July 15, 2015July 15, 2015

Hands on: Uncharted The Nathan Drake Collection on PS4

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. Great games, burdened only by the fact that they’re bound to the almost nine year-old PS3. And, well, my TV only has two HDMI inputs, and they’re awfully hard to reach…

The good news is that Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection brings these three classics to PS4 in remastered form, lovingly detailed by the exacting touch of veteran studio Bluepoint. I got to play a short sequence from Uncharted 2: Among Thieves — namely, the thrilling helicopter attack set piece you might remember from PlayStation’s E3 2009 Press Conference (good memory, by the way!).

Based on what I played, PS4’s copious processing power is helping Uncharted 2 age gracefully. We should all be so lucky as Nate. The new 1080p resolution and generous framerate give everything a clean, crisp, fluid look and feel that flatters the original PS3 version without betraying Naughty Dog’s vision. One might say that this is Uncharted 2 the way it was meant to be played. And yep, that building still falls down real good.

I played unfinished code that was missing a few minor visual effects, but Bluepoint’s loving influence was readily apparent. The studio is upgrading character models, environment textures, lighting, and special effects across the board, bringing all three games as close to visual modernity as possible while ensuring they remain true to their original creative direction.

As the studio finalizes work on the collection, it will also roll in the assorted control scheme tweaks, gameplay refinements, and subtle mechanical upgrades that evolved through the series across all three games, bringing them into closer gameplay parity.

Though my experiences with the game were brief, they were encouraging. You’ll get to see for yourself when a playable demo launches on the PlayStation Store later this summer.

Have questions? I’ll do my best to answer in the comments below!

Comments are closed.

120 Comments

18 Author Replies

xxnike629xx
July 16, 2015 at 7:35 am PDT

I’ve been a long time fan of the Uncharted games on the PS3 and I have Golden Abyss but unfortunately I don’t have a Vita or PS4 system yet so I haven’t been able to play Golden Abyss yet.

While it is really cool that you guys are remastering Uncharted 1 ~ 3 on the PS4 and putting all 3 games on disc, I was kind of hoping that Golden Abyss would have gotten an HD release on disc too…or ideally with this collection.

Regardless, I have to thank you guys for at least putting the 3 main games on the PS4 and on disc. It was expected that something like this would come out, but I never thought so soon. This is gonna be awesome.

And personally. I think it’s better that you guys didn’t include multiplayer from U2 and U3 because that would have required dedicated servers and more costs to you guys. Instead I think it’s better this way since you can dedicate those costs towards Uncharted 4.

Maybe it’s not too late for you guys to put out Uncharted Golden Abyss HD for the PS4? I would hope it’d get a disc release (as I’ve said) and also a digital release for those who like digital games.
xxnike629xx
July 16, 2015 at 7:36 am PDT

It’s really nice you guys are doing this unlike the God of War series.
I think it’s weird in regards to the God of War games in that only God of War III is getting a PS4 release. What are they really thinking? Seriously. This is a Sony exclusive series that has been super popular and sold millions.
What is stopping them from bringing all of the games in that series to the PS4 so people can enjoy it in 1080p and 60 fps?

Ideally, I’d like them to give God of War Ascension the same treatment we’re getting with the PS4 ver. of God of War III.
And then, I’d like for them to apply the same graphics engine on God of War Ghost of Sparta, Chains of Olympus, 1, and 2 and release those as well so it looks like we have a seamless story of the entire Kratos saga.
xxnike629xx
July 16, 2015 at 7:36 am PDT

Unless I am mistaken, didn’t they say something about how they never intended to have sequels or whatever but instead just call everything God of War to make it a seamless and long running story? So to make that more believeable, can you imagine how awesome it would be to have

God of War
God of War II
God of War III
God of War Ascension
God of War Chains of Olympus
God of War Ghost of Sparta

…all running on a similar looking graphical engine at 1080p and 60 fps?
- Welmosca
  July 20, 2015 at 11:34 am PDT
  
