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[entremet]

I enjoyed the Uncharted series on the PS3. I still really have a soft spot for the original, even though it has mechanically aged terribly.

Like many, I believe Uncharted 2 was one of the best experiences last generation. That with TLOU were an amazing one, two punch from ND.

I played a demo of Uncharted 3, but it didn't grab me, so I skipped it. The controls were also way off for some reason. No idea why they went that angle.

However, Uncharted 4 being announced reinvigorated my interest for the series on new hardware.

I picked it up a few months and go, starting and stopping, and finally putting some more time in the last few weeks.

I enjoyed the PS3 games, but this game feels much slower. Not only that the formula's age is showing. Walk, traverse, setpiece, walk, traverse, ambust, big setpiece escape, wash, rise, repeat. And the traversal now has this rope mechanic, but again it's still very formulaic.

That I can forgive some. Although it's getting really tired. Uncharted's strength has been about it's Indy style adventures and storyline.

That's when Sam Drake comes in. I know he's supposed to be an unlikeable and troubled long lost sibling, but he's just not that interesting or compelling and you're with him most of the game of the thus far.

Sully, Elena, heck even Chloe were much more interesting companions in the previous games. Sam is just a bore.

And the two antagonists just aren't that menacing or interesting either.

Obviously, I still have a lot to play. I'm in Madagascar now (I wanted to blow my brains out driving that Jeep), but I don't remember a game dragging so much in a while. Doubly so from a franchise I love and from a great developer like ND.

It seems like ND was honestly tired of the IP as TLOU felt more like a labor of love and it showed.

What are you thoughts on Uncharted 4's pacing?

 

[Leithkorias]

It does. About halfway through. But i loved the whole thing so i wasnt really waiting for it to pick up. But i did notice.

 

[Nibel]

I think at like chapter 8 it becomes an actual game

 

[Aters]

The more I hear about it, the more I don't want to get it. Why does every franchise have to be serious and "emotional"?

 

[DNAbro]

I think U4's pacing is pretty bad as well. IMO it doesn't really get better but there are some really cool set pieces as you go on. Ended up liking most of the characters by the end, but I did like Sam from the start.

 

[Goney]

The beginning is definitely slow for sure. It sounds like you're getting to where it starts picking up.

 

[Alienous]

It picks up at about the halfway point, and it seems like you're a few chapters before that. It'll plateau again on both sides of 3/4 through.

 

[entremet]

I think at like chapter 8 it becomes an actual game

Was that Scotland?

Scotland was so boring. I was awaiting it's end.

 

[Trumpets]

You should go back and give 3 a chance. It's like 2 but better, whereas 4 is a different game in many ways (tone, combat, number of set-pieces).

 

[ASilentProtagonist]

Not really. UC4 pacing is pretty bad IMO. It's kills the games replayability as well. It's worth finishing for the conclusion though.

 

[Duxxy3]

The more I hear about it, the more I don't want to get it. Why does every franchise have to be serious and "emotional"?

If you've played through the rest of the series, you owe it to yourself to finish 4.

 

[OneUh8]

I feel like I am in the minority that liked the first half of the game. Thought it was awesome all the exploring and character interactions.

 

[Massa]

The more I hear about it, the more I don't want to get it. Why does every franchise have to be serious and "emotional"?

Don't you mean the opposite? "Why does every franchise have to be so dumb and actiony all the time?"

If you know of many other games like UC4 please do recommend them to me.

 

[SoraanTribal]

The pacing improves somewhat a bit later, but it's still not super great in that department. I thought Uncharted 4 was pretty good, but I still prefer UC2 and 3 over it. I replayed both of those multiple times and they never got old (got platinums for all of them too). But... I don't really have the urge to replay Uncharted 4 again (at least not anytime soon). It drags too much, and I wouldn't even say the story was all that amazing anyway.

 

[Primethius]

It picks up around chapter 8-9 IIRC action wise.

 

[Makoto-Yuki]

Was that Scotland?

Scotland was so boring. I was awaiting it's end.

at least it's realistic then. can confirm scotland is boring.

