A truly great orchestral score requires a variety of key components; it needs to be exquisitely crafted by the the composer, expertly conducted and perfectly performed by each and every musician. Without each and every one of these ingredients, the recipe for not just immediate success, but for a remembrance for generations to come, is almost impossible. It’s not just music that necessitates such sought after facets either; movies, books, TV, they are products, even works of art, that live on through decades, withstanding time, technological advancements and changes in tastes and styles. Uncharted 3 is exactly this for videogames.

Following a game that is not only considered as one of the greatest games this generation, but also has the awards and accolades to prove it, was never going to be easy. Expectation was at an all-time high, with nothing short of gaming bliss being an acceptable outcome. It makes it just that much more remarkable then that, despite such astronomical expectations, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception blows you away at pretty much every turn. It’s a game that manages to, somehow, outstrip its predecessor in every conceivable aspect, solidifying itself as one of the all-time greats.

It’s an unrelenting adventure that is equally thrilling as it is captivating, showcasing some of the finest storytelling the medium has ever seen – something that’s immeasurably assisted by the brilliance of the voice-acting, the superb animations and quite incredible pacing. No level feels too long or too short, no puzzle too challenging, no room of enemies too drawn out or frustrating. There is no padding, no filler, no scene that is out-of-place or underwhelming; it’s a gaming experience that simply cannot be matched.

“It’s a game that manages to, somehow, outstrip its predecessor in every conceivable aspect, solidifying itself as one of the all-time greats.”

From the very first chapter you’re taken on a journey like no other. Thrown into a bar fight, you’re swiftly familiarised with some of the controls – with the rest drip fed to you as and when you need them – which instantly highlights the polished melee system. Perhaps a little clunky in Uncharted 2, that is no longer the case with fluid combat that works more similarly in execution to that of the recent games for the Dark Knight. Counters are thankfully responsive, whilst the number of animations has been greatly improved upon. Subsequent chapters go on to remind you about the cover mechanics and, when you finally get a gun in your hand, the shooting as well.

Gunplay is as enjoyable as ever, with the only real difference being a bit more recoil across both the x and y-axis, rather than the preference of just the vertical plane last time around. Grenades work exactly the same and snapping in and out of cover is still blissfully easy and effective. The climbing mechanics continue to provide a solid base to work from; and with the extra emphasis on puzzle solving and locations traversing, it’s also increasingly important. Everything seems to have an extra coat of polish as well; with every feature seemingly tightened, fixed and iterated on since Among Thieves’ release two years ago. It’s telling, as despite the predecessor superb controls, Drake’s Deception is far improved.

“Visually, Uncharted 3 cannot be understated, it is an utter masterpiece.”

There’s even a perfect balance between combat, puzzling and climbing, with a clear increase for the latter two than in Uncharted 2 – helping to add a little more adventure to this increasingly action heavy franchise.

Where Uncharted 3 really steps it up is both the way it manages to portray the events of the story, and the actual plot itself. It’s beautifully told, filled with twists and turns and, without spoiling anything, will have your heart in your mouth on more than one occasion. The degree of interaction between Drake, Sully and the rest of the cast remains unparelled; offering some of the most interesting and loveable personalities around – and not just within the confines of this industry either. You will learn more about Nate than you could’ve possibly anticipated, and there’s a great dive into the back story of our protagonist, which will have fans craving more.

The grandness of Among Thieves has somehow been surpassed, and seemingly with such ease as Uncharted 3 contains set piece after set piece that will have you picking up your jaw, wiping the drool from your lap and exclaiming to the world at how incredible it was. There is a level of scale that most releases could only dream off, accentuated by the epic nature of the presentation that is on show. This is comfortably the most impressive looking title on the PlayStation 3. There’s a slickness and attention to detail that is simply stunning; the crispness of the textures, the fluidity of every single animation, and not to mention the hand-crafted facial animations which are in a league of their own. Environments contain a variation and visual feast that is just astounding, providing some of the most stunning vistas on any platform; the frame rate, rock solid; the lighting, a masterclass; the aliasing, what aliasing? Visually, Uncharted 3 cannot be understated, it is an utter masterpiece.

It doesn’t stop there though. The voice acting remains flawless and is a key ingredient to the perfect delivery of the characters. Drake’s quips and snide remarks are still prevalent, and the interaction between characters is as vibrant as ever. Then there’s the soundtrack, and boy what a treat that is. With a rousing score to prepare you for any adventure, it’s the instantly recognisable tone of a wonderous journey ahead that’s initiated the start menu, which continues on throughout the stellar campaign.

“Uncharted 3 is the ultimate cinematic experience; one that will have you riding the highs and lows of a stupendous story, interjecting thrills and enjoyable gameplay, whilst providing a graphical prowess that is remarkable.”

Whilst it is certainly the case that this is a game filled with set-pieces and thus, at times, your involvement is somewhat limited, these are scenes that would have only been seen in cutscenes previously. You are now playing these cutscenes, giving you the control, albeit without ultimate freedom, creating some of the most expertly executed action sequences the entertainment business has every seen.

The minor annoyances of the mildly bullet-sponge enemies, lack of any real impact from accompanying teammates and a couple of technical quirks are nothing more than that. They never threaten to spoil a single player campaign that is simply unmatched.

Uncharted 3 is the ultimate cinematic experience; one that will have you riding the highs and lows of a stupendous story, interjecting thrills and enjoyable gameplay, whilst providing a graphical prowess that is remarkable. Many levels display a technical achievement that is just staggering and are executed so flawlessly that many won’t even notice.

“It is the PlayStation 3’s, no, gaming’s defining symphony.”

Multiplayer, which is now seeing its second outing, returns with a wealth of enhancements, additions and fixes. It’s a robust and refined aspect which boasting weapon enhancements, a progression system, kickbacks, medals and more, makes a quite superb addition to the stellar campaign. Character customisation has been kicked up a notch, with the ability to adjust the appearance of the heroes and villains. Weapons can be optimised and boosters now allow for a second tier, whilst the medals and kickbacks implementation brings a rewarding and more tactical element to gameplay. With the likes of Plunder making a triumphant return, there’s also the new addition of a Team Objective mode, which divides matches into multiple phases as different objectives are cycled round. By introducing a fresh and exciting mode, amongst all of the other improvements, Naughty Dog have once again created a fantastic online diversion to compliment the incredible campaign.

There’s even the welcome addition of co-op, and split-screen at that. It’s an inspired choice to offer both local and online functionality by Naughty Dog, allowing for fans of both types of play to participate. An enjoyable affair it certainly is, with some fantastic level selection to complete the task at hand.

Hollywood has always been the home of the cinematic experience, bringing the big, impressive action sequences to the silver screen. Well it’s time to move over, as Naughty Dog has created not just the most overwhelming, flawless experience a gamer could have the pleasure of playing, but one that outstrips anything a movie could offer. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is not just world-class, it’s in a class of its very own. Rarely do games come along with such brilliance in all aspects. It is the PlayStation 3’s, no, gaming’s defining symphony.