Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

About Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Naughty Dog dropped Uncharted: Drake's Fortune on PlayStation 3 in late 2007. This title set a new standard for third-person action adventures. You play as Nathan Drake, a treasure hunter who stumbles upon clues leading to El Dorado. The story begins with an ancient coffin and quickly spirals into a dangerous trek across a Pacific island filled with mercenaries and lost history. The game blends shooting, climbing, and puzzle solving into one cohesive package. It was the launch title that proved console games could carry cinematic narratives without relying on cutscenes for every major plot point.

Gameplay

You control Nate through linear levels where you sprint between cover points while enemies fire back at you. Gunfights feel weighty with distinct weapons ranging from pistols to machine guns. Between battles, you cross the environment by climbing walls, swinging from ropes, or sliding down muddy slopes. The movement system lets you jump across gaps and grapple onto ledges without breaking stride. You often find yourself in tight situations where you must take cover behind crates or wooden planks while reloading. Some segments require you to solve simple environmental puzzles or drive vehicles across rough terrain. The pacing shifts rapidly from high-speed chases to quiet exploration moments inside ancient ruins.

What Players Think

Players and critics have rated this game highly since launch. Metacritic holds an 88 score while IGDB sits at 82.9 based on over 1,100 user ratings. The community describes the experience as atmospheric with 4 votes, though some find it intense. A small group also labeled it cooperative despite being single-player only. Most players spend around 15 hours completing the main story and finding collectibles. Review snippets often mention the seamless camera work during combat. Completion rates suggest a dedicated player base that finishes every chapter. The mood remains positive with many citing the character dynamics as a highlight.

PlayPile's Take

This game is worth playing if you like action-adventure titles with strong storytelling. The price on secondary markets varies but remains accessible for new players. You will unlock 42 achievements that track your progress through combat and exploration. Not every moment lands perfectly, and some cover sections feel repetitive after a few hours. Still, the character chemistry between Nate and Elena carries the experience forward effectively. Finish this game to understand why modern blockbusters owe so much to its design. It remains a solid entry point for anyone interested in Naughty Dog's catalog.

Storyline

Treasure hunter Nathan "Nate" Drake (Nolan North), accompanied by reporter Elena Fisher (Emily Rose), recovers the coffin of his self-proclaimed ancestor Sir Francis Drake, having located it from coordinates inscribed on a family heirloom: a ring Nate wears around his neck. The coffin contains Sir Francis Drake's diary, which gives the location of El Dorado. Pirates attack and destroy Nate's boat, but Nate's friend and mentor Victor "Sully" Sullivan (Richard McGonagle) rescues the two in his seaplane. Fearing Elena's reporting will attract potential rivals, Nate and Sully abandon her at a dock. Following the diary to the indicated spot, Nate and Sully discover an alcove that once held a large statue, and realize that El Dorado is not a city but rather a golden idol. They find a Nazi U-boat, which contains a page from Drake's diary showing the statue was taken to an island. However, mercenaries led by criminal Gabriel Roman (Simon Templeman) and his lieutenant Atoq Navarro (Robin Atkin Downes) intercept Nate and Sully. Sully is seemingly killed by a shot to the chest, but Nate manages to escape, encounters Elena, and flies with her to the island. On the way, anti-aircraft fire forces Elena and Nate to bail out and they are separated. After retrieving supplies from the wrecked seaplane, Nate heads toward an old fort to find Elena. Briefly captured by pirates led by old associate Eddy Raja (James Sie), Elena breaks Nate free and they flee to the island's old customs house. After finding records showing the statue was moved further inland, they find that Sully is alive and accompanying Roman and Raja. Nate and Elena find and rescue Sully who, having survived due to Drake's diary blocking the bullet, explains he was buying time for Nate by giving Roman misinformation.