 

[entremet]

Another thing, the gunplay just isn't that satisfying. I don't think it ever was that much series wise, but I do love the new stealth mechanics.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

It starts and stops frequently throughout.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

The more I hear about it, the more I don't want to get it. Why does every franchise have to be serious and "emotional"?

This is a poor statement to make in reference to Uncharted considering the series has had narrative ambition at its core since it was conceived.

As others have said, the action picks up significantly around chapter 8. This is noticeably to the chagrin of people hoping to hit the ground running like Uncharted 1 and 3.

Also, the game is more fun if you try to stealth every encounter and only go HAM when you are caught.

 

[Scrawnton]

I loved my time with UC4 but it has serious pacing issues. That game needs a directors cut that removes maybe 1/4 of the drag.

 

[D1renegade]

The pacing is pretty bad.. I don't think I'll be able to muster up the patience to replay it any time soon..

 

[thekonamicode]

I've heard enough about UC4 to make me not want to play it. I trudged through all the other ones and didn't really care for the experience. The first one is obviously the worst, but none of them are great to me personally.

 

[GAZhims3lv]

You should go back and give 3 a chance. It's like 2 but better, whereas 4 is a different game in many ways (tone, combat, number of set-pieces).

Nahh 3 is far worse than 2. 4 is almost on par with 2. Though, I didn't had the feeling that it was slow or boring in the beginning. The pace was brilliant for me trough the game.

 

[Matty8787]

Eh personally I thought it was quite boring, there was too much rock climbing for my liking and the pacing was quite slow.

I understand why it reviewed well overall though just not for me.

 

[Nibel]

Was that Scotland?

Scotland was so boring. I was awaiting it's end.

I think so, yeah

 

[Grisby]

I thought it picked up a lot at Scotland, but it never really find it's pacing. I still think UC2's Nepal section, all the way to the village scene, is the best 'pacing' that the UC games have ever done.

 

[entremet]

I loved my time with UC4 but it has serious pacing issues. That game needs a directors cut that removes maybe 1/4 of the drag.

It really felt like they were going the TLOU route, along with the journal entries. Trying to make slower paced game in the beginning.

However, the world building in TLOU was so excellent that you want to take your time and explore.

It really doesn't work well with Uncharted.

 

[Common Knowledge]

Yes, the game does pick up more the further you get into it, but overall it is a noticeable slower experience than the previous games, focusing more on character interactions and story than the previous games. It's basically an Uncharted game with The Last of US style focusing. It was an intentional design choice obviously, but unless you're invested in the Uncharted characters, I can understand how it's not for everybody.

Also, Sam seems to be hit or miss with people. I didn't mind him, but I feel like they certainly could've did more with him.

 

[Oneself]

Strangely, gunfights are the best part of this game. It's masterfully designed and feels perfectly right. There are more of them eventually (but never enough IMO).

 

[sappyday]

It gets fun at chapter 1.

 

[Spasm]

I love both TLoU and Uncharted on their own. But they put a little too much TLoU into U4. It's too slow, serious, and depressing. I really missed the natural light-heartedness of U1-3.

 

[Peterpan]

Everyone talks about poor pacing? What does that even mean?

 

[SoraanTribal]

Strangely, gunfights are the best part of this game. It's masterfully designed and feels perfectly right. There are more of them eventually (but never enough IMO).

I would actually agree with this. I personally thought the gunplay felt fantastic and it was a blast, but... there never really seemed to be enough of those segments (which is weird considering the previous games had so many lol).

Everyone talks about poor pacing? What does that even mean?

Not much going on for long periods of time storywise (and even gameplay-wise most of the time).

 

[cheezcake]

I've heard enough about UC4 to make me not want to play it. I trudged through all the other ones and didn't really care for the experience. The first one is obviously the worst, but none of them are great to me personally.

I didn't particularly like any of the other Uncharted but I thought 4 was great. I really enjoyed the first 8 chapters though it was some of my favourite part of the game, it's not as action heavy as the rest of the game but the build up is natural and nice, better than just repetitively shooting waves of enemies for twenty chapters.

