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Uncharted's Nathan Drake isn't a bullet sponge after all
Almost every action-adventure game has an unrealistic health system. In Gears of War, for instance, you can take a shockingly high number of bullets (at least on the standard difficulty) before your hero starts to crawl along the floor. Halo: Combat Evolved has regenerating health, and countless games have some kind of insta-healing med kit. You might think that treasure hunter Nathan Drake falls into the same boat, but it turns out the Uncharted franchise has a different health system entirely. That red ring around the screen? It doesn't represent damage, but the hero's luck.
The best PlayStation 4 games
There's a big reason why the PlayStation 4 is the best-selling console: It has a smattering of games that you can't play anywhere else. Think: blockbusters like Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Bloodborne. But even if Indiana Jones simulators and massive open worlds where you hunt down robo-dinosaurs aren't your thing, there are still plenty of exclusives to pick from. Whether it's the best baseball video game franchise, a choose-your-own-adventure horror or an engrossing social simulator/JRPG hybrid, there's a lot to play on Sony's latest console. And then there are games from massive third-party publishers like Activision and Ubisoft, along with quirky indie offerings to round out the selection.
'The Last of Us' director Bruce Straley leaves Naughty Dog
It's the end of an era for fans of Naughty Dog's games. Bruce Straley, best-known as the co-director (along with Neil Druckmann) of The Last of Us and Uncharted 4, is leaving the studio after 18 years. Straley hasn't explained the reasons behind the move (he doesn't have "anything to announce just yet,") but it's not for a lack of affection for the studio -- this is the "hardest decision" he ever made in his career.
How Troy Baker's Naughty Dog work influenced 'Shadow of War'
Troy Baker has lent his voice and performances to some of the biggest games of the past decade. From six roles across Darksiders 2 to playing Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite or stepping into The Joker's shoes in Batman: Arkham Origins, you might not realize it's actually him delivering the lines until you see the credits. That's because he approaches each performance incredibly differently. With Middle-earth: Shadow of War his job was particularly complex: In addition to reprising his role as Talion, a Ranger of Gondor who's more or less possessed by an undead prince, Baker served as the director for all of the game's performance-capture story sequences. For that task, Baker relied on his experience with director Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog and his roles in the studio's The Last of Us (TLoU) and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. Naughty Dog is widely regarded as having some of the best performances and shot composition in video game story sequences -- there are definitely worse places to look to for inspiration.
Sony slashes prices on the year's biggest games ahead of E3
If you can't make it to LA this weekend and next week for the open-to-the-public E3, Sony still wants you to have a good time at home. In addition to a week of free access to multiplayer gaming sans a PlayStation Plus subscription (and a $10 discount on said subscription), Sony has slashed the prices on some of the biggest games from this year. Horizon Zero Dawn, MLB: The Show 17 and Nioh have all been marked down to $40, while The Last Guardian and Uncharted 4 from last year are now $20. The European PlayStation store is offering similar deals.
'Inside' wins big at the 2017 BAFTA Games Awards
The annual BAFTA game awards were held at London's Tobacco Dock last night, celebrating the best software and creative, talented individuals from 2016. Playdead's quiet, thought-provoking Inside was easily the most successful, picking up the awards for artistic achievement, game design, narrative and original property. Fellow indie Firewatch took home best debut game, while Virginia was recognised for its music and That Dragon, Cancer won the game innovation category. Four-player frenzy Overcooked also had a good evening, winning the best family and British game awards.
SXSW's gaming awards celebrate 'Uncharted 4' and indie hits
South by Southwest isn't just about cool tech, movies and music... gaming is a big deal, too. The Austin festival has unveiled its fourth annual gaming award winners, and the top picks definitely reflect SXSW's emphases on storytelling and out-of-the-ordinary concepts. The leader, by far, was Uncharted 4. Naughty Dog's swashbuckling action game took home five prizes, including video game of the year as well as excellence awards for a memorable character, narrative, animation and visuals. It's not surprising, to be honest -- U4 has been an awards darling for months, and its combination of sophisticated characterization with breathtaking vistas was bound to be appealing to SXSW's panel.
