Sony has set the stage for E3 by unveiling its Next-Generation Portable (NGP) device, officially named Playstation Vita (PSVita), along with several upcoming titles that will surely have gamers salivating for some portable gaming action this holiday season. Bioshock’s team let us know that portable gamers would get a taste of the Bioshock world, while Capcom was proud to say that Street Fighter X Tekken would be available on the PSVita during the portable system’s first launch cycle.
However, the portable game everyone was talking about was none other than Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Drake has been positioned as Sony’s top player in 2011 with new Uncharted 3 details released at E3 and gamers first hands-on time with Uncharted: Golden Abyss for the PSVita.
I got a chance to take Uncharted: Golden Abyss for a ride at Sony’s Press Conference. While the temple-set platformer will feel very familiar for long time Uncharted fans. The new motion controls and another layer of depth and complexity to the game.
When I first started playing, I was immediately thankful to have two thumbsticks to move around and aim my targeting reticle. Climbing from one temple-ruin stone to another was as simple as pressing “X”. However, for platforms that are farther away, you will need to tilt your PSVita towards the platform, then either hit “X” or touch the platform with your finger. This will be a little awkward the first time you do it. After a while, it will grow on you because you are also allowed to chain platform jumps together with the touch screen. This is perhaps the “coolest” interactive feature.
Gamers can drag their finger across six different hanging platforms and Drake will jump from one to the next without any further commands. Platforms need not exist in a linear plane for the chain to work. You can also chain platform jumps across an invisible line that zigzags. Purist platform game enthusiasts may not like this new method. It does make platforming somewhat easier. The finger drag negates the risk involved in just using the X button.
Another motion control, is the periscope like feature used in sniping. Gamers will have to position themselves behind cover and then use their PSVita like a sniper scope. It’s not ideal for travel on the bus, train or airplane. However, it does have a Face Raiders like quality to it, minus the augmented reality aspect.
Finally, the touch pad on the back of the PSVita allows you to perform iPhone like controls while moving and shooting. You can zoom in when sniping by touching your left and right index fingers together and then dragging them apart. The back touchpad has another weird control. You can swipe up on it with your fingers to make Drake climb up or down a vine. You can also do a single swipe on the front of the screen to have Drake climb down the vine. The clunky motion controls don’t stop there. You’ll also have to push your PSVita physically forward so that Drake can swing on the vine. It’s a little annoying. I prefer to just play the game without using any of the motion controls. And while the finger swipe is a great way to jump across related platforms. I’d just as well give that all up for a solid game without the needless motion movement.
Controls aside, the graphics and landscapes are amazing. It’s not hard to get lost in the vibrant visuals. This was a hands-on demo without any funky texture or frame rate issues. I did, however, discover a bug in shooting two enemies at point blank range with a handgun. My reticle vanished and they were nearly impossible to kill, so hopefully that issue is resolved on launch.
All-in-all Uncharted for the PSVita is going to be THE game to buy when the Vita goes toe-to-toe with the 3DS for holiday sales. With comparative price points, we should be looking forward to a very close battle or possibly a massacre depending on which game house can put out the best lineup of games. I just want the publishers to take more risks and work on newer titles. Sure, I love franchise gaming, but I also like new creative releases too.
As an after note, everyone is still shocked that the PSVita will have cross-game chat and there’s still no word on cross-game chat on the PS3. WTF is that about ?!
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