cycling these themes through scenes past and present.
Most importantly, it adds closure. There's no cheap set-up for a sneaky sequel, no cliffhanger ending. Just the door fittingly closing on a series of great – if unfortunate - adventures. While I wouldn't go so far as to call Uncharted 4 the greatest game that's ever been made, it is indeed a remarkable one, and undoubtedly the best the Uncharted series has to offer.
To be able to read the emotions of computer-generated characters, rather than having them spell out their feelings through dialogue, is a rare achievement in games.
A good series should end on a high note. 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. In some ways it feels like I'm playing Uncharted for the first time again, living that sense of incredulity and adventure as we join Nathan Drake and his charming half-tuck for one final adventure rooted in love and sacrifice. It's a bittersweet feeling, but they've gone all in to make sure that A Thief's End is the Uncharted finale that the fans deserve.
Thrilling, moving, exhilarating and ambitious, A Thief's End is a storming climax to the Nathan Drake saga. If it's the last of its breed, it's one of the best.
With Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, Naughty Dog has delivered another gorgeous, action-packed and memorable epic. Although it's kept from perfection by some pacing issues and a couple of other minor quibbles, it's a jaw dropping game that offers a lot of bang for one's buck. As such, it's something that every PlayStation 4 owner, and self-respecting gamer, should play through at least once.
Its clashing themes, self-referential script, accomplished cinematography and dynamic characters tell a profoundly human story. The feeling of boundless adventure burns brighter than that of a neatly closing door, but though this is not these characters' highest caliber tale, this is the tale that rings true.