Naughty Dog, one of PlayStation's most celebrated first-party studios, is rereleasing Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy in 2022. Both games will be available on PlayStation, and will also be ported to PC. Longtime Uncharted fans will be happy to see some of the best games in the series modernized and retouched. However, the collection, titled Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, will also attract several new players to the legendary adventure series.
While many gamers will likely jump into Uncharted 4 first, there is good reason to suggest that Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is the best game in the series and the best game for newcomers. Although often overlooked, Chloe and Nadine's wild romp in India provides the best of the series in an easy-to-digest package.
Why The Lost Legacy Is the Perfect Introduction to Uncharted
For gamers that are on the fence about Uncharted, it may seem like the logical thing to do is to start with the first game in the series. However, that may not be the smartest decision, because Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is quite dated at this point. The game is still great and offers some exhilarating action set-pieces, but it is still a 2007 game that shows its age even when the remastered version in Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is played.
For those experiencing Uncharted for the first time via the Legacy of Thieves Collection, Uncharted 4 may be the more alluring option to start with. There are some downsides to starting with this game, though. It features lots of references to earlier games, and understanding Nathan Drake and Sully's backstory is made harder if prior games have not been played. Most importantly, it is a long game that may end up being frustrating as a first introduction to the series.
The Lost Legacy provides a smooth entry into the franchise for several reasons. Firstly, the game veers away from Nathan Drake and instead focuses on Chloe as she goes on a quest to seek the Tusk of Ganesh. Joining her is Nadine, who is an ex-mercenary. During their adventures, they also have to deal with Asav and his team of insurgents who wish to spark a civil war in India. Though Nadine and Chloe appear in prior games, they serve as minor characters and it does not take much backstory to understand them and their motivations. For anyone who wishes to jump into Uncharted's fun without being bogged down by too much of Uncharted's narrative history, The Lost Legacy offers the easiest entryway.
As the last game in the series, The Lost Legacy offers the most refined gameplay. Stealth is at its best, and while the earlier games do tend to turn into generic cover-shooters, The Lost Legacy allows for players to jump in and out of hiding, resulting in some truly dynamic and unpredictable gameplay. Climbing feels great, there are no puzzles with strange and unexpected solutions, and the setpieces of The Lost Legacy are simply unforgettable, to say the least. Best of all, the game features an open-world section that strays from the usual linear style of gameplay the series is known for, allowing players to complete tasks in the order they choose to. Although Uncharted 4 does feature its own open-world area in Madagascar, The Lost Legacy pulls it off better and does so in a way that complements the narrative instead of grinding it to a halt.
Most importantly, The Lost Legacy never overstays its welcome. The game was originally meant to be a DLC to Uncharted 4, but was eventually turned into a standalone game. As a result, it is notably shorter than Uncharted 4. This works to The Lost Legacy's advantage, as Uncharted 4 can be a marathon to get through. With The Lost Legacy, everything from the plot to the gameplay feels streamlined and refined to allow it to fit into a shorter playtime. The result is a game that feels tighter and more focused than its predecessor. This is perhaps the best way for players to get a taste of what the series offers before they jump into the mammoth game that is Uncharted 4.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is easily one of the most gorgeous games in the series. With its beautiful vistas, stunning architecture, and lush environments, every moment in the game is photo-worthy. It is a culmination of everything the series has gotten right in the past, and while it may not be as popular as Uncharted 4, it is still one of the best Uncharted experiences available.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is set to release on January 28 on PS5 and later in 2022 on PC.