The pacing of Uncharted 4 is just unfortunate
- Thread starter shockthrill
- Start date
I don't think the pacing is inherently bad, just different. Uncharted 4 definitely went for a more cinematic, story-driven feel compared to the other 3 games, and as a result there were lengthier cutscenes and much longer stretches between set pieces and firefights. Personally, I thought it felt less forced and formulaic than the other uncharteds, and when the time finally came to kick some ass it felt great. I understand people's complaints about the abundance of climbing, but I've always enjoyed the casual banter between the different combinations of characters during those sections too much to get bored.
RedlineRonin
Member
I really, really appreciate your nuanced approach here.
UC4 is hands down my favorite, and it's because I valued the narrative and "slower pacing" over anything else the game was doing.
I actually don't think UC's combat is all that great in any of the games. It's serviceable, but bland compared to most third person shooters. I was happy to have less of it versus more, and a slower approach to telling a more personal story, as you've said.
In every thread where UC4 inevitably gets shit on, it seems that people have come to the game for very different things, with very different expectations. I was coming for more of the UC1-3 fun, Indiana Jones, summer popcorn flick type game. I was very pleasantly surprised by the more personal narrative.
I totally get where folks are coming from that came expecting more of that and got less than they wanted, but damn it hit the mark (almost) perfectly for me.
As a complete aside, I also think some of that may be age related also. I was surprised by that GAF thread last week where people were posting how old they were and how much time they have to play games. I thought I was an old dude on GAF at 31, but there are a ton of people in their 30s, 40s and even 50s on GAF.
I totally get where a narrative like UC4's would've been something I would have never connected with in my early/mid 20s (and earlier), but as someone who's moved on from then to having serious relationships, it's actually kind of easy to put yourself in Nate's shoes when you watch him interact with Elena. And I appreciate that stuff way more than any of the combat stuff or action packed sequences UC has traditionally been known for.
The narrative in general is a more personal one, and I'm guessing (somewhat baselessly; I can't speak for all of "old GAF") I'm not the only one who appreciates a narrative like that now more than they would have in their younger years.
in the end, I feel like maybe we have opposite opinions, but I appreciate that you took the time to explain with nuance why you feel the way you do about the pacing. Helps me better understand where everyone is coming from that didn't like it.
BigEmil
Junior Member
Im with OP, the first halft of the game feels like a drag. Then it picks up on the car chase, but the pacing just sucks. This is the only Uncharted game I finished once. To me the best of the series has to be 2. It balanced story and gameplay quite good. As a matter of fact there were some scenes on UC2 that look so cinematic but it was the actual player controlling Drake. This is what I think Uncharted 4 (and also 3 missed the most). It was not just "go straight so we can activate the automated scene". UC2 has so much more to offer, Like when you are jumping on the side of the building dodging bullets from a helicopter, that was just awesome, or the damn train, the whole chapter looks like a cinematic scene yet it was actual gameplay. That is what it made it sooo awesome!
Never controlled a jeep and drove it around the city, never used a rope and attached it to a truck, shooting while sliding down, jumping into other vehicles and taking control etc... it's never been done on such a level and scale before.
Echo chamber
Banned
lol what story? sorry mario the treasures at in another location times 69.
Raptomex
Member
I agree 100% with this. I enjoyed the game but that was my biggest issue. Uncharted 4 is one instance where the story really kept me playing which rarely ever happens. The shootouts were great but they seemed few and far between. I understand it's a story-driven series but these are also third-person shooters.
I understand this game and series is praised and I enjoy it, myself, but I never understood some of the hype, outside of the story. There seems to be an excessive amount of navigating and climbing in this entry. Needs more combat or action packed sequences or something. I still prefer UC2 over 4.
I don't think it did at all. During all those off moments where there's no combat, TLOU had tons of areas to explore that all have items hidden for you to find that benefit gameplay due to the crafting system. You always needed materials to make more items for bombs, moltovs and healing. Uncharted 4, there was nothing like that and only the basic collectibles that every game had anyway that had no gameplay benefit.
Toni
Member
Well, no thank you for your opinion.
Fortunately, Its not shared by the vast majority.
IAmAnAgnostic
Member
Very well said! I don't know why it is so difficult for people to understand that it is possible to really like TLOU and really dislike UC4.
S
Steve.1981
Unconfirmed Member
Having loved my time with A Thief's End, and having recently bought The Nathan Drake collection and played through Drake's Fortune for the first time... I have to disagree, quite passionately.
