Wired: Uncharted 3 Shouldn't Make Story King

Andy Robertson writes: "Games like Heavy Rain and Uncharted 2 spend too much time serving the story, rather than putting gameplay first. Sometimes this works. Heavy Rain is obviously an extreme example with its choose your own adventure delivery, and it is undeniably a compelling way to tell a story. Also, in a backwards kind of way I loved Uncharted 2 for this, but it means that I actually preferred watching the cut scenes to the gameplay sections."

[Double_Oh_Snap]

No just no, don't try to say uncharted serves narrative to much when both 1&2 had an awesome story with amazing gameplay nuff said. As for Heavy Rain leave that game the way it is it's one of the most intense and engaging games ever, I wish there were more like it.

[TBM]

without a good/great story i have no interest in playing action adventure games. it's the main reason why i couldn't fully complete bayonetta, this game had one of the worst stories ever.

[nix]

they say this.. only to deduct points for not having a story. UC2 was really good game to watch. trust me.. i had to play that game 3 times because my friends wanted to 'watch' the game/story. it was as good as a full blown movie. even one woman from our office sat and 'watched' the whole game.

[Acquiescence]

Story/characters also mean a great deal to me in video games these days, and nowhere was that more readily apparent than when playing Bayonetta. I also couldn't finish it, pretty much due to the incoherent mess that was its plot and its unlikeable characters. It felt like a battle of wills just sitting through the cut-scenes! Then again, the gameplay wasn't much to ring home about either.

[I_find_it_funny]

Uncharted naggers again, this is boring. Uncharted is pure, undeniable quality

http://facepwn.com/posters/...

[TBM]

@acq

I had a friend tell me I don't know what cool is because she was a cool character, and it also had a good story lol.

Nowhere in bayonetta was the story any good, and your right the characters were annoying as hell. Also I wanted to rip of my ears because of the music.

Like I stated before a game is pretty much worthless without a good/great story; unless its racing, or sports.

[Inside_out]

It's common sense that will go right over everyone head here. Cut scenes are suppose to book end game play...NOT the other way around. If I want to watch a movie, I'll watch a movie not some half a$$ cut scenes.

The PS3, with it's blu-ray and Sony FORCING there devs to run a long and unnecessary cut scenes to create the illusion blu-ray is a must is ruining gaming. Actually, motion gaming is the anti blu-ray/cut scene movement...lol...Motion gaming wouldn't work with all those cut scenes would it.

Guerrilla has said that Sony told them to really make the story a bigger and longer part of the game...funny how reviewers were quick to point out the story as it's biggest weakness. Someone will say this isn't true...do your research...you'll see. It's a corporate thing. You didn't think 40-50 gbs was game play did you...lol...Some reviewers, speed run or not have finished KZ3 in 4.5 hrs...O_o...

Alan Wake uses around 3 gbs for ALL it's game play...the use of light was ALL in game and in real time...

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Uncharted was an average game with zero originality. The gun play mechanic is near broken and needs alot of work to be compared to other games in it's genre. The platforming was stolen pixel for pixel from Prince of Persia: Sands of time and they have since hired the guru from the Tomb raider series to " help " them for part 3. The story is a complete rip off of Indiana Jones...Here's how Uncharted 3 is going to look...

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

The famous cover system that Gears perfected has also been stolen by these guys and yet were to believe it's the best...lol.

As for the UC cut-scenes...there all smoke and mirrors and Hollywood tricks...like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

If you like Uncharted...that's great, to each there own but the best game released in 2009 was MW2. If you had a vote among those that actually pay and play their games...it wouldn't even be close.

MW2 has some of the best visual and game play this gen...even if it isn't the poster child like Indiana Drake for all things political correct in games...lol

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Lykon]

@ cez of rage , found your opinion interesting and was thinking fair play , it's his opinion etc until you mentioned MW2 then i just lol'd

but , on topic ... although i loved uncharted two it would be good to see a few more games offering a more player led experience in the action adventure genre. I suppose the pressure to produce corridors of fantastic graphics and events is higher now that production time and cost is so high. The article begins to look at an interesting subject, but i think he is basically trying to say that he likes Alan Wake more than uncharted 2 and heavy rain . sadly , i can't play AW as I only have ps3 , but hated heavy rain more than i hate cod version x.xxx.

[TBM]

@ cez

Dude your so full of nonsense story wise CoD games shouldn't even be put in the same sentence as Uncharted games. The visuals are also nowhere in the same league.

All I've seen from you see constant hate for anything sony and ps3 so ill just disregard you and your opinions.

[GarandShooter]

***SPOILER***

@ cez

You're such a transparent hater. UC2 had no originality, but AW does? Where?