'Uncharted 4' leads this year's BAFTA game nominations
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a big Naughty Dog fan, apparently. It announced the nominees for this year's video game awards, and Uncharted 4 leads the way with eight nominations, including Best Game, Music and Narrative. The AAA blockbuster makes up half the total nominations in the Performer category alone, with Nolan North (Nathan Drake), Troy Baker (Sam Drake) and Emily Rose (Elena Fisher) all receiving nods.
Sony's new PlayStation headset is premium in name alone
There's no shortage of gaming headsets on the market, and in an effort to distinguish themselves, manufacturers are turning to gimmicks to stand out from the competition. Sony, for example, has several PlayStation-branded pairs, and now it's adding another to the mix, in hopes that 3D audio will be enough to earn your $150. After spending some time with the new PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset, though, I'm not sure it deserves its asking price.
The best games of 2016
The year is nearly over, and I don't think I'm alone in saying that I'm ready to leave behind the dark, twisted fantasy that is 2016. No matter your political persuasion, social status or country of residence, you'll have felt disquieted by events at some point this year. The sheer scale of 2016's failings allows for such blanket statements. Natural disasters, mass shootings and political events have left me buffeted by wave after wave of anxiety. Because of this never-ending cycle of unease, video games have been more important to me this year. Of course, they're always a form of escapism, but in 2016 they've had to function as a kind of digital cocoon. Gaming has been a place to retreat. A moment of respite. Whether passing the minutes on a mindless clicker or puzzle game, losing myself for hours in grand strategies and sport sims or taking a long weekend to head out on a fantastic adventure, gaming has helped me. A lot. Perhaps that's why I've been reacting to game delays with all the composure of a YouTube commenter. And, God, the delays have come thick and fast.
All the reveals from PlayStation Experience 2016
It definitely feels like Sony showed off more games during the PlayStation Experience keynote today than it did at E3. Which is pretty impressive, when you think about it. The show started out with a glimpse at the next chapter of the Uncharted saga and ended with, well, the next chapter in the The Last of Us. Both were extremely unexpected treats from developer Naughty Dog, but in between those bookends were a ton of other teases and announcements from the company's 20-plus years of gaming history. If you wanted fresh versions of Parappa the Rapper and WipeOut, or even an updated take on the obscure Windjammers, you're all set. Oh, and how about the next game from Housemarque, the Robotron-esque Nex Machina? Now, let's get to the videos.
'Uncharted' is back on PS4 with 'The Lost Legacy'
There's a new Uncharted. Well, a new story chapter at least. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, from the looks of it, is a lot like The Last of Us: Left Behind. Meaning, it's a standalone story that fleshes out characters from the main game in a new way. The video that debuted on the PlayStation Experience stage showed a robed woman walking through a middle Eastern street, following instructions for a meet up by text message — only to be double crossed on a rooftop.
Everything you missed from 'The Game Awards'
Each year that Geoff Keighley's Game Awards distances itself from its SpikeTV past, it gets subsequently less embarrassing to watch. And without a doubt, The Game Awards 2016 was the best show yet. Couldn't watch the stream? Well, that's too bad, but we've got you covered. Below you'll find a list of the night's big winners in addition to all the trailers that made their world premieres onstage at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. There were a few emotional moments onstage as well, including Ryan Green accepting the Games for Impact award for That Dragon, Cancer; Keighley presenting his friend Hideo Kojima with a statue for Industry Icon and Nolan North throwing striking voice actors under the bus during his acceptance speech for best performance.
Watch The Game Awards right here!
