Devouring Three Chapters of Uncharted Vita

After what seems like forever, I finally kicked up my feet and played three chapters straight of Uncharted: Golden Abyss today. There was no developer trying to tell me about intu-aim, no chatter of a crowded video game event, and no distraction other than my computer screen a few feet away. I sat there and played Uncharted: Golden Abyss the way Bend Studio meant it to be played.

I like Uncharted: Golden Abyss -- though it's going to be interesting to see what everyone thinks. See, Golden Abyss feels like the spinoff it is. Naughty Dog developed the first three games, and now Bend (the folks behind Syphon Filter PSP and Resistance: Retribution) are making this. On the one hand Golden Abyss is clearly Uncharted with its beautiful visuals, Nolan North voice acting, climbing and gunplay. But on the other hand, it doesn't always feel like Uncharted because it's using the Vita's touch screen and gyroscopes as well as utilizing a different pace.

In my little more than an hour or so of play, this mix isn't a bad thing. I like the melding of Uncharted mechanics with new methods -- especially when they make Nathan Drake seem more believable in his adventurer ways. In Golden Abyss, he wears a backpack with a thermos, makes charcoal rubbings of insignias and takes photos. This is a Drake who's exploring as much as he's treasure hunting. He's not just doing the normal thing where he stares at some clue until lightning strikes... although I'm sure that's going to happen.

Bend makes this change and meshes it in with the game's extras. In previous Uncharteds, I just played through the story and doubled back for the 101 treasures. Exploring and collecting wasn't that big of a deal. In Golden Abyss, Bend has you assembling Drake's scrapbook. You have to take photographs, collect bounties, find turquoise glyphs, and more.

Of course, this fundamentally changes the pace of this game into something that isn't the traditional Uncharted experience. I've never meandered around on my first Uncharted playthrough like I am here because I never felt like Drake would actually be looking for these things; in Golden Abyss, he is.

It is weird to have a companion hand Drake something and the game do that split-second pause as the game boots up a touch interface, and it's silly to have Drake stop on a log so that I have to tilt my Vita in a balancing mini-game. Even without the touch stuff, the storytelling is different here -- the game doesn't open like a traditional Uncharted and the relationships don't feel as endearing as the original Uncharted did.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. I only just got this Japanese copy of Uncharted: Golden Abyss -- the game doesn't come out here until February 22nd -- and there are still dozens of chapters to play through.

Greg Miller is IGN PlayStation Executive Editor and an avid wing-eater. When he's not filming PlayStation Conversations or yelling on Podcast Beyond, he's walking his wiener dog, Portillo. Follow his shenanigans on Twitter and My IGN.

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