Nathan Drake’s days of adventure are over. As we watched him put on his halter and rope to begin a new chapter in his life, the writers at Naughty Dog doubled down on the “It’s Over” message. Video game protagonists rarely go into the sunset, but Drake’s goodbyes are as final as they come. Naughty Dog wrote Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End to wrap up Drake’s story, and it ended on a poetic and satisfying note. Getting him back in the lead would be stupid. It’s really over. Is Drake’s name synonymous with Uncharted? He’s wonderfully charismatic and endearing, but we now know he’s not the lifeblood of it.
The Lost Legacy is as immersive and accomplished as any Uncharted title. We learn that the heart of adventure trumps everything else and can extend to any character.
Chloe Frazer fits the lead admirably, but she’s never written to feel like she replaces or replicates Drake. She’s just as playful but wired differently; she’s more than the untrustworthy crook we briefly met in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Figuring out who she is in The Lost Legacy takes time, partly because she’s incredibly guarded, but also because you’re getting to know her in the middle of an adventure.
Chloe nears the end of a heist she orchestrated with Nadine Ross, the former paramilitary boss-turned-Uncharted 4 treasure hunter who is in many ways Chloe’s polar opposite, pragmatic and results-focused. We wonder why they’ve been together a little too long, but eventually satisfying answers come. As the confusion melts away, Chloe and Nadine settle into a nice (but a little turbulent) groove and end up being an intriguing duo to follow. They’re funny, succinct, and wonderfully unpredictable in their actions and words – their chemistry works, even if they often clash.
Chloe and Nadine are on the hunt for the golden tusk of Ganesh, which they believe resides in the long-lost ruins of the Hoysala Empire in India’s Western Ghats, another part of the world that the Naughty Dog finds picturesque Work of art will transform players to explore. The duo soon find themselves at odds with an insurgent rebel leader named Asav, who at first appears to be just another treasure-loving madman, but later turns out to be far more dangerous and cunning than expected. Asav moves the narrative needle as do the heroes, and the story rises from the uncertainty of his actions.
I only wish Naughty Dog hadn’t felt the need to refer to the Drakes so often – a distraction that is frequently entertaining and can be interesting, but gets more spotlight than necessary, diminishing Chloe and Nadine’s responsibility for the adventure.
The Lost Legacy was originally intended to be a bonus episode for Uncharted 4, but it ends up being a legitimate sequel that’s every bit as comprehensive as any of Drake’s adventures – it’s just a little shorter. I would never say that any of the Uncharted games are too long – they always leave you wanting more – but this new entry shows that brevity works just as well, as the journey feels more urgent and streamlined.
A direct sequel to Uncharted 4, The Lost Legacy’s gameplay hangs its hat firmly on the same grappling hook, stealth, and open-world exploration that Drake used. Aside from a lock-pick mechanic – which can deliver high intensity when used in areas where enemies are patrolling – Naughty Dog doesn’t introduce much that can be categorized as “new”. As I worked my way through India’s lost ruins and beautiful jungles, I never felt that the gameplay needed a shot of something else. The spectacle is always so grand and the next discovery always so enticing that I haven’t thought about the promotions that got me there – other than that they’re fun and reliable.
While the game mechanics fit like a glove, Naughty Dog still has a few tricks up its sleeve. The puzzle contraptions invented to hide Ganesh’s golden tusk are challenging, clever, and again, about spectacle. Two of these puzzles are among my favorites in the series – one deals with platforms and swinging axes, and another that uses silhouettes in an intriguing way. In fact, I’d say those slower gameplay moments are more impressive than the series’ signature explode-and-collapse bits and pieces. Yes, Lost Legacy has plenty of it, but it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.
Lost Legacy could easily have been Uncharted 5 considering how expansive this adventure is. Where Naughty Dog goes next is unclear, but I’d love to see Chloe and Nadine return for another hunt, as they’re just as captivating as the Drake family. They’re a damn good team.
