4/5 ★ – MichaelROLeary's review of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.

In one of the most well-regarded franchises, with a sophomore entry that’s generally thought of as one of the best video game sequels to date, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception has a lot to live up to. While some things certainly feel like more of the same - like combat encounters - others are elevated beyond what the previous two entries ever attempted. Set pieces are similar but amplified and melee has been refined a lot, but again, those are mostly similar to what we’ve seen before - which is great. The thing that pushes this entry in Drake’s story is, well, just that. The narrative easily surpasses that of its predecessors, allowing characters to grow in a way the initial two titles never hinted at. Drake and Sully both grow beyond their action-adventure archetypes, showing depth not just in their own relationship with one another but their individual sense of self. They apologize to each other and to those with which they surround themselves. Now, there’s certainly things I’d say didn’t work quite as well as one would hope. The game as a whole overstays its welcome and one or two of the early locales could either be chopped away or tightened up a bit. And for sure by the time you hit the third spider tsunami, it’s a little old. But the “supernatural” twist this time around is interesting and brings much cooler enemy types with it. Ultimately what this game improves upon most is character and story. If you give your characters room to not only recognize but attempt to rectify their flaws, they’re going to be much more relatable. If you successfully pull off a long-night-of-the-soul, you’ve done something special and the lonesome desert portion of this game is the most interesting segment I’ve played in the series to date. The journey Nate goes on here is handled exceptionally and it’s why I think this game rests comfortably in front of Drake’s Fortune and Among Thieves.