Drake’s Fortune kicks off with a big shootout in the middle of the ocean, while Among Thieves throws players right into the action with the wrecked train. And then we have the low-key introduction of Drake’s Deception. We see Nate and Sully waltzing into a London bar, the background music and gorgeous city shots almost feel like Naughty Dog telling us that they don’t need an explosive intro to get us hooked; they know what they’re doing. Playing all three games back to back provided a clear sense of how this series has evolved, as each entry gets progressively more tonally confident with how it presents itself.

I would’ve been tempted to stop playing if it wasn’t for the charming dialogue and banter between the series’ lovable characters. Nate and Sully never fail to earn a chuckle from me as they exchange their inside jokes, while Elena and Chloe continue to impress me as the tough, witty female leads of the series. It’s the little quips and amusing bits of character development that keep you invested in Nate’s adventures, and reaching the end of each one rewards you with a satisfying, though sometimes a little clichéd, happy conclusion. You know for a fact that you’re in for a good time when you play an Uncharted game, and the series is at its best when you feel emotionally connected with its characters.

There really isn’t any new content in Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, so the decision of whether to buy it or not would really depend on your current ownership of the game, or how much of a series fan you are. If you’ve never touched an Uncharted game, and you own a PS4, you no longer have any excuse not to play these titles. Sure, the gameplay might not be quite as satisfying as you’ve come to expect, but the Uncharted series is a true product of hard work and humble beginnings, and it’s so heartening to see how far it’s come, and where it’s headed next.

As clichéd as it might sound, I love that Nate wears Sir Francis Drake’s ring around his neck throughout the series. The engraving reads, “sic parvis magna,” or “greatness from small beginnings.” It’s such an apt phrasing to describe the evolution of the series’ characters and what they’ve achieved, and also how Naughty Dog as a studio has learned to refine their storytelling and narrative skills in video games.

If you’ve never played an Uncharted game, by all means, fire it up. Go hunt for El Dorado; go to Shangri-La; go find the Atlantis of the Sands. The core gameplay might tire you out a little, but you’ll be handsomely rewarded with lovely cinematic shots, quirky dialogue from a group of affable characters, and stories from adventures you’ll likely never forget.

Score: 3.5/5