  STFU….all you do is asking for recycled games…people like you are a virus in the community,the reason why we have this recycled BS still going strong.
xxnike629xx
July 16, 2015 at 7:37 am PDT

I was honestly a bit disappointed with God of War Collection and God of War Origins Collection because yes it did look better, but I was hoping they would remake the graphics so they didn’t look so obviously just upscaled. And they were lazy with both of those remastered sets on the PS3 even further by not remastering the cut scenes at all. The games didn’t look like PS3 games. They looked like PS 2.5 (for lack of a better description at the moment)….and it was a bit more disappointing since we’ve been supporting that franchise for a long time and we know they can create a more graphically impressive game and that the PS3 could have handled a more graphically impressive experience.
Butters360
July 16, 2015 at 8:05 am PDT

I’ve been looking for information since this got announced. Incredibly excited to be able to play through them and Platinum all three over again.
Strangeheaven
July 16, 2015 at 8:56 am PDT

Naughtdog response to leave out multiplayer was that they didn’t want to make a division amongst fans. Honestly what nonsense they speak,it’s a cop out. I will not be paying full price,when I’m basically getting half the game. Anyone agreeing on Naughtydog decision to leave out multiplayer is a complete idiot. I would of payed £40.00 for this with multiplayer,without multiplayer it’s worth £20.00 or under. Screw them.
- TheTrainJob
  July 16, 2015 at 1:15 pm PDT
  
  You have no clue what you’re talking about. ND is entirely correct that it would split the online gaming community of these games, possibly to the point of making both versions’ MP not worth playing. It would also require servers, a lot more development time, and would possibly push the release of the collection back way too far making it too close to the release of UC4.
  
  It’s three games, one of which had no MP to begin with, and the series is known almost entirely for its SP experience. MP was never a large selling point for the series. $60 is a bargain for these three remastered games.
- AizawaYuuichi
  July 16, 2015 at 1:25 pm PDT
  
  Hi, Strangeheaven, and welcome to the US version of the PS.Blog, where we buy things using dollars, not pounds.
  The collection is running $60 here, which essentially means we’re paying $20 for each remastered campaign. That’s a heck of a deal, especially when you compare it to GoW3, which is $40 for a single remastered campaign.
  Also, ND is right, including MP would split the community between UC2 and UC3, and could potentially hold people back from moving onto UC4 when it releases. As well as the extra costs of running two more sets of servers for these games, when I’m pretty sure the PS3 servers are still running. It’s just not financially feasible. More power to them.
  
  Fun fact: For some people, including/shoe-horning multiplayer into a game can actually decrease its value. The more you know…
- Strangeheaven
  July 17, 2015 at 5:16 am PDT
  
  Naughtydog need to delay the collection to reinstate multiplayer into the collection. I and millions of other fans would be happy with that. Single Player is good but the majority of the time is in multiplayer.
  
  The Last Of Us Remastered has Multiplayer in the game, why not Uncharted? Its complete nonsense.
  People who agree on Naughtydog decision to leave multiplayer out are complete idiots.
  
  Naughtydog delay the collection and reinstate multiplayer.
- AizawaYuuichi
  July 17, 2015 at 12:35 pm PDT
  
  The Last of Us Remastered has multiplayer because Naughty Dog did it themselves. As they’ve said before, it allowed them to learn how to utilize the PS4 hardware.
  The Nathan Drake Collection is being done by Bluepoint Games. They probably don’t have the manpower/expertise to port over two different multiplayer modes from the PS3 architecture to the PS4 architecture. Aside from the Flower PS4 port, this is their first big game on the system. People need to accept that this is how it is. It’s both financial and logistical. No amount of whining will change it.
  This collection is mainly for people who came over to PS from the 360. It’s to catch them up on the Uncharted story before the new game comes out next year. You don’t need multiplayer to know the story. There will be multiplayer in UC4. #DealWithIt
EnnTea
July 16, 2015 at 10:54 am PDT

