Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | KnockBack, Episode 254

PlayStation 3's Uncharted trilogy is inarguably a vital stepping stone in the history of Sony. These three titles helped breathe life into a once-struggling console, and gave the brand amazing momentum running into the following generation. But Naughty Dog's series about a globetrotting adventurer hit a bit of a snag when PS3 turned to PS4. Partially through development, Uncharted 4 would lose its creative force and writer, Amy Hennig, leaving the half-finished projects in the hands of the two men who just delivered The Last of Us: Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley. It was going to be a hard task to make this one work. But ultimately, the team delivered in spades. Uncharted 4 is a fitting and high-quality end to Naughty Dog's Uncharted arc, visiting an older, wiser, and more reluctant Nathan Drake who's sucked back into 'the life' by his own brother, and by his own inability to let go of the past. Wonderfully paced and beautiful to look at, and with amazing performances and fun gameplay, A Thief's End is a must-play, and we're thrilled to spend a good-long time discussing it here on KnockBack.

[@kroth92]

The Joy of Deg knowing that we gonna have a uncharted 5, is so nice. He is such a optimistic gamer

[@daganmoriarty1973]

[@MarioMoreno-tt3hr]

Even after all these years, Colin standing tall that ‘Uncharted 3’ is his favorite is fantastic lol. I remember the battle between fans debating which one was better, either the 2nd or 3rd.

[@jaylynbrooks3968]

Degan sounds like the coolest big brother to have

[@ItsAkile]

4 really sealed Nathan for me as a character, you got the feel of an entire trilogy from that one game. thats why I tell people just play U4 if you just want to play one of them, I need to revisit for the platinum now that it got a 60fps patch. very fun with the Cel Shader they added

[@peterhague6648]

what's Colin talking about when saying that Drake has to be dragged back into the life? That whole sequence at the start is to illustrate his extreme boredom and wanderlust. He's itching for an excuse to get back to it!!

[@grantandrews4826]

Haven't tuned into a video in a bit. Colin's room is looking tight as hell. Thanks for keeping me company at work, boys.

[@daganmoriarty1973]

[@ex_cathedra4237]

One of my top 5 PS4 games. Even though I felt that Nathan's brother was completely shoehorned, this game is absolutely an entertainment powerhouse. IMO, the ending was perfect and I think there's no need to continue the franchise.

[@mikeyc.6022]

Dagan always have the best stories lol, that birthday party story, even I felt embarrassed 😳😂

[@1985NEVETS]

I wonder if the other studio creating uncharted could be Bluepoint? They have the technical skills and production value in their games. They're always giving other studios a hand also on these big games. With the help of ND I could see them doing an original IP with Nathans daughter.

[@wairen5020]

Maybe bend studio. They did Uncharted Golden Abyss for Vita.

[@1985NEVETS]

@@wairen5020 oh yea that would honestly make more sense. I could definitely see them doing it.

[@TechMetalRules]

Great convo! Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy are my favorite in the series.

[@sebastiansanhueza9601]

Jeez, Nadine was such a kick ass character! The way she has both Drake brothers' ases handed to them at the same time... one of the best moments in videogames besides Dead Space 2's "you owe me an eye, you bastard".

[@Houndfederation]

Oh boy, Colin's in for a treat if he's gonna play Lost Legacy.... :D

[@BlackCatScott]

Great convo lads. Always entertaining to watch.

[@bdre5555]

I played through about half of this when it released on PS4 Pro. I'm excited to play the PS5 upgraded version in the near future. Also curious about Lost Legacy. I don't know too much about it, but it sounds like it's pretty short?

[@mattsanders2207]

I loved the final sword fight with Rafe on the burning boat that the end. It’s got simple controls, it’s so memorable for me.

[@TheHOOfan1]

The Kinda Funny Spoilercast for Uncharted 4 is when I actually started following games on youtube, and Kinda Funny, and then followed Colin.

[@crackcorn0404]

I think instead of a boss fight at the end, a chase would be more fitting.

[@Overthinka]

I thought that Rafe and Vargas were amazing, particularly Rafe, idk why Colin didn’t like him he was fantastic.

[@Eon233]

Cuz Colin’s opinions for games these days are usually kinda shit lol. The most human villain in all of Uncharted where he just wants to prove to everyone he isn’t some spoiled rich boy and gives Nate multiple outs, legally owned the land in Scotland, was willing to spend money to “legally” purchase the cross only to finally snap when Nadine betrays his ass and he goes full psycho? Nah shit villain lol. There was no “Save the World” type thing here. It was literally just Nate wanting save his brother vs Rich boy who wants the glory and respect, for most of the game.

