In the first installment of the Gaming Spotlight series, junior Dylan Margolis reviews one of his all-time favorite video games: Uncharted.

This is probably the best series of video games ever made. 

Uncharted follows a story in which players fight NPCs (non-playable characters) instead of real people in a campaign.

This story is cinematic and similar to the “Indiana Jones” movies in video game form. The games keep you on the edge of your seat and are a great experience.

The first game follows Nathan Drake, a descendant of the pirate Sir Francis Drake who’s hunting for El Dorado. 

There are lots of twists and turns, such as when Nathan learns that El Dorado is in fact not a place but a large gold statue. 

In each game, there is a supernatural element, such as large mutant-like creatures and a tree with healing properties, adding to the mystery.

The game is mainly split into three parts: fighting, solving puzzles and traversing through obstacles. 

Uncharted has a third-person perspective, so most of the combat involves hiding behind corners and peeking occasionally, much different from the average first-person shooter game. 

The puzzles in this game are also pretty fun because they are neither extremely difficult nor too easy. 

However, traversing might be the best part of the game. The environment that players jump and climb through is interesting and constantly changing: You’ll never do the same thing twice.

The graphics are incredible, which helps bring reality to the whole series. 

The day after I finished beating the second installment, I played straight through the entire eight-hour third installment. 

I was never bored when playing through all four of the games. Even when I played through them a second time, the gameplay was still fun and the story riveting.

Lastly, the soundtrack is phenomenal, making the game extremely cinematic and really putting players into its world.

Overall, this series is amazing.

Rating:

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—By Dylan Margolis

Originally published in the May 26 edition of the Octagon.