Uncharted and Tomb Raider, the Truth.

[Nate4Drake]

Since the first Uncharted was released, there have been many discussions and accusations about the fact that Naughty Dog had copied many things from Tomb Raider. Now, let's analyze the facts clearly, and let's put both games under the microscope since the first Tomb Raider until the last Tomb Raider and Uncharted game.  

  The first Tomb Raider I've played was Tomb Raider on PSX, and it' was really a revolution of 3D, the first game on PSX with total freedom and exploration in 3D environments. WOW, a marvel, the scenarios, the sound, puzzles, riddles, climbing, jumping down waterfalls, searching for treasures, exploration. The focus of the game was the exploration, searching for treasures and solve intricate puzzles, etc.

The shooting system/aiming system/fight/combo was basic and raw, not the strongest point for sure; it was clear that the main focus of the Game was what I said above.   The graphics improved Tomb Raider after Tomb Raider, but the main core was always the same.

Then, our beloved Naughty Dog created Uncharted, and many started to call it the 'Tomb Raider rip off', simply because you have jungle, mountains, and you can still climb and cling like in Tomb Raider.  Now, in how many games you have jungles, mountains, and you can climb and cling ? I would say in many many games. But let's talk in details :  Tomb Raider was open world, and the main focus of the game was the exploration, searching for treasures and solve intricate puzzles, more freedom in any mission. What about Uncharted ? The main focus is completely different, the main Target is the action, the shooting/fighting and combo; you have still some puzzles to solve, but they are really easy compared to Tomb Raider. You have still to find little trasures, but this is like a side 'mission', it's not the core of the game, and you don't have all those huge environments to explore like in Tomb Raider.

 Uncharted is linear, totally Story driven, and the levels are structured in a completely different way, to meet the needs of the various/different objectives of the game.   The Gameplay/action/shooting/exploration/the shape-structuring and dimensions of the levels are completely different in these two games, they are two different games, so different that I'm amazed that some people are still talking about Uncharted like a 'Tomb Raider rip off'.

I can understand this in the beginning, when Uncharted was first announced; but now, after everybody played all Uncharted games, well, I would say talking about this now is amiss !

Let's talk about Tomb Raider Reborn :  The shooting system is now similar to the one in Uncharted, it's more Story Driven, it's more linear, the Cut Scenes looks like they are made by Naughty Dog, and there is a lot more emphasis in the action. And what about the ability upgrade ? Weapons Upgrade ? Hunting ? Isn't it very very similar to Far Cry 3 ??  I would say that Tomb Raider Reborn copy so much more Uncharted 2 and Far Cry 3 compared to what Uncharted1 'copied' from Tomb Raider = have jungle, mountains, and you can still climb and cling like in Tomb Raider.   

Uncharted4 Gameplay was shown, and immediately some guys was talking about ND copying again because the level was more open world : this is just an evolution of a linear level to give more freedom, different strategy, more spectacular action and more sofisticated gameplay, using a rope, outflanking the enemy, falling down and hitting him with your legs, grab his gun and shoot to another guy. This is just an evolution which was necessary/required for the transition to the next generation platform !

What do you think ?

Discuss !