How Uncharted 4's Co-Director Says You Should Play The Game

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End finally arrives today and, according to co-director Bruce Straley, fans should do their best to enjoy Nathan Drake’s final outing at a more leisurely pace. In other words, race through the whole adventure at a sprint and you’ll have missed most of the journey.

Don’t worry, we won’t be giving out any spoilers here, but it’s worth noting that the team at Naughty Dog have explained that Uncharted 4 is a bit more methodical about how it gets from Point A to Point B. Not that there’s anything wrong with a rip-roaring campaign that moves ahead like a locomotive, but Uncharted 4 takes the time to breathe a bit, making sure players have an opportunity to get to know the characters better. This is, after all, supposedly the last romp for this particular cast.

In Straley’s recent tweet, he encourages players to settle in and take their time. We’d argue that’s sound advice for any story-driven game, but that goes double if the creator specifically mentions that a calmer pace will let you get more out of the experience.

I, for one, plan on taking Straley’s words to heart. I love the Uncharted series and, if A Thief’s End truly does mark its conclusion, then I want to give it the time it needs to tell its story. Then again, maybe I’m only saying that because I have a job and other responsibilities. If I had a full day in front of me, I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t strap in for the long haul, no matter who was warning me to take it nice and slow.

There is, of course, one major danger connected with taking your time: The internet is full of jerks. I’ve done my damndest to avoid spoilers up to this point and the longer it takes me to play the game, the longer folks are going to have to tweet, post or say something that’s going to completely ruin my week. Still, I think I’ll just keep my head down and push forward.

Of course, the campaign is only one of the draws of A Thief’s End. There’s also a competitive multiplayer offering, including fan-favorite modes like Plunder. And if we understand how the post-launch calendar works, there’s a cooperative mode, as well as the series’ first ever campaign add-on, coming later this year. And don’t forget: All future multiplayer maps will be free of charge.

So whether you’re flying through the campaign or not, it sounds like this final Uncharted will still keep you busy for some time to come.