It's time for The Game Awards and you can watch the show right here on this page! Games like Uncharted 4, Firewatch and Inside are up for some pretty big accolades, but that's not all that's on tap. Metal Gear mastermind Hideo Kojima is scheduled to accept the Industry Icon Award live onstage (last year his former employer Konami forbade his attendance), for one. And of course, there will be music. Who, specifically? Run the Jewels, to start. Mick Gordon, the guy who penned the Doom score, has been teasing rehearsal footage of "BFG Division" on Twitter all week too. You might want to start stretching those neck muscles right now to ensure you're headbanging safely this evening.
'Uncharted 4' adds a survival mode with a few twists
Gears of War 4 won't have a monopoly on co-op survival modes this holiday, apparently. Naughty Dog is introducing an Uncharted 4: Survival mode that will arrive in mid-December. As with its Xbox rival, Uncharted will have you facing 50 waves of AI enemies as you build up defenses, rank up your character and coordinate with teammates. Don't call it an outright clone of Gears' Horde mode, however, as it periodically throws a monkey wrench into the works.
'Uncharted,' 'Firewatch' dominate The Game Awards nominations
The Game Awards show has made it a point to recognize more than just the usual blockbuster hits, and it looks like that will remain true when the 2016 ceremony takes place on December 1st. Geoff Keighley's outfit has unveiled its nominees for this year, and there's a healthy mix of triple-A titles and indies. It won't shock you to hear that big names like Battlefield 1, Doom, Overwatch, Titanfall 2 and Uncharted 4 are up for multiple awards, of course. However, smaller projects like Inside (up for game of the year), Hyper Light Drifter and Firewatch make up a large chunk of the selections.
Recommended Reading: Nintendo's NX sounds weird and that's okay
NX is different, and different is Nintendo's best option Oli Welsh, Eurogamer Based on the rumors so far, Nintendo's upcoming NX handheld console will be... unique. This piece from Eurogamer, a site that's been the source of some of the details, takes a look at why switching things up a bit may be the company's best bet. A touchscreen device with detachable controllers may sound strange, but if the reports are true, "we should savor and celebrate NX's weirdness" like Eurogamer explains here.
Gaming headset review roundup: Five options, one favorite
As much as we'd all love surround sound in every room where we have a TV, it isn't always feasible. Be it budgetary reasons or living in an apartment with roommates who don't share your enthusiasm for late-night explosions, sometimes 5.1- or 7.1-channel audio is out of reach. Luckily, there are plenty of headphones to pick from. But that too comes with its own set of conundrums: Where does one even begin in that sea of choices? We've rounded up five options at a variety of price points to help make your decision a little clearer. With this edition, we're looking at the PlayStation Gold wireless headset, the Xbox Wireless Stereo Headset, the Astro A30 and A40 and, finally, the Blue Lola as a wildcard.
'Uncharted' swings onto smartphones as a free puzzle game
Ready for another adventure with Nathan Drake? While you wait for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End to hit store shelves, Sony hopes you'll check out its new mobile game featuring the plucky explorer. And no, it's not another endless runner. Instead, Sony has made a grid-based puzzled game called Uncharted: Fortune Hunter, which has you pulling levers and shooting barrels to find hidden treasure. It's available on Android and iOS, and the aim is to complete each puzzle in a limited number of moves, thereby gaining keys to open chests discovered by Victor "god damn" Sullivan.
Traveling the world in Uncharted 4's ridiculous photo mode
Aside from minor tweaks for brightness and contrast, everything in this National Geographic-inspired gallery was captured entirely within the photo mode of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. And while the images don't contain any story spoilers from the first 11 chapters of the game, if you're looking to go in completely blind, you should avert your eyes. Amazing visuals are part of the Uncharted series' DNA, and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is no exception. The difference here is that the previous three installments didn't feature a photo mode when they debuted on PlayStation 3. And to be clear, this isn't even the first PS4 game with a photo mode -- that would be Infamous: Second Son -- but this is the first one that I want to keep playing. That's because taking screenshots here is as fun as working through the narrative itself.