Among thieves
Like most blockbuster titles these days, Uncharted 4 has its own suite of competitive multiplayer modes. Ranked mode sees you attempt to move up a ladder, starting at Bronze and ending on Diamond. To climb the ladder, you must complete in Qualifiers to move from tier to tier.
Command mode sees two teams face off against each other in an attempt to win the most points, which you can earn in huge amounts if you take down an opposing team captain, or hold a Command Site for a long time. The person on each team with the most points gets to be the captain, which comes with a range of perks, such as discounts for in-match items and the ability to revive teammates.
Pressing the touchpad brings up a purchase screen, which you can use to buy single-use mystical power-ups inspired by the series, such as El Dorado, which blows up your enemies, or the Chintamani Stone, which heals members of your team.
Team Deathmatch is exactly what it sounds like, while Plunder is a capture the flag-style mode that has you stealing and returning an idol to a treasure chest to win points.
In my brief pre-release time with Uncharted 4's multiplayer modes, I found them to be a fun, welcome addition to the overall package, with a unique take on competitive gameplay – using the game's new grappling hook to swing into battle never gets old. While it probably won't keep me away from some of the more multiplayer-focused titles out there, it will no doubt find a devoted community of players.
Though split-screen multiplayer isn't available at launch, Naughty Dog has hinted that it might make its way into the game in the future.
A fitting end
Though there will likely be debate as to whether Uncharted 4: A Thief's End can top the series' previous high-watermark, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, I personally found that the fourth entry's increased emphasis on character and drama sees it finally take (steal?) its long-held crown.
The emotional maturity of Naughty Dog's previous masterpiece, The Last of Us, is in full effect here, and while Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is as joyous and exciting as we've come to expect from the series, it also packs an emotional wallop, fittingly concluding on an epilogue that is utterly perfect and absolutely earned because we love the characters. Though Naughty Dog's Uncharted journey has finally reached its destination, you're guaranteed to treasure the memories it created forever.
Verdict: Play It Now
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is an astonishing conclusion to Naughty Dog's classic adventure series, one that delivers exceedingly high production values, a terrific story, wonderful character moments and one hell of an adventure. If you're a PS4 owner, it would be criminal not to take this ride.
techradar's review system scores games as 'Don't Play It', 'Play It' and 'Play It Now', the last of which is the highest score we can give. A 'Play It Now' is the highest we can bestow.