That was one of the worst endurance tests dressed up as fun that I ever had the misfortune to slog my way through. The shooting is not good (to be very charitable) and it simply. never. ends. You walk forward 10 paces and have to fight another dozen waves of bad guys. Then there are like 2 parts where you actually solve a puzzle to progress. The pacing of that game was horrendous.
Give me 4's style, with more exploration, less shooting (but the few gunfights are actually fun) and a couple of great set-pieces over the absolute chore that was Drake's Fortune, any day of the week.
The pacing of Uncharted 4 is just fine my friend. Just fine.
That was one of the worst endurance tests dressed up as fun that I ever had the misfortune to slog my way through. The shooting is not good (to be very charitable) and it simply. never. ends. You walk forward 10 paces and have to fight another dozen waves of bad guys. Then there are like 2 parts where you actually solve a puzzle to progress. The pacing of that game was horrendous.
Give me 4's style, with more exploration, less shooting (but the few gunfights are actually fun) and a couple of great set-pieces over the absolute chore that was Drake's Fortune, any day of the week.
The pacing of Uncharted 4 is just fine my friend. Just fine.
Soul of the Beast
Member
Argument aside, I never understand these gifs, they are not even memes...they are just celeb people doing stuff that's...silly.
I never seen these gifs anywhere else other than NeoGAF, is it an old people thing? (Please don't kill me)
ffejeromdiks
Banned
Temeculan3000
Member
Uncharted 4 was my second favorite in the series, with 2 being the best.
I didn't feel like it was too long, in fact with every previous Uncharted game, I beat it in a single weekend because I couldn't put it down. I don't have the time to dedicate an entire weekend to a game anymore so U4 took me a couple weeks to finish, but it was great that way.
I actually enjoyed the partially open world segments, and I have always liked that Uncharted mixes it up with platforming sections and what amounts to in game cut-scene "look at the scenery" sections, in between the combat. That's what this series is all about.
All in all a wonderful game.
Posting reaction gifs on forums has been a thing for a while, and not just NeoGaf, lots of other forums it is very common as well. Before communities like Digg & reddit came around most people stuck to forums (or IRC). I still post in several and the use of gifs is very common. I guess it is an old person thing if using the internet before 2005 makes you old.
I didn't feel like it was too long, in fact with every previous Uncharted game, I beat it in a single weekend because I couldn't put it down. I don't have the time to dedicate an entire weekend to a game anymore so U4 took me a couple weeks to finish, but it was great that way.
I actually enjoyed the partially open world segments, and I have always liked that Uncharted mixes it up with platforming sections and what amounts to in game cut-scene "look at the scenery" sections, in between the combat. That's what this series is all about.
All in all a wonderful game.
Posting reaction gifs on forums has been a thing for a while, and not just NeoGaf, lots of other forums it is very common as well. Before communities like Digg & reddit came around most people stuck to forums (or IRC). I still post in several and the use of gifs is very common. I guess it is an old person thing if using the internet before 2005 makes you old.
I made it a point of focus because you implied that Amy and Neil's ideas of Drake's past were different, but the scene where Marlowe teases us about Drake's past goes more inline with what Neil continued in UC4. Whether it was about who he was or who he was not, it seemed apparent that they wanted to dwelve into Drake's past, which is why I believe that scene was a preface to that.
It's why Amy introduced a brother out of thin air for the forth game in the franchise. It's safe to say that she was going deep into Drake's past and I feel it's why Neil decided to tackle it as well when he took the helm.
Do you believe that Neil just wanted to dig into Drake's past the way he did out of nowhere, and didn't utilize UC3 as a base?
Rellik
Member
My problem with my previous UC games was too much combat.
UC4 was perfect for me because UC does not do combat well. People will praise Naughty Dog for anything, but they struggle on this.
I disagree with this. The platforming is automatic and incredibly basic for the actual platforming segments, but when it comes to combat, having those easy to perform movements and a level design focused on verticality makes it so nothing plays quite like Uncharted. It's the most useful hip fire I've ever seen in a TPS aside from Max Payne, as well, which also gives you more incentive to keep moving, climbing, jumping, and punching.
The feedback and animations weren't very good before The Last of Us knocked it out of the park and Uncharted 4 continued with that, but the combat as a whole was always fun as hell.
4 specifically is pretty much the best playing TPS combat, overall, in my opinion. RE6 has more depth to its controls, but the encounters are incredibly boring in the campaign (Mercenaries is godlike, though). Uncharted 4 has the perfect balance, aside from enemy variety and encounter variety as well. But when you're shooting, punching, and moving, it feels amazing.
