Uncharted

Adventure Game Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

The Uncharted series has allowed millions of PS3 and PS4 owners to play the role of heroic treasure hunters fighting off dastardly foes as they try to find priceless ancient artefacts. Continuing where Indiana Jones left off, Nathan Drake and co. have become heroes for a generation of gamers, and Uncharted: the Lost Legacy is the latest instalment in their saga.

It may not feature Nathan Drake, but the Lost Legacy is easily one of 2017's best video games and a must for PS4 owners. This buyer's guide will explain the storyline and how to buy one of the year's hottest gaming experiences.

The Uncharted Series

Uncharted has sold hundreds of thousands of PS3 and PS4 consoles, attracting a huge global fan base with its entertaining storylines and action packed gameplay. Here's a quick introduction to the main Uncharted titles to get you up to speed before tackling Uncharted: the Lost Legacy.

• Uncharted: Drake's Fortune – The game that started it all, Drake's Fortune introduced us to Nathan Drake, an adventurer and treasure hunter who traced his lineage back to famed explorer (and pirate) Sir Francis Drake. Created by Naughty Dog and released in 2007 for the PS3, the game saw Drake seeking the fabled treasure of El Dorado along with a journalist named Elena Fisher and his friend and teacher Victor Sullivan. A massive commercial success at Christmas 2007, the game was lavishly praised for its cinematic qualities, with high-quality voice acting and an immersive, if far-fetched, storyline. It set the parameters that future Nathan Drake titles would follow.

• Uncharted II: Among Thieves – Appearing in 2009 for the PS3, Among Thieves saw Nathan Drake team up with a newcomer called Chloe Frazer (we'll hear plenty more about her later) as well as Elena and Victor. This time, the action centred on Asian treasures, although the heroes were now being trailed by eastern European competitors. This time around, more emphasis was placed on cooperative multiplayer gameplay, and multiplayer competitive modes were included too, including deathmatches.

• Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception – Released in 2011 for the PS3, Drake's Deception featured the same four main characters. This time, the team were searching for a lost Arabian city mentioned fleetingly in the Qu'ran and – supposedly – visited by Sir Francis Drake on the orders of Elizabeth I. Competing with a ruthless gang of English treasure hunters, the action roams around a huge game world and follows endless twists and turns. Again featuring great voice acting, the third Drake game added higher-quality animation and extra multiplayer modes and was another huge success.

• Uncharted 4: A Thief's End – Gamers had to wait until 2016 for the fourth and final Drake game to arrive. When it landed in 2016 for the PS4, few people were disappointed. This episode saw Drake teaming up with his brother Sam and friend Sully to hunt for a huge pirate treasure hoard. However, they weren't the only ones after the treasure as Rafe Adler and Nadine Ross of the Shoreline mercenary company joined the chase, with murder on their minds. One of the finest games of 2016, A Thief's End rounded off the Nathan Drake story but left plenty of room for new characters to emerge, and Naughty Dog immediately set about rising to the challenge.

Most of the Uncharted titles appeared first on the PS3, but they were then gathered together when the PS4 was launched, resulting in the Nathan Drake Collection. If you have a PS4 and haven't discovered the ins and outs of the Drake story, there's no better way to get up to speed before tackling the Lost Legacy.

Storyline to Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

The Lost Legacy is quite a departure from previous Uncharted games – at least in terms of narrative plot. That's because the creators have done away with Nathan Drake, the main character in every previous Uncharted title. Instead, they decided to base the latest instalment around two female heroes: archaeologist/treasure hunter Chloe Frazer and mercenary Nadine Ross.

The action takes place in northern India, where Frazer is engaged in the search for the “Tusk of Ganesh”. It also takes place in the middle of a war zone, as the Indian government squares off against an insurgency and the leader of which (Asav) is also pursuing the Tusk.

Why are so many people questing for this obscure artefact? As with previous Uncharted games, the plot is all about treasure hunting, not magical powers to be gained from finding the treasure. However, for Asav, the Tusk is more important. Seeing its mystical qualities, he intends to use it to rally a fundamentalist crusade, something which Frazer and Ross want to avoid at all costs.

The story takes Frazer and Ross across northern India to rebel camps, ancient cities and booby-trapped tombs in true Indiana Jones fashion. There's plenty of intrigue along the way, with Nathan Drake's brother Sam involved and no lack of plot twists too. Cleverly mixing ancient mysticism with modern-day conflict, the Lost Legacy is definitely one of the more sophisticated action shooters around.

How Does the Gameplay Work in Uncharted: the Lost Legacy?

As with previous Uncharted games, the gameplay in the Lost Legacy is heavily action and fighting oriented, with healthy doses of melee fighting, stealth episodes and inventory management. Compared to Uncharted 4, the in-game world has been expanded still further, providing hours of exploration opportunities as well.

While previously Nathan Drake had a rough and ready brawling fighting style, Chloe Frazer is slightly different, and experienced players may take some time to get used to her martial arts-centred style.

Then again, it might not be necessary, as the combat system in Uncharted: the Lost Legacy also includes weapons like rifles, pistols and shotguns. Some episodes feature vehicles that players can control, while others feature lockpicking interludes that have their own puzzle-style elements. And there are also extended dialogue sections, where what you choose to say has a big impact on the route you take through the game.

The whole story unfolds across 11 chapters, from the “Insurgency” episode where we meet Asav to the search for the Tusk and the attempt to recapture it after it is claimed by Asav. Total gameplay time depends upon each individual player, but experts reckon that most gamers will finish it in around eight hours (compared with 15 hours for Uncharted 4). That's a little less than other titles, but still packs in plenty of adventures and achievements.

