It was actually created because Microsoft gained exclusivity of Gears of War and Sony knew about it ahead of time, so they planned on a coverbased, third person shooter based on similar mechanics, just like Gears. Both games ripped off Killswitch (cover based shooting) and Resident Evil (over the shoulder firing when away from walls). Before uncharted Tomb Raider never did that. Uncharted took elements from many games. They took the platforming from Tomb Raider, the shooting from Killswitch and Resident Evil and created their own style of storytelling and immersion focused on camera angles, which Sony became known for and also applied to God of War 3.

Nah, there were dinosaurs, tigers, gorillas, crocs, people, and undead mummies...

Tomb Raider's story is terribly flawed. It wouldn't even be passable as a movie unless it was a joke. Lara shouldn't have even survived the game as long as she did with her sustained even from the beginning of captivity. The Ai is dumb and doesn't have dodging mechanics on par with uncharteds ai. The Ai actively ducks and dodges (almost like a capoiera fighter) in Uncharted to dodge bullets when they arent behind cover and running from one cover to the next (and its getting smarter as you saw in uncharted 4). The character models are essentially the same rehashed characters that you killed over and over again. They didnt even try to be clever about it. The first guy who you kill in the game reappears throught out the entire game. At first I was like "Didn't I kill you?" Then I shoot him and two more of him appear. The armored character is a rip off of uncharted as well. The Shotgun controls arent as responsive as uncharted either. I found that even at close range I had a shoot a guy more than twice with a shotgun sometimes. Blood everywhere. Just messy. Fun shooting gallery...but was trying to be something else. They even failed to copy Uncharteds multiplayer.

Now that I think about it, I agree. The gameplay, while it can be fun, isn't anything very noteworthy for me and I'm definitely not a fan of the controls. And the story isn't anything to write home about. Dem graphics tho...

But yeah, I think the graphics + cinematic presentation/set pieces are the main draw of the game. Which is exactly what Sony is going for. Not quite my cup of tea anymore.

I don't know, I just prefer Tomb Raider. I'm not saying Uncharted is a bad game or anything, I just don't find the game as enjoyable as others do. That being said, I'll probably end up buying UC4 anyway. 

Classic TR was based on a block based environment, and the controls were such that you can jump a certain number of blocks, you can hang off flat edges, you can do handstands or dives for kicks.  The new environemnts are more free-form, and you have at least as many movements if not more.  They have potential to do more interior exploration and puzzles in this engine, but they haven't used it as they've gone for "adventure" over "exploration".

What's really different is the old run & gun is replaced with cover based shooting.

Animations changed, Laras movement (acrobatics changed), her air firing options are gone. Shes more restricted. As long as they are trying to be uncharted on limited hardware its not only going to hurt SE financially but its also going to hurt what makes Lara different from Nathan Drake. His movement is nowhere as active as hers. Level developmet in Tomb Raider destroys Uncharted, but uncharted works for what it does and the path it creates for itself. Its taking queues from the Last of Us as well which I really approve of because it allows for stealth attack,evasion, or straight burst fire. Instead of two choices like the old Uncharted and thus tomb raider who also copied using attack animations. Major difference between tomb raider and uncharted is they have a minigame fight mechanic, which keeps me engaged.

No problem there. 

Both games are good. But tomb raider and lara croft has a special place on my heart. She's the 1st lady of video games. You can't beat an icon.

Bayonetta took her crown for me long ago. Shes so condescending. Now that is a female protagonist with personality. Ellie from the Last of Us is the symbol of the pinnacle of female writing. Fetch from Infamous is no slouch herself.