The story? The town overcome by evil, the author's work coming to life, the light harms your enemies angle. No, none of it was original nor above average in content or delivery.

Game mechanics? Use of flashlight, gun play no better than UC if even up to that standard, the illusion of limited ammo? Please.

Maybe it was the awesome design choice to use an objective system in a thriller mystery to remove all the mystery? Or how about using vertical planking paneling in the artist's retreat, so every time you turned the camera you couldn't help but see the screen tearing as all those vertical lines didn't line up properly? Yeah, those two are original as most devs probably wouldn't have shown the weakness of their game design or engine so obviously.

Everyone gets it, you hate all things PlayStation and like the high hard one from Microsoft. I'm happy you're able to have choices available.

It's also nice how you use the common sense angle to open your post as a backhanded insult to folks that disagree. Again, completely transparent.

@ Everyone else

I don't mean to piss on AW or Remedy as the game was quite enjoyable, but this clown is a golden showers candidate if ever there was one. All games have their issues and things that could have been done better. I personally would like to see another AW game, but one where you collect clues, maybe log them in a journal, and decide where you need to go/who you need to see next to collect the next set of clues. I would feel more like I'm solving the mystery, instead of being dragged along by the game to the next check point.

[badz149]

dude, your comments are getting dumber by the day!

"Sony FORCING there devs to run a long and unnecessary cut scenes" - tell THAT to Kojima and see if Sony has any string attach on him forcing him to put cutscene after cutscene in ALL his games!

and to call Uncharted cutscene as halfass is pure ignorance! oh well, I expect nothing less from a hater like you who never play the game at all! if not, you know those cutscenes are pure quality!

"You didn't think 40-50 gbs was game play did you...lol...Some reviewers, speed run or not have finished KZ3 in 4.5 hrs...O_o..."

at least devs has rooms to do that thanks to bluray and how much does PS3 gamers pay for their games? $60! - just like the other systems with DVD! BOOHOO! halo has short campaign, CoD has short campaign, Gears as well...so your point is? NONE, just TROLLING! your view on MW2 confirms that!

as for your comment on Uncharted, just STFU TROLL! you didn't even play the game! the game is so broken it annihilate every single game in 2009 for GoTY, right? yeah, THAT makes sense! /s

[lh_swe]

@Cez - I think you are one within a minority holding that opinion, that being the fanboy minority.

[bageara]

Andy Robertson writes: "Games like Heavy Rain and Uncharted 2 spend too much time serving the story, rather than putting gameplay first."

Oh ok so now gameplay comes before story? well tell that to some of the Killzone 3 reviewers who seem to ignore its awesome gameplay and get hung up on the fact they think the story is a bit generic

also the Uncharted franchise has some of the greatest gameplay and storytelling this gen

[sobekflakmonkey]

Agreed, stating that uncharted 2 doesnt have good gameplay is like stating that you are mentally challenged, cause lets be honest, Uncharted 2 has some of the best animations and controls known to any game thus far and it is the most fluent game i have ever played, to be honest, nothing competes with it in that market.

[FailOverHero]

Here's the thing, one opinion does not equal the opinions of every other reviewer in the industry. So don't say 'they say this now but complain about killzone 3 story' because THEY aren't saying it, THIS ONE PERSON is.
Many games have had great gameplay and sub par storytelling before and have been marked down for it and nobody has made a big deal about it because we all agree, no game is perfect, more so if it lacks in a certain area. Come along killzone 3 with the same issue and now the whole internet is on a rampage about how unfair it is and how killzone 3 deserves perfect scores because it has a great multiplayer.
You know what else has a great multiplayer and a so so story? CoD and it scored 89 with nobody throwing a hissy fit.
But because it is a ps3 exclusive, it has to be bias and paid off reviewers, it cant just be because story has ALWAYS been important and the game is lacking in that department.
Ps3 players have carved out a reputation for themselves as being the most entitled whiney gamers this gen because they ALWAYS find a conspiracy or something to complain about when it comes to reviews.
Just look at lbp 2, recieved great scores, everybody knows it is better than the 1st one but they complain because it didn't score higher than the original. Everybody else knows that it isn't being compared to the previous game, rather being held up to the standard of games TODAY. Halo 3 scored 94, Reach scored 91, but we all know Reach is better than 3 and so 360 players don't go all rage spree about it because they know and understand that a perfect score in 2010 is more impressive than a perfect score in 2007

[bageara]

I was merely pointing out we saw the opposite to what this author is saying in the fact that in Killzone 3 gameplay does come first before story

I never mentioned scores or conspiracys.