Any chance they add gameplay options? The original uncharted games are among the only games ever to be released without gameplay options, and this is a good opportunity to fix that…
sm95
July 16, 2015 at 11:35 am PDT

Is it true that the first Uncharted (Drake’s Fortune) will remodel this game same as U2 and U3? Well, just curious.
Istyle318
July 16, 2015 at 1:49 pm PDT

I need to know when the u4 demo comes out then i’ll pre order
Spacerac
July 16, 2015 at 1:50 pm PDT

Yo Sid, just get a 4 input HDMI selector for one or both of your inputs. They have some that even have remotes so that you never have to physically get up to change the input!
ProdijusX
July 16, 2015 at 2:02 pm PDT

“Generous frame rate” lol. Guess that means 30fps. Wow thats sad
Ryusennin
July 16, 2015 at 3:03 pm PDT

In other words: 45 fps pretty much confirmed, with a probable 30 fps cap option like Last of Us.

Has the gameplay of Uncharted 1 at least been reworked in line with U2/U3? Wishful thinking, I know, but hey: this is supposed to be a “remaster”, not a straight-up port.
Ryusennin
July 16, 2015 at 3:08 pm PDT

@TheTrainJob

You’re talking out of your backside. Why do you think ND released a standalone MP application for Uncharted 3? Because it was obviously much, much more popular than the SP campaign.
xxnike629xx
July 16, 2015 at 3:23 pm PDT

I can forgive no multiplayer in this collection. But what happened to Uncharted Golden Abyss? They could have included it with this game and have it playable on the PS4 to really get the “complete” experience.
Sh1nato
July 16, 2015 at 10:18 pm PDT

Are you guys really gonna complain about framerate. I’ll be happy with whatever. If you can do better, then get off your asses and make a game of your own. Maybe one day your indie title gets ps plus love, and the community cries about it. I read this blog all the time, and I am so sick of all you children. You cant do better, because you’re too busy whining
Sponge-worthy
July 16, 2015 at 11:35 pm PDT

It’s pretty amazing that these aged games can’t be locked to 60fps on “next gen” hardware.

Nathan Drake though… :D
DarkOne_PR
July 17, 2015 at 1:19 am PDT

can we get BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY NOW!?
- SpooNManX
  July 19, 2015 at 8:41 am PDT
  
  If they added B/C they would have a harder time reselling us the same games in “Remastered” collections.
  Also, many publishers would not allow their games to work on it for similar reasons. The especially hate when B/C includes discs because the mame ZERO $$ on used game sales. I see their points, but I miss having all of my PS1/PS2/PS3 games working on one system.
Strangeheaven
July 17, 2015 at 5:39 am PDT

I see that Bluepoint games remastered the collection. They remastered Ico and Shadow of the colossus collection aswell. It’s funny when I originally played Shadow of the colossus on ps2 it suffered from some framerate issues. When bluepoint games remastered shadow of the colossus for ps3 it had better stable framerate, but now had far more pop in then the ps2 version. The ps2 version had better mist and fog then the ps3 version aswell. Ps2 of Shadow of the colossus was special and is better then the ps3 version to me. Sometimes it’s best to leave certain games alone.
PainOfSarrow
July 17, 2015 at 7:57 am PDT

Drake’s Fortune Was good But ah headach. The Shooting was terrible and bullet sponge enemies that would spawn wave after wave almost made me want to stop. uncharted 2 was much better but some reason i keep getting lost. great game though.
jjgator
July 17, 2015 at 2:51 pm PDT

How much did you get paid to write this horse manure?
Dan88Daley
July 18, 2015 at 1:35 pm PDT

I wouldn’t bother with the digital download. I’ve got this collection on pre-order for £35 :)
Buiikakesu-
July 18, 2015 at 2:38 pm PDT

What about that multiplayer tho
SpooNManX
July 19, 2015 at 8:38 am PDT

Golden Abyss would really be the only reason for me to buy this. I, as most of us, already own all 3 Uncharted games and a working PS3 console.

