The Uncharted series is revolutionary, and here's why

JJD said:
Did you actually play the game?



I'm sorry, but your argument is as dumb as his.
Click to expand...

Yes. Both of them. I didn't beat the second but I beat the first. I didn't like where the game went.
 
Unregistered007 said:
has any of Tim Schafer's game sold more than 5 copies?
Click to expand...

Yes, Monkey Island and Full Throttle both sold well.

What kind of stupid logic is this anyway, because I guess by your definition Twilight, Transformers, and Call of Duty are the best things in the world because they sell so well.
 
Please change thread title to "The Uncharted series is revolutionary, GAF remains the same as always" or "The obligatory Uncharted GAF repressed rage release thread"
 
jett said:
You aren't robbed of control in Uncharted. Cinematics in Uncharted are only used for expository dialogue and conversations. All action happens during gameplay. Also, they're small in length, on average they last two minutes. In my opinion it's because of this that the Uncharted series makes best use of cut-scenes out of any other. They also serve as bookends for each chapter.
Click to expand...
You are robbed of control. You don't play a cutscene.

I can appreciate a well written and executed scene, but I still prefer that games use their biggest strength -- interactivity -- to tell a story.

I think exposition is a crutch. Doesn't matter if it's in film, games, books, whatever. It's very comic book, it's a way out of working around a plot in an interesting way by going the lowest common denominator route and explaining things flat out. It's boring to me.

Note that I enjoy comic books, but for different reasons. I'm not knocking pulp entertainment as much as I am wishing the "quality" stuff would elevate itself a bit more.

In saying that, I also understand that Uncharted is taking a lot of inspiration from Indiana Jones. It's not exactly striving for "high art" so to speak. I get that, and I appreciate the charm and tone of the games. But calling it revolutionary, or lauding something that is unlike a game -- that's where I find fault.
 
Ulairi said:
Yes. Both of them. I didn't beat the second but I beat the first. I didn't like where the game went.
Click to expand...

It's OK if you didn't like then. But arguing that Uncharted is an "interactive cinematic experience" is preposterous.

Fine Ham Abounds said:
Please change thread title to "The Uncharted series is revolutionary, GAF remains the same as always" or "The obligatory Uncharted GAF repressed rage release thread"
Click to expand...

Ha! I approve this! :-)
 
Revolutionary? Eh, I dunno. Very well done? Hell yeah they are.

If I had to pick which game had the most high quality cutscenes this generation I probably would name the Uncharted series, along with Resident Evil 5.
 
Fine Ham Abounds said:
Please change thread title to "The Uncharted series is revolutionary, GAF remains the same as always" or "The obligatory Uncharted GAF repressed rage release thread"
Click to expand...
Or

Uncharted Series Not So Revolutionary:Uncharted Fans Use Haters Gonna Hate Defense.
 
JJD said:
It's OK if you didn't like then. But arguing that Uncharted is an "interactive cinematic experience" is preposterous.
Click to expand...

I'm not the one who coined that term when talking about Uncharted. That comes fron Sony and Naughty Dog themselves. Don't get mad at me for it.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/12/09/uncover-the-truth-in-uncharted-3/

UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception continues to evolve all of the core principles we laid out for the UNCHARTED franchise, most important of which is creating an unmatched and extremely compelling interactive cinematic experience. In addition to having a compelling story and authentic characters that all of our fans can relate to as key facets to creating this type of experience, we push ourselves and the capability of the PlayStation hardware through constantly refined gameplay mechanics and technology innovation. Our dedication to creating the best interactive cinematic experience can be seen in our last two games – UNCHARTED: Drake’s Fortune and UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves. We’re especially honored and humbled that both titles have been so successful, selling nearly 8 million units combined and earning more industry awards and accolades than we can keep track of. We’ve set the bar very high for us to outdo the past successes of our previous UNCHARTED games. We’re looking forward to taking on this challenge to top ourselves and create a truly unforgettable interactive cinematic experience that everyone can enjoy.
Click to expand...
 
Ulairi said:
Uncharted isn't a very good video game and it's a terrible movie. I don't like "interactive cinematic experiences" I like video games. Anytime you have to do something in a cut scene instead of allowing the gameplay to tell me the story, show me the cool thing, you're failing as a game designer. But it's pretty and easy to play so it's going to be popular.

http://imthatold.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/jay_sherman_it_stinks.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

Yep, I agree with just about everything you said but I would argue that the UC games are more than sum of their parts.
Click to expand...
 
Jtwo said:
Everything about Uncharted is just so completely bog-standard. It is the most wholly unoriginal boring concept/narrative/gameplay/design/package I can think of. But its polished like few other titles. Its beautiful, its funny, the game makes you want to like it. No, it makes you feel like you should like it. But none of that overcomes just how much of a fucking bore it is.

I played Uncharted2. I gave it the fairest chance I could ever hope to give a game. And it just didn't work. I didn't fall for it. The pizzazz and flash of it wasn't enough for me. And it absolutely is not the go-to example for good performance work, in any capacity. Don't get me wrong, it does that stuff well. Better than 95% of the industry, even. But revolutionary? You are just flat-out wrong, sir.
Click to expand...