[@Overthinka]

@@Eon233 Yes, it was well acted, both Rafe and Vargas's voice actors stood out to me as perfect and refreshing supporting actors. They were so genuine and both unhinged.

[@NoNameMnk]

Defragging a drive doesn't give you more space. You end up with the same amount of space you had before defragging. It just places files contiguously rather than all over the drive. With SSD drives it's not something that is needed these days and is generally not recommended.

[@itsinternet5768]

Saint Dismas, the founder of San Dimas, the home of the greatest band in the history of the universe. Be excellent to each other.

[@Project-Aries]

These nuggets of classic games from Degan's perspective are the true treasures Nathan Drake would hope to find. Ultimately, to keep them in the attic. 🤔

[@daganmoriarty1973]

YES. ....no ! ; )

[@darkhpokinsngaming8889]

Can’t pay bills with that.

[@tom3941]

Have you tried playing it on cel shaded? That really gives it a nice stylised comic look

[@carston101]

1:36:40 I've always thought the open world sections were out of place in Uncharted 4, but I felt this MUCH more so in R&C Rift Apart. I really don't like this "trend" of taking traditionally semi-linear games and making them semi-open-world. They're not meant for that.

[@ltw126]

I feel that exact same way. I think the open world section is worse in Lost Legacy. Open world sections in linear games are game pacing killers.

[@DevonConnelly]

Wasn't the dialogue options between Nate & Sam a way of informing new uncharted gamers on past adventures? Like if UC4 was your first uncharted game and that was a way of catching you up? I though it was a clever way of doing it. If memory serves, it is the only time they utilize this mechanic, correct?

[@darkhpokinsngaming8889]

Yes. But I don’t think it was to inform people about the past games, cause you could only pick one option.

[@matthewlee4834]

No, the mechanic is used a few other times, including the dinner with Elena and the first fight with Nadine

[@darkhpokinsngaming8889]

@@matthewlee4834 Ah right, forgot about those times

[@daynmitchell7543]

I’m playing through this on ps5 as we speak

[@evanlol22]

Helps that he’s winning depending on your online record

[@asan590]

Uncharted 3 is worse than both 2 and 4 imo. The story doesn't even make sense sometimes

[@wairen5020]

The villain randomly teleporting 😂

[@kevinmcgovern5388]

Colin I’m so glad you when back to this game! I always felt like you were rush at that time in your life. This is a very important game to me personally. So to see you revisit it, especially with your brother, has made my week. Thank you. And last stand media had small beginnings. Just you.

[@ojastalgaonkar3000]

I keep hearing these guys ads on spotify IN THE POCAST . I think it's only on the one I listen to which is trash taste

[@lowerclassbrats77]

If the next Uncharted isn't the adventures of a Young Sully, it's a huge missed opportunity. Personally I feel Bend is the right dev for this installment.

[@lastofanancientbreed8616]

It’ll be about his daughter righting her fathers wrongs and the female character model used will be a 1/10th as attractive as the actor used for voice and mocap,unfortunately.

[@uwu_VII]

@@lastofanancientbreed8616 that would be so lame if it is about "righting my father's wrongs" Uncharted imo never ever took itself too seriously, it's supposed to be fun. It's never mentioned how Nathan drake killed 1000s of people but no one cares, cause of the suspension of disbelief. I swear to god if they turn uncharted into a last of us soap opera I'm gonna be fuming

[@tazmanceltic]

Knock back (the endorphin drug edition)

[@c-los512]

Love seeing how excited Dagan was to talk about what the ending means for the future of the IP. I think that was my biggest take away after completing the game. It was such a succinct ending to Drake's story (the epilogue) that it makes me excited for the future of the IP. They did such a great job ending it all with such nostalgia that I can't wait to return to the IP when it hasn't even been that long since the latest entry.

[@RicoSeattle]

YES!! I’m pleased that they’re doing Uncharted 4, but what I’m REALLY excited about is that they’re one step closer to Uncharted The Lost Legacy!!! And Colin said they’ll eventually play it! Whew, I was worried it would never happen. Who knows, maybe they’ll even get to MGS4 and Avatar The Last Airbender Book 2. 😅

[@colinstevens2462]

Don't forget Red Dead 1

[@Tomofdahook17]

Yesss! I've been waiting for this. Just went back and listened to the Uncharted 3 episode the other day!

