CREDIT: NAUGHTY DOG
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End brings fan favourite's Nathan Drake out of his happy marriage and into a crazy adventure.

May 10 is going to be a bittersweet day for long-time PlayStation gamers, promising a day of triumph with the melancholy feeling of something wonderful coming to an end. That’s the day that Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is set to see a worldwide release, capping off the much acclaimed and much beloved saga of globe-trotting adventurer Nathan Drake.

When Naughty Dog, developers of powerhouse titles Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter, announced their first attempt at a less cartoonish, more reality-driven title in 2007, the industry cast an interested eye toward what the studio was going to come up with. What they delivered was a stylish, fun and engaging romp through a series of action-packed set pieces clearly inspired by the Indiana Jones films.

At the centre of the title was a star in the making, a sly, ambitious treasure hunter, who was a relatable ‘everyman’ that stood out among the crowd of muscle-bound meat sacks that made up gaming’s protagonist quotient at the time. Nathan Drake’s wisecracks, selfish-but-caring personality and lack of control over his circumstances turned him into AAA gaming’s most bankable star almost overnight.

The series’ status as one of gaming’s sleekest franchise’s was solidified with the release of a sequel in 2009 and a third title in 2011, with each title garnering critical and consumer acclaim, and scooping up a long list of Game of the Year awards.

Gamers have taken Drake through a checklist of unlikely situations, from surviving a plane crash in the desert, to shooting crossbows at the Guardians of Shangri La, with frequent stops for expansive gun battles with pirates, mercenaries and members of shadowy societies.

Now, with the considerable power of the PlayStation 4 at their disposal, Naughty Dog is dragging their hero out of his happy marriage and into yet another globe-spanning adventure, this time accompanied by a brother we were never told about. What has been shown of the gameplay so far is quite frankly jaw dropping, though that shouldn’t be a surprise from a studio of such pedigree. The amount of detail and attention put into each and every inch of the game environment is a true statement of intent for what the new generation of consoles are truly capable of. It looks like the game that we were all picturing when we bought our PS4’s two years ago.

Story details have been sparse, though all signs are pointing to the normally cheery series taking a dark turn, as this has been confirmed to be the final title of the series. Fans around the world will be crossing their fingers that the normally unflappable Drake comes out of the series alive, but no matter what, the journey is going to be something that is not to be missed.