What the fuck?
 
Crunched said:
I'm not knocking pulp entertainment as much as I am wishing the "quality" stuff would elevate itself a bit more.
Click to expand...
Asking for pulp entertainment to elevate itself just turns it into...not-pulp.
 
I think it's pretty much the quintessence of third person action/shooting controls.

And yes I've played Vanquish. That game is fun but the animation and speed are goofy as hell. Watch me launch into a janky rocketslide!

Uncharted gets the writing, animation, performance capture, scripting, and feel so right. My complaints lie with the simplicity of the puzzles, but I think a lot of that is to keep the story from getting too bogged down.
 
Crewnh said:
Asking for pulp entertainment to elevate itself just turns it into...not-pulp.
Click to expand...
True! I guess it's more a frustration that a series like Uncharted is celebrated as a pinnacle of gaming, when really it's better described as in that press release above: an interactive cinematic experience.

I don't mean to sound elitist. Like I said, I enjoy Uncharted. Enjoy it a lot. But I don't agree with the blind reverence toward it.
 
Crunched said:
I think exposition is a crutch. Doesn't matter if it's in film, games, books, whatever. It's very comic book, it's a way out of working around a plot in an interesting way by going the lowest common denominator route and explaining things flat out. It's boring to me.
Click to expand...

Liked this paragraph a lot. This is one of the single most fundamental traps you have to learn to avoid when trying to tell stories, and the earlier you learn it the better.

The whole point of a narrative is the journey, otherwise you're just writing a summary. You have to teach yourself that this isn't acceptable or interesting, and if you need to get something out of your head quickly, take notes, don't try to force it onto the page unnaturally.

It's also good to learn that if what you're trying to convey doesn't lend itself to a more interesting exposition than writing out a list, no matter how good you think the idea is, maybe it's time to edit it out.

Rahxephon91 said:
Uncharted Series Not So Revolutionary:Uncharted Fans Use Haters Gonna Hate Defense.
Click to expand...
I've been agreeing with the haters a lot more than I expected as this has progressed.
 
Uncharted is ultimately just another linear game where your hand is being held big time. But it looks colorful, atmospheric and the characters are genuinely funny I thought. Chemistry between them was good as well. Its a good rollercoaster ride, but revolutionary? I would say no.

When we're talking revolutionary I think of the first Half Life, Super Metroid (or the first, but I just adore Super), Mario 64... they raised a bar within their respective genres and laid foundations for other games to come.
 
I actually think that Uncharted 2's facial is more convincing than LA Noire's. I mean when I see Uncharted's cinematics, I don't see actors trying to act, like in LA Noire, I see the characters interacting with each other. The problem with LA Noire's facial tech is that it looks too real. You can see the person acting there and when the actor is bad, it just spoils the scene.
 
There's hardly anything revolutionary about Uncharted. And that's not a bad thing really - That is, until you start flinging buzzwords around and try to force the game into places where it doesn't belong.
 
Fine Ham Abounds said:
Please change thread title to "The Uncharted series is revolutionary, GAF remains the same as always"
Click to expand...

Do really believe that? I love Uncharted, it's easily my favorite TPS game this gen, but in no way is it revolutionary from a presentation or gameplay perspective.

being the best at something is not revolutionary.
 
I really enjoyed Uncharted 1 and 2, but I just cannot see why some people make it out like the greatest game ever. Forgettable story, decent gameplay. Animations and VO were great, though.
 
PortTwo said:
And yes I've played Vanquish. That game is fun but the animation and speed are goofy as hell. Watch me launch into a janky rocketslide!
Click to expand...
Yeah, Vanquish's animation is funny and full of character. So good! What a great game, truly the best shooter this gen.

PortTwo said:
Uncharted uses hand-animated faces, that's probably why.
Click to expand...
Thank you for confirming this. This is what I meant with overdone animations. When people talk in Uncharted I don't get a since that that is an actor behind that character. No it still looks like a cartoon, a well animated cartoon. In LA Noire though, I get a feeling that there are actors behind these game cutscenes. So no I don't see Uncharted as revolutionary when it's cutscenes aren't the much above other well done games.
 
MrOogieBoogie said:
Do you see this as becoming a trend for the next generation? Will video game advertisements feature "Starring..." bullets? You can see the influence the Uncharted series has had on many video games. Hell, take a look at Killzone 3; the majority of its dialogue and character banter--although pretty atrocious for the most part and lacking any real personality--is still reminiscent of something from Uncharted. Of course, no other games compare, in my opinion, which makes me wonder what is Naughty Dog doing that other developers can't seem to emulate?
Click to expand...
God I hope not.
 
Atruvius said:
I actually think that Uncharted 2's facial is more convincing than LA Noire's. I mean when I see Uncharted's cinematics, I don't see actors trying to act, like in LA Noire, I see the characters interacting with each other. The problem with LA Noire's facial tech is that it looks too real. You can see the person acting there and when the actor is bad, it just spoils the scene.
Click to expand...
Uncharted uses hand-animated faces, that's probably why.
 
the OP basically describes everything i hate about the game. i want a game not a B-grade action flick.

i can see why people enjoy it but it bores me to hell.
 