This thread is a good read with some good examples: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1140458
I don't get it either. I'm very active in Souls threads, and it's nothing new for that fanbase to have people rank one game as their favorite of all time and another as... not that good. And they're all from the same studio.
gutter_trash
Banned
the Italy chapter sucks, I know two friends who quit due to the stealthing portion
I can't fault them. it is the weakest chapter of the game and I didn't like it
I only started to like the game as soon as we landed in Madagascar
I can't fault them. it is the weakest chapter of the game and I didn't like it
I only started to like the game as soon as we landed in Madagascar
TheRedSnifit
Member
That sounds too game-y. They should make it so there's nothing but holding the control stick forward to make Drake Walk in a straight line through Europe while talking to various people for ten hours.
I loved Italy, specially when they reached the house.
QuantumBro
Banned
Playing through it made it clear that Naughty Dog should become a film/tv studio since their hearts don't seem to be in games anymore.
I'm curious if the lack of actual critical feedback from Uncharted 4 will hurt how TLoU2 and Lost Legacy turn out.
I'm curious if the lack of actual critical feedback from Uncharted 4 will hurt how TLoU2 and Lost Legacy turn out.
BiGBoSSMk23
A company being excited for their new game is a huge slap in the face to all the fans that liked their old games.
I can't understand the people that stop in the middle of a gorgeous looking landscape you're exploring/climbing and think "gee, what's with all this downtime?".
How are you not entertained ?
Your characters are always saying things to each other, or you're clambering a some beautifully rendered cliffs or temple or what have you...
Surely this can't be happening on the first playthrough, otherwise you went in looking to validate these opinions previously ingrained in your mind.
That, or you need a break from AAA gaming, cause you're pretty jaded.
How are you not entertained ?
Your characters are always saying things to each other, or you're clambering a some beautifully rendered cliffs or temple or what have you...
Surely this can't be happening on the first playthrough, otherwise you went in looking to validate these opinions previously ingrained in your mind.
That, or you need a break from AAA gaming, cause you're pretty jaded.
"How are you not entertained?". Easily?
Spectacle wears off. Eventually the visuals blend into the background of an experience - you can't be perpetually awe-struck.
I don't think there's anything jaded about that.
The Xtortionist
Member
It happens a lot.
The fifth time Drake is climbing around and Sam says something like "damn look at these graphics" it's a bit numbing.
Yes, I paid $60 for the sequel of one of my favorite franchises, following up The Last of Us, one of my favorite games of all time, just to validate a negative opinion I already had, because reasons. I was also hyping the game like crazy on GAF and other places before release just to pretend I didn't already have these opinions.
Makes sense.
GameAddict411
Member
The pacing issue was not apparent to me until I did a replay to get the collectibles. At some points in the game it slowed to a halt, and felt very frustrating. The funny thing is that the game has a speed run trophy. They knew it was going to be annoying trying to make time, while forcing down story content during some instances. Also, the game had many glitches and problems when it came to registering achievements. I had trouble unlocking difficulty trophies it randomly changes difficulty while playing the game. It was incredibly annoying.
Crossing Eden
Hello, my name is Yves Guillemot, Vivendi S.A.'s Employee of the Month!
We're in an era when ND games aren't the only games that are visually pleasing or even the top of the industry, and where other games are much more engaging to play. If the only thing that's supposed to make climbing less braindead is
then no.....i'm good fam. Especially because we've seen so much of this stuff before and it's not more engaging in this game.
ffejeromdiks
Banned
Lmao, so I guess I was supposed to be in awe of those cliffs that I scaled for nearly half the game, no wonder it didn't work for me.
Just look at the magnitude of what we're looking at here, truly sensational. Why not also mention the insane degree of player control in this screenshot, so many branching paths! It's at a moment like this that you stop and ask yourself...where am I going to go next?
QuantumBro
Banned
I now understand why they made it so you could climb with just one hand, they wanted you to be able to jack off to those beautifully rendered cliff curves.
Naught Gods, am i right?
Jimnymebob
Member
My problem with the pacing is that it doesn't suit a game, which is the primary function of Uncharted 4. It's a fantastic cinematic experience, but there's a hell of a lot of times when you're playing, but not doing anything.
JigglesBunny
Banned
Upon reflection, I'd agree with this. I think my first trip through I had been so impressed by the incredible presentation and the engrossing story that I forgave all of the shortcomings but when you really step back and take a better look at the game as a whole, it was kind of a slog. Nearly half of the game consists of slow walking narrative sections, particularly the
, while only the latter half of the game has combat focused levels.