Can’t some of the touch controls already be turned off on the Vita version and used with a standard controller input?
I never played it so I don’t know. There is no point in keeping it Vita exclusive now since Sony declared the only thing Vita users have to look forward to are indie games and a trickle of Japanese releases.
x_SolidSnake_x
July 19, 2015 at 1:23 pm PDT

I heard that the gun damages will be reworked, and that the enemies won’t be bullet spunges, (takes less shots to kill). Can you confirm this?
Thrill_Kill
July 19, 2015 at 9:31 pm PDT

All I want to see is Stereoscopic 3D in all 3 games of Uncharted on PS4. I find it absolutely unbelievable that we are taking a step backward in gameplay depth this generation, as the PS3 games looked so much BETTER using Stereoscopic 3D, and now that there are 4k Ultra HD 3DTV sets that REALLY make 3D look amazing, the PS4 drops support for it almost completely, showing that it simply cannot handle Stereoscopic 3D games, but, yet the PS3 can.

It’s very disappointing, and honestly it is making me not want to buy any games on the PS4 new from the stores, and I bought all of them used on ebay just a week or two after each game is released for $40 each, sometimes $30, as that is really all they are worth when they contain no manuals, OR Stereoscopic 3D support. So far the only games worth the full price was Zombie Army Trilogy, and Sniper Elite III, which both have Stereoscopic 3D Support, and a very few Digital games like Super Stardust HD, Trine Collection, and Daylight. Everything else, is so FLAT without 3D support, that they look worse than the PS3.
Thrill_Kill
July 19, 2015 at 9:36 pm PDT

Seriously, Sony needs to step up their game, and start making games on PS4 with support for Stereoscopic 3D that the new Ultra HD 4K tv sets have, or they need to stop acting like the PS4 is “so powerful”, when it obviously is not. If the PS4 is “so powerful”, then they should be able to do games in Stereoscopic 3D, ESPECIALLY if they are PORTING a game from the PS3 that HAD 3D SUPPORT! Now that I have like 4 huge 3DTV sets, we need some killer apps for them, and even though it’s awesome to have over 100 games on my PS3 that support it and look beautiful in 3D, the PS4 lacks this so much it is insane.
SpooNManX
July 20, 2015 at 3:57 am PDT

Attention Sony + Konami… please fix this!!

http://videogameobsession.com/photodump/NA/GradiusPSTV-1.JPG
http://videogameobsession.com/photodump/NA/GradiusPSTV-2.JPG

There is no reason an old PSP game should be kept from playing on a PS Vita or PSTV.
SpooNManX
July 20, 2015 at 11:17 am PDT

Moderators…. MODERATE this crap please.
Welmosca
July 20, 2015 at 11:29 am PDT

Burdened by the PS3?…..pff is Sony now paying the Blog team to speak bad about PS3?…..so it ain’t enough to Sony excluding PS3.
This is getting more and more ridiculous.The only thing burdened here is Sony by their shame.
Also quit the false advertisement…..PS3 games aren’t like PS2 games that weren’t HD and that look great remasterized,there is nothing to be improved on PS3 games,especially on exclusives technical marvel like Uncharted…….”lovingly detailed”….hahahaha this ain’t no place for fairy tale,games are already insanely detailed on PS3 its the same S*** as the PS3 version,nor better nor worse,1080p alone ain’t worth all these exaggerated things you talk about PS4 recycled versions.Again they aren’t PS2 games,the only thing the recycled version will have more than the PS3 one is photo mode,sorry but resolution ain’t nothing unless you play a inch away from your TV.

I laugh at people who buy the crap companies throw at them “glorious 1080p,glorious framerate,glorious bla bla bla”.Nothing better for a company than a herd of sheeps that buy their stuff blindly believing its something special.