Sure is awfully gamefaqs up in here. I better check my karma.

Anyway. Yeah. Maybe. Developers have taken note of Naughty Dog's approach, but I'm not sure how viable it is for anyone but the well funded guys. And it isn't like Activision or Ubi need improve the cutscenes in cod/ac to get their annual cashcrop.

I could see Rockstar trying it at some point. The whole facial expression animation thingy from LA-Noire didn't seem to be such a huge hit.
 
I like Uncharted but it's mostly because I like the humor and setting and not the actual gameplay. I'm not a fan of the sorta wonky shooting (why do some guys take so many god damned bullets to the head?), and I'm also not a fan of the virtually on-rails "platforming". I can see the path I need to take at all times, and the only way for me to fail is if I decide to wait around on a crumbly handhold.

Basically, I think Uncharted is an amazing coat of paint around gameplay I don't really care about.
BRING ON THE CATHERINE AVATAR QUOTES!
 
Glad the OP was about the acting.

I kinda agree. Never skip a cut scene in Uncharted on the first play through. Even the wife watches them. She loves it. Whether it's revolutionary? I wouldnt go overboard, but they are very very good for a video game.
 
I would disagree with the OP's use of the word revolutionary. If anything, Uncharted is a high mark of evolutionary game design, and production value. You could argue "revolutionary" for some of the tech they've used I suppose.
 
Fine Ham Abounds said:
Liked this paragraph a lot. This is one of the single most fundamental traps you have to learn to avoid when trying to tell stories, and the earlier you learn it the better.

The whole point of a narrative is the journey, otherwise you're just writing a summary. You have to teach yourself that this isn't acceptable or interesting, and if you need to get something out of your head quickly, take notes, don't try to force it onto the page unnaturally.

It's also good to learn that if what you're trying to convey doesn't lend itself to a more interesting exposition than writing out a list, no matter how good you think the idea is, maybe it's time to edit it out.
Click to expand...
Yes, correct on all points.

Gaming is still so immature compared to film, and attempting to emulate a different medium only sets it up for stagnation, if not failure. Movies will always do the movie thing better.

Like in literature, you've got different levels of meaning, metaphor and layered dialogue. In film you've got cutaways, images that can represent an idea without directly stating what that idea is. Think the ending to the Godfather: a crosscut sequence of a baptism and a massacre, a dichotomy of images that comes to mean something else entirely.

What's the gaming analogue of this? I can think of some games which have attempted and at least come close to creating meaning through action; Bioshock is a recent highlight, but I'm afraid that the idea behind its argument may have been lost on most players. MGS3 also did some powerful things with gameplay, which only made MGS4's endless cutscenes all the more disappointing for me.

Anyway, getting tangential now. Better stop.
 
Ugh, no. The cutscenes (every aspect) fare poorly compared to worthwhile tv/movies, just like with any other videogame. I truly believe that many gamers lower their standards considerably for videogames (and companies/consoles) that they love. But weak story/dialogue remain weak story/ dialogue.

I like Uncharted 2, in spite of its heavy focus on story.
 
I agree with the OP. Uncharted 2 is the first videogame to truly succeed in making you feel as if you are inside a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster.

Which is to say the writing is dumb as fuck and the story is derivative garbage.

lol just being a troll, I love Uncharted.
 
This thread is so douchey. Lesson: Having the word "revolutionary" in your thread title is a good way to make a thread full of hyperbole and wankery.
 
The stories are merely adequate, but the dialogue, delivery and animation are very good and leagues ahead of most games. Genuinely funny at times as well.

It's also a really fun game to play.

Not sure if l'd call it revolutionary though, but l love the game and the next one will surely be one of this year's best games.
 
BigJiantRobut said:
Is this an in-joke I'm missing? That was some pretty good animation.
Click to expand...
No it's genuine praise, people were very surprised they included such well done subtle animation when it was shown at CC.
 
BigJiantRobut said:
Is this an in-joke I'm missing? That was some pretty good animation.
Click to expand...
I agree.I think it was poorly worded. "Fiasco" Is rarely used for something positive.
 
Supervlieg said:
I tried really hard, but couldn't remember a single line from uncharted 2. So bleh.
Click to expand...

"DRAAAAAAAAAAAKKKEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"


That's all I remember.


I can't think of a single line from Indiana Jones either so I don't think that matters much.



*edit* Oh and "Coming at ya!"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Adam Something: Fallout 4 Is Garbage, And Here's Why
Opinion Analysis Trailer  2
59
2K
nowhat replied
Is there a reason why the 2TB Xbox Series X Expansion card is £235 and not less than £140?
2
77
3K
UltimaKilo replied
  • Poll
Anticipating Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - Which is your favorite of the series?
2 3
119
4K
sigmaZ replied
AMD is sidelining its RX 6xxx series and 7xxx due to FSR 4 being only supported on the RX 9xxx series while DLSS 4 is supported on RTX gens.
2
69
6K
llien replied
Say what you will about the Horizon series but the Music is fantastic
2
51
1K
kevboard replied
Top Bottom