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

Honestly, all of you guys would be _much_ more interesting to watch if you watched a few Stephan Kinsella videos and learned the importance of full abolition of intellectual property laws. Then I’d trust that you all would incorporate that knowledge in your discussion of video games. That would be awesome☺️…..

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

Any chance you all would give this a genuine try?

[@colinstevens2462]

Creative bot

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

@@colinstevens2462 Not a bot. What’s up with saying that?

[@darkhpokinsngaming8889]

Actually there was no new Crash games when Uncharted 4 released, the Nsane trilogy came out a year later. I presume there was some deal there. I don’t see the controversy with Nadine and with a voice actor playing a character that has different skin color, that’s a nontraversy. As for the kill count. It’s irrelevant, you’re thinking about it to much, Uncharted doesn’t take place in our reality, it’s different.

[@14_IQ.points]

Loved this episode, however I'm surprised that neither of you complained about the amount of platforming. I felt like they could cut out a solid 20% of the game if they would remove the platforming sections that were there for no reason. It really ruined the pacing on a few chapters.

[@ryansampson5636]

Great podcast guys. Y’all brought up a lot of points and ideas that I hadn’t thought of before. Makes me want to go back and replay of PS5.

[@nicholasclark5320]

Small correction, Colin said Nolan North is in Death Stranding and its sequel -- that's Troy Baker.

[@TheTerp97]

I actually find Rafe interesting because you could make a case that up until the end, he's actually a good guy(if it werent for his killing the guard randomly at the start): Rafe is originally on board with Nate and Sam for this treasure He is trying to legally purchase the crucifix that Nate and Sam steal from him He owns the land in Scotland where Nate and Sam trespass and start killing shoreline He gives Nate and Sam a chance to walk away in Madegascar. Sure at the end He goes batshit, but he's actually got some reason to be frustrated if you step back a bit

[@johnnada6855]

I think DRAKE´s brother was the best of Uncharted 4., i like him better than Drake., i always found Nathan Drake to be too dumb., i don´t like that., his brother is more a man., he is also a bastard a sneaky man., and i like that, he is more like the "real thief"., his brother is more interesting in my opinion., and i really don´t want a woman uncharted., i really don´t like the liberal take on women protagonist is the same old cringe we are all used to., that´s another aspect i didn´t like about uncharted, Elena i can´t stand that type of woman., the complaining bitching type, i also didn´t like that they forced all the characters in every game, would have been more interesting for Drake to meet new lovers and pals at each new game so it feels like completly new adventures., they missed that chance by taking the "personal life of the protagonist" route, which is a cheap and easy route in my opinion, instead of making new plots each time

[@muyaja]

Uncharted series is by far my fav gamess

[@legofreak20]

43:56 If memory serves, in Uncharted Golden Abyss there is a sequence where the player takes control of Sully while Nate paddles a boat.

[@fixation9281]

You’re right, I remember that part in Golden Abyss as well. I don’t recall ever playing as Sam in Uncharted 4 though

[@legofreak20]

@Fixation Me either. Thought it was weird that I couldn't remember anything like that. Wonder what these two are thinking about.

[@fixation9281]

@@legofreak20 Just realized, they’re probably talking about the escape sequence with Alcázar. I think you control Sam during that part

[@legofreak20]

@Fixation That's right! You totally do. I blanked on that part. It's a cool moment and I had a lot of fun playing it. Looking forward to replaying it someday.

[@darkdragonite1419]

The more Colin shares his opinion about what he views as his favorite games.. or what games are good the more I see how constantly wrong he is.

[@johnnada6855]

I really HATE uncharted 4., is so boring and totally hate what drukmann did with the marriage drama., so unnecessary., he totally ruined uncharted., the best one is uncharted 2 and shows how the series needed to be., just adventures., and keep on making interesting plots and level designs., was a bad idea to keep the same characters, Nate needed to have a different lover and meet different characters on each adventures., in that sense the Vita Golden abyss game is also the direction they should have taken., to make a woman uncharted game is a very bad idea and will not be well received, people are fed up of feminism and gay stuff

[@Tomofdahook17]

