Charting Complete

Maybe it's a tad overwrought, but Uncharted 4's ending hits all the right emotional notes, satisfyingly wrapping up Nathan Drake's stories with a pleasantly open-ended bow.

Uncharted 4 isn't better than its predecessors because of its amazing graphics -- even though they are, really, totally goddamned incredible. It's better than its predecessors because of its strategic and well-executed gameplay innovations. When Drake careens down a steep slope, grapples to a tree branch, swings across a ravine and narrowly avoids a grim fate by jamming a piton into a sheer cliff, it's just ... man. It's exhilirating.

(The driving segments are also kind of cool, but probably would have overstayed their welcome if they were any more frequent.)

What I can't really speak for is the shooting gameplay, because the last three games taught me that I would probably hate it anyway. I fully recognize that Explorer difficulty is way, way easy, and I don't care because I would much rather plow through fields of enemies without even trying, than have to suffer through multiple die-and-retry cycles every time a bullet-sponge juggernaut catches me between cover spots.

But I digress. Assuming that the gunplay isn't really important - because, to me, it isn't - Uncharted 4 is a shining jewel in the franchise and a triumph of interactive storytelling.

Better than: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Not as good as: Oh, forget it.
Whatever Naughty Dog does next: I can't wait to see it.