The Uncharted games are a special brand. Nathan Drake has been at the helm of the series for so many years now, and when Uncharted 4 finished off his story it felt like there was a hole in the gaming universe. Don’t get me wrong, it was the perfect ending, but the thought of no more action-adventure games from Naughty Dog didn’t sit well. Thankfully, the team at Naughty Dog revealed an expansion for Uncharted 4, called The Lost Legacy, featuring Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross (the villain from Uncharted 4).

Who would have thought that the two women would be so central to the Uncharted world going forward. What set out as an expansion, ended up being, by Naughty Dog’s admission, a full on game in its own right. For that, it means that Uncharted: The Lost Legacy needs to be treated as such, and while it builds on the Uncharted 4 story, it really does standalone.



The Lost Legacy begins with Chloe and Nadine banding together to find… you guessed it… a treasure. From the start there are hints towards Chloe’s past, which has led her to this point. The infamous thief obviously needs the assistance of the exceedingly bad-ass South African, Nadine, to get the treasure. Nadine, having just lost control of her “army”, has a point to prove too. And so, the two embark on an adventure to the far off lands of the Western Ghats to find the ruins of the Hoysala Empire and recover the legendary Golden Tusk of Ganesh. Simple really?

In all honesty, I found the introduction to be a little underwhelming, and there was a concern in the back of my mind that this might end up being a simply average romp back in the Uncharted universe. But a few hours later, and I realised just how wrong I was. This, it was clear, was no average romp.

Following the usual Uncharted like set pieces of the intro, I found myself with Chloe and Nadine in the Western Ghats. Armed with the Jeep and a massive, open terrain to explore I set out in what felt like foreign terrain for an Uncharted game. It reminded me of the boat sequence in Uncharted 4, but this time all land based.



The open area, claimed as Naughty Dog’s biggest playable area, is magnificent as you head from one side to the other, collecting clues, treasures, artifacts and more, all in order to find the hidden entrance to where the Tusk might be lying. It’s one brilliant, yet simple puzzle after the other, blended with some standard platforming to the most beautiful backdrop you have ever seen. If anything, Naughty Dog have outdone themselves with the backdrop. Every single detail is brilliantly detailed, with nothing left to the imagination.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy not only has all the good gameplay elements that we have come to expect from Uncharted, but also the wonderful storytelling and character development. Chloe and Nadine have delightful chemistry from start to finish, and together with their own character development, bring together a story which is original, charming and at the same time fills in some gaps on both of the leading ladies. Sadly, explaining more would mean spoiling some of the more precious moments in the game, something you need to experience yourself.



In terms of gameplay, The Lost Legacy brings back the newly introduced stealth mechanics prominent in Uncharted 4, and while it’s the same engine and style, it does seem somewhat refined in terms of its mechanics. Even the shooting and hand to hand combat feel that little bit tighter, making for a great experience. More noticeable is that the bum slides and hook swings are not nearly as forced as they were in Uncharted 4, though both do still return.

More importantly, so do the set pieces. Whether it’s scaling a massive mountain top, or 1000 year old artefact the size of a small mountain itself, or saving yourself from a crumbling tower, that feeling of intense adrenaline never dies away. There’s a whole lot more to experience in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy than I had expected, and that’s even after the devs mentioned it was going to be a like a full game.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy ticks just about every single box. Great gameplay, adventure, story, characters and voice acting. The soundtrack is equally exquisite, matching the on-screen action every step of the way. There’s a sense of true magic about the game, with Chloe and Nadine providing a fresh approach in terms of characters after Nate’s “retirement”. To say that the visuals are near perfect is almost an understatement.



Apart from the somewhat rushed intro, which left me underwhelmed, it must be noted that the game does not stray too far from the Uncharted formula, particularly Uncharted 4. The gameplay mechanics are largely the same, the guns are similar and the puzzles have the same feel to them (though obviously they are practically different). It doesn’t reinvent anything, it just contains and refines all the aspects that have made for a successful franchise. That said, The Lost Legacy is in fact an expansion, so expecting something completely different is perhaps misplaced.

The Lost Legacy comes packed full of the Multiplayer modes, including PvP and the horde-like Survival Mode. It also includes a Survival Arena mode which is an expansion of sorts to the standard Survival mode. In-game there are a number of treasures to find throughout the world as your collectibles, as well as photos to take and extra conversations making up the collectibles. There is also a photo mode included, and trust me you are going to want to take a fair few photos along the way.

Considering the price point, there is absolutely no reason to miss out on Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Knowing that if you pre-order you get Jak and Daxter too, only sweetens the deal. The Lost Legacy is every bit of what I hoped it would be, and a reminder of what Naughty Dog are capable of, with or without the usual hero. In fact, I would say that Chloe and Nadine are even more endearing than Nate, and make for one hell of a duo in this adventure. This is simply an expansion not to be missed for those that want a bit more Uncharted in their lives.