Additionally, it's worth noting that there is no single route through the Lost Legacy. While the storyline is linear, each episode includes a range of possible routes, so you can in theory complete the game a few times over, exploring different parts of the map.

Uncharted: Lost Legacy Launch Trailer

Different Ways to Buy Uncharted: the Lost Legacy

Uncharted: the Lost Legacy came out on August 22, 2017 and was solely released on the PlayStation 4, with no announced plans for Xbox or PC versions. That's not a surprise, as every single Drake title before this one was a PlayStation exclusive, and the franchise as a whole has been used by Sony as a major inducement to buy their consoles.

So, if you're not a PS4 owner, now could be a good time to buy one. If you do, there isn't yet an Uncharted: the Lost Legacy bundle, which is a shame. However, there is a PS4 bundle with Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. If you haven't owned a PS3 or PS4 and are new to the franchise, that's not a bad place to start.

If you do have a PS4, Uncharted: the Lost Legacy can be purchased in a variety of ways:

• Digital Download – Head over to the PlayStation Network or the PlayStation website and click the “download” link, and you'll be able to download the game straight onto your console.

• On Disc – The game has also been released in physical form and should be easy to find at retailers like GAME, Tesco, Argos or ShopTo.

Is Uncharted: the Lost Legacy a Multiplayer Title?

Whether you choose to buy the game on disc or via a download, you should also gain free access to the multiplayer and survival modes of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – which could be enticing for owners of the previous game.

The newer game doesn't have a standalone multiplayer site on the PlayStation network, although it does have the ability for between 2 and 10 players to join in via network play. However, Sony and Naughty Dog have released a bunch of DLC for Uncharted 4 which adds Lost Legacy skins and a new Lost Legacy themed Survival Arena to the Uncharted multiplayer servers. So the answer is yes, the Lost Legacy does have a multiplayer element if you are signed up to the PlayStation Network.

For those who don't already know, the Survival Arena is a new multiplayer format that builds on Uncharted's older Survival mode. In Survival mode, players enter game maps and are faced with “waves” of enemies to vanquish. As they do so, they acquire experience points, which can then be traded for extra skins. Able to accommodate multiple players, it's a great addition to the core gameplay of the Uncharted franchise.

Essential Add-Ons or Accessories to use with Uncharted: the Lost Legacy

If you want to get the most out of Uncharted: the Lost Legacy, you may want to add some extra accessories to your PS4 collection.

Some retailers are bundling the game in with wireless headsets, which is a handy option if you think you'll be spending hours playing the Survival Arena mode and need to communicate with your team-mates.

Another must for multiplayer fans is PlayStation Plus membership. Without this, you won't be able to log onto the Survival Arena servers at all, so it's something that all Lost Legacy players need to think about.

PlayStation Plus season passes can be fairly expensive, but there's some good news for gamers who are buying Uncharted: the Lost Legacy at the same time as they upgrade to a PS4. Many UK retailers bundle in the Lost Legacy with a free PlayStation Plus membership and the PS4 console. The best way to find deals like that is by searching on the HotUKDeals PlayStation Plus or Uncharted listings, and there will usually be some around to redeem.

Then there's Uncharted gear. As you might expect from such a successful series, the Uncharted games have spawned a treasure trove of merchandise, from mugs and t-shirts to framed prints and even a special version of the Monopoly board game. Check out all of the options at the PlayStation store to add some atmosphere to your gaming experience.

How to Purchase Uncharted: the Lost Legacy for Less

There's no question that Uncharted: the Lost Legacy is a brilliant game, and you'll probably extract every penny's worth of enjoyment out of the title no matter how you choose to buy it. However, as with most video games, it's not exactly cheap, so it makes sense to find the lowest prices around when topping up your Uncharted collection.

One of the best places to start your search is the PlayStation Store, where you can often find excellent download deals with PlayStation Plus passes bundled in as a sweetener. However, you probably won't find the cheapest deals there on any given day. Instead, it makes sense to shop around, checking out the prices being offered by all UK retailers.

The best way to do so is by using the HotUKDeals Uncharted: the Lost Legacy listings. Head over to our specialist Lost Legacy pages and you'll instantly see all of the offers around at UK merchants. For instance, there are usually Amazon Prime deals that slash the price of PlayStation games, Uncharted included. Retailers like ShopTo also offer combo deals with the Lost Legacy and earlier Drake adventures (as well as other Naughty Dog games like Jak and Daxter). When you see all of these deals laid out in front of you, it's easy to scroll down and find one that offers the best value for money.

The same applies to PS4 bundles. Just search for “PS4” and “Uncharted”, and you'll call up details of retailers selling PS4 or PS4 Pro consoles with the Lost Legacy as part of the deal. It may well be that you can upgrade your system and get hold of the year's biggest game, saving money on both items.

Then again, sometimes it's best to wait. If you can hold out until Black Friday, you'll find big discounts on PS4 consoles and games from retailers like Amazon, GAME, Tesco Direct, Smyths and Base. Amazon Prime Day in August is another great time to shop. If you can stand the wait, timing your purchase is always a sound money-saving option.

Whether you are buying the whole Drake collection and a console to explore what all the fuss is about, or you just want a download version of the latest title, you'll always find the best UK prices at HotUKDeals.

Buy Uncharted: The Lost Legacy at the Lowest Possible Price at HotUKDeals

Uncharted: the Lost Legacy is one of 2017's gaming sensations. With one of the most absorbing storylines ever seen in a computer game, exciting action scenes, puzzles and plenty of humour along the way, it's a rollercoaster adventure and a fitting extension to the Uncharted franchise. Experience it for yourself and find the best prices around by checking out the Uncharted: the Lost Legacy HotUKDeals listings.