Its just MY opinion I am just ONE PERSON so dont say the whole internet is rampaging or having a hissy fit

[Istanbull]

Is the author serious?? PlayStation gamers like story driven games, thats what we're used to since PS1.

[FailOverHero]

Playstation players seem to enjoy CoD and Gran Turismo...probably the least story driven games. And not every ps1 gamer made his/her way to the ps3

[Thatguy-310]

That's the reason UNCHARTED SERIES is so successful !! It really focus on the story element and takes the player in a rollercoaster ride.. I for one look at the story first b4 buying a game I really can careless if it has multiplayer or not. For example Heavy Rain dilivers something incredible, the story sucks you in as soon as Ethan begins to look for his son and starts to do the trails that the origami killer gives him...Story Driven games are ART it's just incredible when you create emotions towards it. sO I disagree and Uncharted should remain story kind and will have no problem teaching other games how to do it ;)

[Andronix]

Lesson 1: A game is about gameplay. We all know this. But we also understand that a compelling story and characters emotionally connect us to the game on a far deeper level.

How many times have you read a review complaining about stereotypical macho characters lacking depth?

I bought the first Uncharted 1 and loved it for its pure and unpretentious adventure/platform gameplay (and I love that great musical score.)

Uncharted 2 developed that gameplay, it starts with you right in the middle of an action scene hanging off a train, and the game continues up from there. I can understand this criticism if U2 was all story and no game but that simply isn't true. What the team have Naughty Dog have done is compliment that great gameplay with an immersive story and gameworld.

What this Wired writer is doing is criticise a game that has actually done so much to progress the genre. The legacy of Uncharted is that other developers will take story more seriously and hopefully we as gamers will have the opportunity to play games that have a fine mix of gameplay and story.

[Rainstorm81]

Cant games have both? Great gameplay and great narrative?

Why choose if you can do both...

[clrlite]

Exactly, a talented enough team can put together both without breaking a sweat. UC2 has enough of both and is lacking in neither(IMO anyway), so apparently ND has found a pretty good balance. It is only when one is emphasized more than the other so much that it becomes a detriment to intended experience that it becomes a problem.

"Games like .... Uncharted 2 spend too much time serving the story, rather than putting gameplay first " Interesting perception...
How many other games that year won 50+ GOTY awards?

Glad the author likes the games though.

[Tristanh82]

stupidest article so far from 2011.

[nevin1]

MGS1( PS1) was the last time I was impressed with a story.

[darkdoom3000]

MGS is awesome, but It couldn't have been the last time unless you just played it, or you removed all media from your life.

[Mr_cheese]

Not sure what to make of this article, but I personally think its wrong. Uncharted 2 contained an amazing story and gameplay. And why try to put U3 down before you've given it the chance?

I'm feeling this was a clicks article...

EDIT

I think N4G should introduce a thumbs up thumbs down system, cause this would, well. you know...

[v0rt3x]

I disagree with the headline. nuff said.

[Theyellowflash30]

I've been saying this for a while now. I haven't played Heavy Rain much other than a demo but from that the controls feel awkward but the QTE are spot on. As far as Uncharted I also have problems with the gameplay. Uncharted is one of those auto-jump games. Instead of taking the time to create good platforming controls for the jumping in Uncharted the game just automatically judges how far you need to go and gets you there no matter what. Enslaved has the same problem. Developers need to take auto-jumping out of games. And what about 60fps? it seems like graphics are more important than smoother gameplay. I would gladly accept a Uncharted that had less graphical power and ran at 60 fps with no auto jumping.

[clrlite]

Well God of War 3 looks better than UC2 in many areas(IMO of course) and is running at higher framerate. It also came out later though. It would be nice to see ND boost the framerate for UC3 then, but I'm not sure if that is where their priorities lay.

BTW: If anyone doesn't enjoy UC's entertaining cutscenes, they should just skip them.

[Theyellowflash30]

God of war still isn't in 60 FPS though. Bayonetta runs at 60fps most of the time on 360 and I like it more than God of War because of the smooth gameplay and the emphasis on gameplay over story. Bayonetta does so many innovative things gameplay wise its insane and i really enjoyed Bayonetta more than GOW even though GOW had a better story.

[GarandShooter]

I don't know what game you've been playing.

***SPOILER***

In the final battle in UC2 while running clockwise around the map, you come to a gap you need to jump that leads to a small set of stairs, and I jumped a tad early to avoid a grenade that Lazarevic had thrown that was about explode, didn't catch the other side and fell to my death. I also mis-timed a jump or two on the collapsing bridge and died.

[Jdoki]

There's more than enough room in this industry / market for an infinite number of different types of games - some more story driven, some more game play driven, some simply experiences that can barely be categorised as 'games'.

