Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – Multiplayer Discussion
So Uncharted 4 is finally out in the wild and whilst you’ve already seen my review, But Player2 Deputy Editor Stephen Del Prado and I thought that there was a much larger conversation that needed to be had about the multiplayer, so it’s been transcribed and is here for your pleasure below.
Paul: So, Uncharted 4 has been out in a wild for the better part of a week thus far, what is your general opinion of the currently available offering?
Stephen: While I mostly loved the single player portion, the multiplayer so far seems fairly limited in terms of game modes, with standard TDM, King of the Hill and Capture the Flag. I’m interested to see if any of the promised DLC shakes this up. I’ve found matches fairly easily, but Uncharted’s online play suffers from the common problem of too many players not using mics – if even 2 players on the opposing team are communicating, it makes things very difficult. There were also those odd problems we had with the Party system not putting us in matched together. What are your thoughts on the feel of the gunplay and traversal, given the inclusion of the rope swing?
P: I’d agree with your sentiment about the modes – they’re relatively by the numbers, I did however love the fact that the rope swing had made its way over to multiplayer, it added a bit more verticality and speed to the combat which is pretty solid as well. Human controlled characters aren’t bullet sponges as goons in the campaign are so skilful players can score quickly too. Mythical objects such as El Dorado are usable in multiplayer and can wreak some havoc on other players, what did you think of their inclusion?
S: I thought it was a nice inclusion, they feel useful but not necessarily overpowered in the same way such things can be in other games. I found the Staff of Indra, which slows down enemy movement in its AOE and the Cintamani stones healing effects to be a nice inclusion as well, although no surprise that most players currently seem more interested in upping their own kill score than working towards objectives or taking on a support role. As we can ever thank COD for, time investment pays dividends in the form of access to better weapons and abilities – a starter pistol is just no match for an unlocked pistol that can down you in one hit. That said, microtransactions seem to be handled in a standard fashion, with a real-world currency option that lets players purchase outfits and characters instantly, or the Relic Points which have an incredibly slow earn rate, as is the way with these things. What are your thoughts on this approach?
P: I couldn’t be much more against micro-transactions if I tried, and while they’re present in Uncharted, I never felt as though I was being pushed towards them, I knew that with a bit more time invested that I could unlock gun X without the need to invest more of my own hard earned. While I won’t be taking advantage of them myself, I won’t be aggrieved if players wish to explore the option. As for players with better gear, I feel that there are enough ways to contribute to the team that you should immediately feel valuable while no weapon is also so overpowered that you feel unable to compete right away. The weapons have been balanced extremely well, and this made me feel thereabouts from the very first moment. Was it just me though or but was the game lacking in maps to play in? It seemed kind of light on
S: I think there are a few maps rotating through, most altered set pieces from the main game which is nice. With more time they might become stale but I imagine the planned DLC will include extra maps. What I like is that there is no map voting yet – it always seems like certain maps get favorited which is understandable but at the same time playing the same 3-4 maps over and over again is not enjoyable to me. In its current state, I don’t think the online in Uncharted 4 is robust enough to hold player attention for an extended period of time – sure, there will always be that core set of dedicated players, but I feel like this is something people will drop in and out of every so often for a few rounds casually. I’d even go so far to say that I find it a less interesting experience that the online mode in The Last of Us which, while flawed, was a fairly unique experience compared to other third person shooters.
P: There was certainly a bit more depth to The Last of Us’ multiplayer, while Uncharted 4 is pretty straight forward. It’s certainly a game that will benefit from the arrival of more DLC. There is certainly a need for more maps as well as modes. What did you make of the Trials? I felt it wasn’t a bad tutorial, that had some surprising extra depth to it if the player wanted to take on the higher levels
S: I think the trials are a handy way to get a grip on the multiplayer, as well as a good option to unlock some cosmetic content since Relic points are fairly generously doled out when completing them. Have you spent any of your relic points yet?
P: Yeah I picked up a few cool characters, as well as skins and an awesome set of shades that my Nate now rocks. Put your points to good use so far? Also, it might be worth us casting our eyes forward a bit, so given that the game is inevitably going to get supported well on the DLC front, what sort of additions would you expect to see get added from here? Is there anything you think really needs to be added?
S: Yeah I’ve been using the Uncharted iOS app that can absolutely swamp you with points although to be fair if you’re completing the daily challenges you can get 750 a day at least. No luck unlocking characters but I’ve unlocked a few outfits and accessories so far. I assume that there will be plenty of more cosmetic options available in future DLC, along with some maps. I really hope they come out with a few more modes though, as the limited selection at the moment will get stale.
P: Obviously new cosmetics and maps will be a big part of what comes next, but modes are key. I wouldn’t mind the miniature co-op missions that they had in Uncharted 2/3, they were a really enjoyable change of pace.
So winding this one down, do you think this is a multiplayer mode that players should look to invest a large number of hours into? Do you see yourself spending much more time with it or returning to it when some DLC drops?
S: If I’m honest, unless the content ramps up I can’t see this particular multiplayer offering lasting longer than a few weeks for most players. It’s something I might pop into every now and then, especially if there are content drops, but I need a richer experience to dedicate a large amount of hours to an online experience.
P: I’m inclined to agree – a lack of content really holds it back from truly taking hold – but I guess it’s a good thing we’ve got such an exceptional campaign then huh?
S: Absolutely – I thoroughly enjoyed the single player aspect of Uncharted 4 and expect I’ll get another 2 playthroughs out of it at least. The way I see it, as I didn’t purchase Uncharted 4 for its multiplayer mode, it’s not a huge let down that I don’t find it very compelling.
P: You’re not wrong, it’s just a handy bonus. Well Stephen, thanks for the chat and I’ll let you get back to your next couple playthroughs