 

[Alo0oy]

Nope. Worst game in the series. The only good thing about the second half is that Sam fucks off for a while and you get Elena.

 

[Unknown?]

I thought it picked up a lot at Scotland, but it never really find it's pacing. I still think UC2's Nepal section, all the way to the village scene, is the best 'pacing' that the UC games have ever done.

Yeah but even U2 has bad pacing at the end where it just drags. I liked U4 even though it was slower. It felt more like an adventure than arena shooter. But I can see how some would want balls to the walls action all the time like U1.

 

[Shredderi]

Gotta say I haven't had any desire to replay it. I mean it was really good for what it was but the pacing is pretty poor in that it just doesn't inspire the need to play it again. I got my money's worth by playing the MP for about a month.

 

[Sydle]

I feel you, OP. Keep going, the last few chapters are worth it.

 

[Alienous]

Everyone talks about poor pacing? What does that even mean?

Long stretches of nothing happening rather than a steady amount of peaks and troughs (high-intensity and low-intensity). Uncharted 2 is an example of great pacing. It knows when to take its foot off of the pedal, but it never does so for too long.

 

[BattleMonkey]

It's like they listened to the crowd who complained about too much shooting and action. In the previous games.

 

[sappyday]

Gotta say I haven't had any desire to replay it. I mean it was really good for what it was but the pacing is pretty poor in that it just doesn't inspire the need to play it again. I got my money's worth by playing the MP for about a month.

This is how I felt too, but now I'm itching to replay it but my dumbass sold it.

 

[cheezcake]

Long stretches of nothing happening rather than a steady amount of peaks and troughs (high-intensity and low-intensity). Uncharted 2 is an example of great pacing. It knows when to take its foot off of the pedal, but it never does so for too long.

Think you got some nostalgia goggles on coz Uncharted 2 had some sections with very bad pacing, especially the entire end sequence.

 

[entremet]

I feel you, OP. Keep going, the last few chapters are worth it.

The game is far from awful. It's just poor given its pedigree.

TLOU was a masterpiece and coming off that, Uncharted 4 is a real letdown, so far.

 

[Chittagong]

It won't, in my opinion. It's pretty much as boring from start to end. There are a few nice battles towards the end, provided you play on Hard. But mostly, it's same old walking in empty areas and climbing walls along white scratches, rinse and repeat.

 

[Alienous]

Think you got some nostalgia goggles on coz Uncharted 2 had some sections with very bad pacing, especially the entire end sequence.

No, I recall it having great pacing. Perhaps not perfect, but I can't really recall any "eugh, move on" moments while playing.

 

[brawly]

It has like three good set pieces (

Spoiler

escaping the ball, the colapsing cave, lowering the bridge in malaysia

), the rest is pretty damn boring. Replayability is at an all-time low here.

It's a real shame too, because the shooting is actually fun for the first time. I wanted more.

 

[Alo0oy]

It's like they listened to the crowd who complained about too much shooting and action. In the previous games.

Those people were never interested in a third person shooter. I don't know why they were catering to them.

Even if we ignore the bad pacing, the game was written like a fanfiction, it had a very poor transition of writers.

 

[Common Knowledge]

I would actually agree with this. I personally thought the gunplay felt fantastic and it was a blast, but... there never really seemed to be enough of those segments (which is weird considering the previous games had so many lol).

See, it's interesting cause I felt that previous games had too much shooting segments. It actually was hard for me to get into these games at first cause the shooting never felt that good for me and there was just so much of it throughout. The games eventually grew on me but I think UC4 might be my favorite (perhaps tied with 2) because of it's lesser focus on shooting. Although it definitely has the most solid combat mechanics of any of the games.

 

[purseowner]

I'm that guy who didn't like the first and what I played of the second all that much, but adored 4. Maybe the shift to slow-burning narrative over constant setpieces just isn't as appealing to you, OP.

 

[Sydle]

The game is far from awful. It's just poor given its pedigree.

TLOU was a masterpiece and coming off that, Uncharted 4 is a real letdown, so far.

I think it has some of the series' highest highs and some of the lowest lows. Just saying I felt somewhat the same as you and then the last third of the game turned it out for me.