The stupidity of the article is that Uncharted 2, for the most part, had good game play too!! For me it's a (near) perfect blend of action movie and game play.

[Imalwaysright]

Uncharted 2? Seriously? Games like HR or MGS4 i can understand but Uncharted 2? This person and i probably didnt play the same Uncharted 2.

[RememberThe357]

That is a horrible idea... For being a tech magazine Wired is really not a great voice for gaming. I love everything they do that doesn't include their game related editorials.

Naughty Dog has found the perfect formula of story and gameplay that is largely unmatched in videogames today. The author would have had a point if the gameplay in Uncharted was weak, but that couldn't be further from the truth. The story serves to give the player a feeling of purpose. Without this purpose an action/adventure game is without direction. Mindlessly following where the game takes you is boring, but if you add story you feel as though you are directing the game not following it. There is a large difference between feeling like your moving forward because of something you did and moving forward because you did what the game wanted you to do. The focus is changed from following directions to experiencing events as they play out around you.

Also, praising Alan Wake while condemning Heavy Rain and Uncharted 2 put the authors credibility in even greater question. Alan Wake had a fairly weak story for what it was trying to do. I enjoyed the game a lot but it relied more on startling you than provoking you with story. Alan Wake is a classic example of the game leading you by the hand. I enjoyed the suspense, mystery, and atmosphere but there was never a moment when I didn't feel like I was doing what the game wanted me to do. Uncharted has a completely different approach to implementing story. They use story to give your direction purpose not your actions. Your actions feel like they are your own and rarely ever feel like something the game made you do. It can seem like a subtle difference but it can have a huge impact on how the game feels.

And Heavy Rain's entire existence was to tell a story. Without such a strong narrative the game would have been torturous. Every decision made in Heavy Rain is your own. There is no "right" way to go through the game. You are not following the game but direction it through your choices. The entire focus of the game is on story so to criticize it for it's purpose seems similar to criticizing a phone for being able to make phone calls.

Now, I'm just a regular gamer. If I can make this analysis then why can't a journalist from Wired.com?

[Imalwaysright]

Largely unmatched? The only game that imo is largely unmatched in the industry is MGS3. Most Uncharted 2 characters and story are forgetable and cliché. MGS3 characters are very charismatic and really take the story to another level. Ocelot and The Boss, to me are just as important as Big Boss is. It literally took me 5 minutes to take that final shot to The Boss. Uncharted 2 is just average compared to MGS3.

[RememberThe357]

And I disagree, but that was not the point of my post at all. Your love for MGS3 and dismissal of Uncharted 2 is not in question here. Whether game should focus less on story is.

[GarandShooter]

@ 357

I agree, and in regard to Alan Wake, the objectives made me feel like the game's errand boy most of the time. Go to this location, get this item, meet this person. For a game that was a thriller with a protagonist attempting to solve a mystery, there was never any question or mystery about what to do next. Certainly an odd design choice, for an otherwise enjoyable game.

[P_Bomb]

"Games like Heavy Rain and Uncharted 2 spend too much time serving the story, rather than putting gameplay first."

Ok he says this, but when someone does focus on gameplay over story like KZ3, we see what happens. Suddenly every other reviewer thinks they're an English Lit' major and want more emphasis on story. I think the media are bipolar. They ask for something and then when they get it they complain it's not something else. Ask Resistance 2.

[DJMarty]

I think 'Naughty Dog/Sony'know what they doing. They released two hits based on a formula that works, why change it. It works.

[guigsy]

Err yes it should. Without a solid story there's little incentive to play through the campaign of any game.

[stonecold3]

why does it haave 360 on the tab uncharted and heavy rain dont exist on the 360 peace out?

[Masterchef2007]

Its a secret way to say that a 360bot posted this article. I really cant think of any other reason

[Vorgier]

That doesn't change the fact that N4G is 90% "ps3bots".

[Masterchef2007]

True i mean this place used to be filled with Lemmings. I guess they ran away

[TONYPS3]

its funny how haters are bashing kz3 for lack of an intriguing story yet they turn around and say "uncharted shouldnt have a strong story" UC2 WAS THE GAME OF TEH YEAR. I DONT THINK THEY NEED ANY POINTERS ON ANYTHING. i mean input is cool but cmnon bro, uc2 is top 3 game this generation.

[oweowe]

Apparently this author never played "Siege", "Cat and Mouse" and "Convoy" chapters, so he didn't know what UC2 gameplay is.

[btk]

KZ3 - The story is too bad
UC3 - The storyline is too good
No chance in hell that PS3 exclusive titles will get unbiased reviews / media comments.