E3 2011: Uncharted 3 Gameplay Impressions

This was probably the highlight of my E3 2011 day 1.  I have been a huge Uncharted fan since the games release, and so far this one does not look like it's going to disappoint.  Who's ready to go on an adventure with Nathan Drake and the gang?

The gameplay we saw is with Nathan Drake on a cruise ship of sorts, it's storming and it looks amazing.  The ocean looks good, the ship shifting in the waves causing you to stumble around the deck is awesome.  The stealth aspects are very similar to the previous games, sneak up behind people and pull them over cover or jump on their backs and crack their necks.  The gun play so far seems to be the same as well,  hide behind cover and peak out to shoot at the enemy.  One thing I thought was cool was during close combat was Nathan pulled the pin from a grenade on an enemies belt which obviously then exploded the guy to smithereens. The ship is constantly shifting and flipping due to a huge hole in the hull cause by a car exploding, which adds so much to the environment, changing it constantly. The trailer they showed had both Chloe and Elena as well as Sully, so that should provide some interesting story and conversations.  I know the game will be very scripted, and have slightly over the top platforming, but that's what we've come to know and love about the Uncharted series. Running up to a giant gap in between two broken floors of a burning building, I like when the game takes over a little for me.

The best part of this series is how the characters have gotten to know each other and how they interact with each other. This adds so much to the game, because it also seems like the players have gotten to know the characters and in a lot of cases we can relate to them, creating an attachment to the game itself. I can't wait to play this game, I am excited for the gun play, I am excited for the the platforming, but most of all I am excited for the story. I love the quest for treasure, and I love the relationships.  I can't wait to see where the story goes.

On a side note, they are also working on Uncharted: Golden Abyss for the PS Vita. It looks really good for a portable game. I don't really care about the touch screen controls, I just want another Uncharted game (provided it's good).