Just finished it. Really great game. The music, which is by a different guy, is just excellent. When you get to the end of the game and the HERO MUSIC starts playing and combat ramps up in amazing looking locations and you go into EPIC MODE it's just very satisfying. When Uncharted games hit the notes right they're like watching great summer action flicks/Indiana Jones movies.
The end locations are freaking incredible looking. I probably shouldn't have been so down on the game's visuals, but then maybe they shouldn't have saved all their GOOD GRAPHICS for the last 4-5 hours of a 12 hour game. The end 30-40% of the game is just one stunning location after the next and the very end locations honestly look on par with Uncharted 1 PS3. Very, very impressive and great art design. Story was alright, wasn't as bad as U3 where it made no sense, not great either. The villains are kind of one note and lack a bit of a punch as to caring about where they're coming from. Support cast is solid, though no one as interesting or good as Chloe or Cutter or U3 Sully.
Combat was very solid throughout! I only died over and over on one or two checkpoints near the end but after a few retries I figured out where the good weapons were and got through them. Nothing like U3's bullshitness. Once you get the hang of the aiming, all the weapons felt good. I always like getting the "30/50/70 kill" trophies with each weapon. Gives me a reason to keep switching it up and use them all.
Some neat climbing bits throughout. Nice vistas and a lot of "No, no, noooo"
Overall, I wouldn't put it anywhere near Uncharted 2 in quality, but I'd put it slightly above U1 & U3 which I feel are about equal (U3 kills U1 in presentation and locations, but the combat is just terrible and frustrating). The first half of GA is training mode and it seemed like Bend was trying to test out different things (Chase level! Sniper level! Climbing level!). But the 2nd half really comes together where everything just gels and it feels like a real console Uncharted game as is just as satisfying if not more.
If I hadn't played Saints Row 3 this year, it'd probably be the best of the 9 or so games I've finished in 2012 so far. But SR3 was better. Still, best game I've finished this month!
At the end of the day if I had played this on my PS3 it probably would have been just as good or better. Being on a portable adds nothing, and it's really just a console Uncharted. However if it was on PS3 they wouldn't have made it because publishers are hesitant to put out yearly games in a franchise unless it's called Assasin's Creed or CoD. So being on a portable gives them an excuse to pump out yearly Uncharted and God of War games and since I enjoy both franchises, I am ok with that!
Great first Vita experience. Looking forward to playing more Vita games after I clear some other backlog.