While I don’t hate Uncharted 4. It’s definitely the worse one for the music alone. The fact that they changed composers and that we barely get any iconic tracks from the original trilogy is just pathetic. I also agree with you that Uncharted is like a serial comic book. I don’t want to see Drake retire, I know he isn’t going to die because he’s the hero, Elena is his main love interest and Sully is his mentor. But the characters don’t always have to be together. There are so many opportunities to have prequels similar to the Eye of Indra motion comic that it would be criminal not to explore them. Unfortunately I think Richard McGonagle is basically retired at this point so Sully is most likely out of the picture, maybe he could come back as a less adventurous old man. Though I don’t think a game with Cassie or Nate’s mother would be bad. In fact I think it has a chance of being as great as Golden Abyss was because Naughty Dog and especially Druckman won’t be involved. That’s one reason why I enjoyed Lost Legacy a lot more than Uncharted 4. It felt more like the original two games and Druckman had nothing to do with it.

[@daganmoriarty1973]

Uncharted 2 was always gonna be a TOUGH act to follow. For sure. : )

[@johnnada6855]

@@daganmoriarty1973 Was it though?., maybe it wasn´t but maybe there are right and wrong people to do some stuff., and when the wrong people do the stuff., even when such stuff is new and represents "change", the product will not be good., change is just a different set of situation., but change is not always good, a disgrace is also a change but for the worst., so at the end of the day., there is good and bad, and not everything is relative

[@Tomofdahook17]

@@daganmoriarty1973 Haha no way, didn’t expect you to reply Dagan. That’s awesome that you read the comments! But you are right, Uncharted 2 holds what could be the highest possible spot on my favorite games list. The story, writing, pacing, gameplay and musical score are all things I’ve adored about it all of these years. To me the the musical themes alone are so iconic and impactful that I can listen to them separately on their own and know exactly where a specific lines of dialogue land. It’s been so awesome watching you experience them for the first time and discuss them in depth with your brother. It invokes feelings of experiences I’ve had with my younger brother over the years. Discussing strategies for Uncharted back and forth etc. Can’t wait to watch future episodes! P.S. I’ve managed to work out to the best of my knowledge the ages of Nate, Sam and Sully based on the Uncharted 3 young Nate mugshot that is dated 1990 as well as a couple lines of dialogue from Sully saying how many years he has on Nate. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to figure out Elena yet and may never be able to. I’d like to know what you or your brother think of this. Please correct me if I’m wrong! Uncharted’s Secret Timeline NATE Uncharted 4, Young Drake: 1988 - 13 Uncharted 3, Young Drake: 1990 - 15 Uncharted 4, Panamanian Jail: 1998 - 23 Uncharted: 2006 - 31 Uncharted 2: 2009 - 34 Uncharted 3: 2010- 35 Uncharted 4: 2013 - 38 SAM Uncharted 4, Young Sam: 1987 - 18 Uncharted 3, Flashback: 1990 - 21 Uncharted 4, Panamanian Jail: 1998 - 28 Uncharted: 2006 - 36 Uncharted 2: 2009 - 39 Uncharted 3: 2010- 40 Uncharted 4: 2013 - 43 SULLY U4, Flashback (Not Shown): 1987 - 37 Uncharted 3, Flashback: 1990 - 40 Uncharted 4, Panamanian Jail: 1998 - 48 Uncharted: 2006 - 56 Uncharted 2: 2009 - 59 Uncharted 3: 2010- 60 Uncharted 4: 2013 - 63 ELENA ???

[@imniallg]

Yeah many of the open areas didn't serve any purpose other than you give you the illusion of creating your own path and wasn't an Uncharted "thing" until this game. I feel like because the story was essentially, rewritten, they had much more bother backstory to go through, that they need the exposition.

[@grashoprsmith]

"Dorf"

[@winbyknockout]

The guy on the right should clean his room.

[@daganmoriarty1973]

Yeah. ... hey!!! (Studio overhaul in 2023!) ; )

[@salmark9080]

this whole topic of how did they get away, aren’t they murderers etc is absurd . The answer is who fucking cares it’s a video game, you’re drake and you saved the day, period. Go play Detroit become human

[@darkhpokinsngaming8889]

Lol random

[@salmark9080]

@@darkhpokinsngaming8889 nah they always say that about joel and drake lol

[@darkhpokinsngaming8889]

@@salmark9080 I get what your saying with Nate, but with the setting and world of the Last of Us, the killing actually means something.

[@deontecoleman7047]

The villian mentioned it in 2 tho....so it mattered enough to address it lol