Several years ago a buxom woman named Lara Croft introduced gamers to the joy of defiling ancient burial sites and looting long-forgotten ruins. No doubt, the Tomb Raider series has served as the staple of exploration/adventure games, while going through several peaks and valleys over its long history (and no, I'm not referring to Lara's physique.) Ok, ok, so maybe I am! I am only human, dammit. In any case, with the new generation of consoles at our doorstep, developer Naughty Dog has decided to get involved in the genre and create its own franchise with the exciting Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. And while the new male lead's breasts are much smaller than Ms. Croft's, they're just as much fun to play with. Er... I mean, the game is fun to... ah, nevermind.

Every True Adventurer Comes Equipped with a Map, a Sidearm, and a Snarky Sense of Humor.

   The hero of our story is Nate Drake, descendant of venerable explorer Sir Francis Drake, and treasure hunter extraordinaire. Nate has discovered Sir Francis' long-lost journal, which Nate believes holds the key to the legendary treasure of El Dorado. Our little explorer is quite a character, a man who seems to take as much pride in his quick wit as he does his surprising upper body strength and weapons acumen. He's got quite the attitude, and is sure that the journal will be his ticket to fame and fortune, or at least a good table at a fancy restaurant.

   Nate isn't alone on his quest. A wide variety of both friends and foes abound. Working with our protagonist is Sully, his treasure-hunting buddy of many years, and Elena, a television show host whose network is financing Nate's quest under the caveat that Elena be allowed to come along and record the excursion. These side characters provide the requisite comic relief and plot devices, as Sully serves as the "can-I-or-can't-I trust him" guy, and Elena acts as the classic love interest/damsel in distress.

   Of course, no adventure is complete without bad guys, and three of Nate's rivals have also arrived on scene, each of which is determined to stop Drake and claim the fortune. Unfortunately for our hero the bad guys have brought their own mercenary armies, as bad guys are apt to do in these types of situations. Add to this the fact that the island holds many secrets and dangers of its own, and you've got the makings of... well, a summer blockbuster, probably. But also a damn good video game.

If Lara Croft and the Prince of Persia Had a Baby, It Would be This Game... And That Would Be Weird.

Why do they call him the "bullet-dodger?", grandma? Can he really dodge bullets?

   Even though you'll spend a good amount of time exploring, the larger focus throughout the game is on combat, or more appropriately, trying to dodge bullets. Not surprisingly, all those enemy mercenaries were brought along not just to sunbathe, but to make sure you never find the treasure, and these guys know their way around firearms. Nate's no slouch with a gun either ("Don't be modest, Judge. You're a tremendous slouch!"), and the game provides a wide variety of pistols, assault rifles, shotguns, and grenades to punch holes in anyone who dares oppose you.

   While you may feel pretty confident with your arsenal, walking into a firefight fully exposed is a guaranteed ticket to a six-foot hole, breakfast included. You are outnumbered and outgunned from the start, and the only way to survive the game is to utilize cover at every turn. Nate can duck behind low walls, tuck around corners, and squeeze behind columns in order to evade enemy fire and take out those nasty little mercs. Just make sure not to stay in one place too long, as these guys are SMART and will work to flank you and pick you off from angles where you have no protection. Oh angles! I knew I should've paid more attention to you in geometry. In addition, baddies will lay down covering fire while their friends close on your position, or toss grenades to flush you out into the open. I really can't say enough about how good the enemy AI is: you're going to have to work for every kill you make. If there is any complaint I can make about the combat, it's that sometimes things can be a little too difficult, and you may find yourself replaying the same section multiple times because there are just too many baddies with shotguns, high powered pistols, and grenade launchers for you to take out on your own. It's a nice sense of accomplishment when you do get through these tough areas, but they can be hair-pullingly frustrating until you sort it all out.

   While the exploration and combat shine in Uncharted, there are some other gameplay situations that really hurt the experience. One such section occurs about halfway through the game, when you are forced to partake in some jet ski missions where you awkwardly slosh upriver while shooting at enemies and dodging exploding barrels. If this had been a simple "on rails" section (something the game executes well in an earlier vehicle escape mission), then it would have been tolerable. But the fact that you have to drive the jet ski, come to a dead stop to target and shoot enemies, and then start driving again makes the whole experience choppy and nearly unbearable. It's a lot like riding in a car with that grand aunt of yours who is not familiar with the intermediate state between the gas and the brake, but with fewer casualties.

   As painful as the jet ski sections are, they are nowhere near as bad as an unnecessary, ridiculous plot device toward the end of the game that fundamentally changes the experience, and nearly ruins the whole thing. I don't want to give anything away, but I'll just say that the last few chapters play out a lot like a survival-horror game, and it completely flies in the face of all the tactics and strategies you spent hours honing. I have no idea what made the developers think it was a good idea to change the basic gameplay so late in the adventure, but they should be slapped very hard in the face for doing so. Or have a PS3 controller thrown at their head. Their choice.

Let Us Take a Moment to Observe All the Different Ways Drake Can Lean Against a Rock.

   One thing that truly sets this game apart from the pack is just how amazing it looks. All of Drake's movements are completely lifelike and believable, and you'll constantly find yourself panning the camera just to take in the lush scenery. One of my personal favorite things to do is run Nate under a waterfall and check out the different ways his clothes cling and bunch. It was at this point I called in a photographer and we took a series of shots for the new Abercrombie & Fitch catalog. Be looking for it this spring, in the section titled "Things to Wear While Hunting Ancient Treasure and Being Pursued by Bloodthirsty Thugs." It's really quite chic, and will perfectly compliment that hole in your wardrobe. Also, the way Drake and the enemies flinch and react to gunfire just adds that special something that draws you further into the game's world. This game is absolutely stunning, especially in HD, and really must be seen to be believed.

   On top of the graphics, the script and voice acting is terrific. Nate delivers his lines with just the right amount of sass, and the other characters seem to intone with just the right inflection to make you crack a smile even in the most serious of circumstances.

It's Not Perfect, But What Else Are You Going to Play?

   While Uncharted isn't a perfect game, its positive qualities still greatly outweigh the negatives. This is a beautiful and well-acted title, with a lot of fun and addictive elements. If it hadn't been for a couple of questionable decisions regarding the gameplay, this could have been the PS3's first perfect game. As it stands though, this is still a must-play for all PS3 owners; a game well worthy of a spin in your disc tray. Now then, I must be off, I'm going to look for Spanish gold in the walls of my apartment. Can someone loan me a sledgehammer?

       ... Brad