Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

- Reviewed on PS3 -

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception released on November 1st, 2011. 

Developed once again by the legends at Naughty Dog, this third installment in the iconic action-adventure series had some big shoes to fill after the greatness of Among Thieves. 

And while Uncharted 3 doesn't completely reinvent the formula, it definitely sharpens its tools and delivers some unforgettable highs—along with one of the most personal and emotional storylines in the trilogy so far.

This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing...

This time around, Nate and Sully are on the trail of Sir Francis Drake’s secret mission from Queen Elizabeth I—and what starts as a treasure hunt quickly spirals into a psychological deep-dive into Nate’s past, his obsessions, and what he’s willing to risk finding the truth.

We get glimpses into Nate’s childhood, his first encounter with Sully, and more layers to their father-son-like bond. 

Uncharted 3 really pushes the emotional weight this time—especially with Cutter and Chloe returning, and Elena caught in the mess again. 

There’s betrayal, trust issues, and some real “what are we even doing anymore?” energy, especially during the Yemen and Rub’ al Khali Desert sequences.

The villains, Talbot and Marlowe, don’t hit as hard as Uncharted 2’s Lazarević, but they do offer more of a cerebral threat—manipulating minds, using hallucinogens, and trying to break Nate from within.

The story ends on a heartfelt note that genuinely caught me off guard. 

When you spend three games with a character, and the credits roll with a quiet reflection rather than a giant explosion, it hits differently. It’s not just about gold and lost cities anymore—it’s about letting go.

You’re dropped right into the chaos with Nate, Sully, and the gang—and just like the previous games, you’ll travel across deserts, ancient ruins, underground caverns, and more cinematic chaos than most action movies today.

One of the biggest gameplay changes I noticed right away is the new combat system and let me tell you—it’s such a step up from the first two games. 

The fights are more animated, fluid, and detailed, with environmental interaction that feels gritty and real. 

Ever wanted to slam a guy into a crate or wall mid-brawl? You got it. Ever wanted to finally punch back-to-back dudes in one motion like an action movie? You’ll be doing that too.

The firefights are classic Uncharted—intense, cover-based, and fast-paced—but there's also precision grenade-throwing now! 

That is... if you can hit the Triangle button just right when one’s lobbed at you. If not? Trust me. Run.

As always, there are tons of hidden collectibles, aka treasures, scattered across the massive set pieces. 

I still love the little sparkle they give off—it’s like Naughty Dog is winking at you every time one’s nearby. 

Not to mention, it gives each level a reason to explore beyond the linear path of shootouts and platforming.

Another big highlight: the sound design. 

The sound effects in Uncharted 3 deserves their own trophy. Every shot fired, every crunch of a fist in melee, every hidden relic you collect—there’s a satisfying pop and punch to it that makes you feel the impact.

Even now, playing on PS3 in 2025, the graphics are still jaw-dropping. 

The detail on clothes when they’re wet, and the way they dry over time? It's still insane to me that this level of detail existed in 2011.

The character development is also some of the best in the series. 

Nate and Sully’s bond, Elena’s involvement, Chloe’s return—it all hits. 

And yeah... the ending? Not even going to lie. It got me a little choked up. Naughty Dog knew what they were doing.

Let’s talk about the pain points now...

If you step away from the game during a larger, more open area, and come back later, you might be stuck with some of the longest loading times the PS3 can spit at you. Not great.

And can we talk about the enemy design near the end? The fire demons? No. Absolutely not. They’re so powerful, so cheap, and honestly feel like a late-game difficulty spike that forgot to check if it was still fun.

There’s also a repetitive level formula that’s been running across all three Uncharted games:

Find ancient hidden chamber → enemies “magically” arrive too → all-out gunfight.

It’s predictable and kind of sucks the wonder out of those “discovery” moments.

Oh, and while we’re on complaints:

Stealth, while technically an option, feels slapped in as an afterthought.

The gun reticles are straight-up liars—I aimed for heads, I promise.

Enemies have an unhealthy relationship with grenades. Not only do they spam them, but they’ll sometimes blow themselves up with their own throws. Like, come on.

Checkpoint system is rough, especially when you die right after a huge wave and the game goes, “Oops, try that whole thing again.”

Also, the enemy AI is weirdly aggressive, with some of them sprinting at you from across the map just to start a fistfight.

And while the main menu theme slaps? I genuinely can’t remember a single other track from the game. The soundtrack felt... forgettable.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is still a cinematic, emotional, action-packed thrill ride. 

It refines its combat, delivers some of the best visuals of its generation, and deepens the story of a beloved cast. 

But it also shows signs of franchise fatigue—some uninspired enemy encounters, outdated stealth, and cheap level endings hold it back. Still, for fans of the series, it’s an absolute must-play.

Pros: 

    - Amazing Combat System

    - Treasure Collectibles Return

    - Satisfying Sound Effects

    - Gorgeous Graphics

    - Great Character Development

    - Precision Grenade Throwbacks

Cons:

    - Painfully Long Loading Times

    - Predictable Level Structure

    - Forgettable Music (Besides Menu Theme)

    - Enemies Rely on Grenades Too Much

    - Final Enemies (Fire Demons) Are Unfairly Strong

My Rating for Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (on PS3):

4 / 5

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Disclaimer

All Reviews, Ratings, Pros, Cons, and Opinions Shared on this Blog (Press A Reviews) are my (Connor Butler) own Thoughts and Feelings.