I would say it's pretty telling that I've done replays of each Uncharted game multiple times yet I have zero desire to go through U4 again.
level was torture for this exact reason.
young Drake portions
I would say it's pretty telling that I've done replays of each Uncharted game multiple times yet I have zero desire to go through U4 again.
That
clock-tower
But beautiful graphics are not an end to themselves. They are the vehicle on which (ideally) compelling gameplay systems should be layered. So, no, just looking at gorgeously rendered environments is not really that entertaining beyond maybe the first few minutes. And I say this as a graphics whore myself. You're talking about having fantastic icing but with no cake.
d00d3n
Member
You should really explain this better. Are you sneakily applauding the non-linear level design that many people disliked?
I see the hyperbole crew is here now, and we even get to hear about their theories on ND making cliffs so easy that we can jack off to them. HOW AWESOME and SO CREATIVE of you fellow GAFFER!
On Crushing this game shines. I found the combat encounters to be for the most part fantastic. Easily some of the most engaging and dynamic encounters in a TPS. And after a few of those bitches yes I loved and wallowed in the tame exploration.
Sue me.
Also, the clock tower level was not torture. It was easy as fuck. It took a few minutes. Jesus christ this thread is sinking fast.
On Crushing this game shines. I found the combat encounters to be for the most part fantastic. Easily some of the most engaging and dynamic encounters in a TPS. And after a few of those bitches yes I loved and wallowed in the tame exploration.
Sue me.
Also, the clock tower level was not torture. It was easy as fuck. It took a few minutes. Jesus christ this thread is sinking fast.
No, but it is our third convoy chase in the series.
Raptomex
Member
I could be entertained... if it was a movie maybe. This is a game. And as far as I know, a third-person shooter combined with exploration. UC2 had a great balance. UC4 feels like 80% - 85% exploration, 15% - 20% combat/set pieces. I want to shoot shit or do something else other than climb and navigate. Characters can still say things to each other during combat.
I could argue how are you entertained by slowly climbing, navigating, and exploring? No action? Where's the replay value? Do I really want to do that all again? I've seen everything and collected everything already. It's not like there's a ton of bad guys to shoot along the way. Granted, this is all based on personal preference.
Also, visuals aren't everything. You can have a gorgeous looking game and it can still suck (e.g. Star Wars Battlefront 2015). To be clear, I did enjoy UC4. I just have no desire to replay it again because of the pacing. At least not any time soon.
ASilentProtagonist
Member
Makes me a bit worried about TLOU Part II.
Psychoward
Banned
I've played a ton and he's right, Uncharted 4 is incredibly smooth and a huge step up from the original trilogy. It's right up there with Max Payne 3, Mass Effect 3 (much clunkier but dem powers) and Gears 3 (haven't played 4) as my favorite tps combat.
Psychoward
Banned
This is nonsense.
Papo Swing
Member
Uncharted 4 had some of the best characters development on that part of the story, but it was the worse at the stupid parts.
So stupid it got to me like sitcom applauses do after a while. It was the comparison I made when I was playing. At some point the "opening long hidden chamber only to find the bad guys inside" became stupid. It got to me. Fun game, but the worse of the 4 IMO.
So stupid it got to me like sitcom applauses do after a while. It was the comparison I made when I was playing. At some point the "opening long hidden chamber only to find the bad guys inside" became stupid. It got to me. Fun game, but the worse of the 4 IMO.
If your measurement of quality is how easy it is, then yeah, no surprise you enjoy the climbing.
And I say this as someone who really liked the clock tower setpiece, actually, but saying "it's easy as fuck" when someone says they don't like something is a very weird answer. What does that have to do with anything? In fact, being easy could be perceived as part of the issue with the lack of meaningful interaction in the game's long platforming segments.
I agree with your other example of going a bit too far, but the clock tower comment is just an opinion you disagree with, nothing wrong with that one.
get2sammyb
Member
I understand why people say this, but I thought they were quite brave by giving the game time to breathe. I think it ends up a better story that way, but I understand that for people who want to replay it multiple times it will start to grate.
ComputerBlue
Member
This is such a perfect little sum up of how I feel.
And the exploration is pointless. There's nothing of value to find. For instance, in madagascar you can stray away from the main path to look for treasure. But treasures are just collectibles. At least in tomb raider you can interact with the treasure and Lara will say something about it.
More_Badass
Member
I think that sums up a lot of the attitude behind the dissatisfaction people had with the game. You measure replay value by having more stuff to see or do, and feel that the downtime doesn't counter the lull in the action.
I've always found that measure of replayability to be kind of narrow and even detrimental to games as a whole.