In case you missed the news, Naughty Dog announced its next game in the Uncharted series at Sony’s pre-launch event last night. Aside from getting a cryptic trailer to sink our teeth into, all we know is that it’s coming to the PlayStation – at some point. Hell, there isn’t even a tagline or sub-heading to work with.
One thing we can assume is that this isn’t some sort of reboot. When I glimpse the isolated title “Uncharted” at the end of the teaser trailer, Crystal Dynamic’s Tomb Raider revival immediately sprang to mind. However, with just a single generation under its belt the chances of Naughty Dog hitting the reset button on one of its flagships is non-existent.
No, what seems more likely is a change of direction for the acclaimed adventure series.
Warning, this next part contains spoilers from Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.
For a while now fans have flirted with the idea of zipping back in time, landing themselves in the prestigious boots of one Sir Francis Drake. Up until the events of Uncharted 3, protagonist Nathan Drake maintains that he is a direct descendant of the English privateer. It’s his pursuit of Drake’s remains that leads Nathan on his first adventure with Elena where he unwittingly stumbles across a web of dark secrets as he goes in search of El Dorado.
So, what evidence is there to suggest that Sir Francis could star in this next-gen follow up? Well, despite playing coy, last night’s trailer does in fact harbour a number of clues to suggest a 16th-century throwback.
For a start the map appears aged and is laden with marks, place names, and insignias indicative of the era. The latin quote “Hodie Mecum Eris In Paradiso” translates as “Today you will be with me in paradise”, cited from Luke 23:43. It may not allude to something specific but reinforces the notion that this is in fact set in a much earlier timeframe. The map itself charts a route from southern Africa and along the east coast before settling at Madagascar, or to be more specific, Île Sainte-Marie/ St. Mary’s Island. Between 1577-1580, Drake’s voyage took him around the world, the island being one of the locations marked on his route. Coincidence? Of course not.
Next up we have one of the trailer’s opening lines, “Some chains can never be broken.” Aside from being a privateer, explorer, and vice admiral of the English Fleet, Drake was also a slaver, though it is noted that many of the slaves he took overseas were from west Africa. Still, the possibility remains that he and those in his company took prisoners as they navigated the east coast.
However, that doesn’t explain why the narrator – who we assume is an Englishman – was left buried alive and erased. Given his accent and want for revenge, it’s likely that he knows Drake personally.
Casting another look at the series’ expanded narrative, it was revealed in Uncharted 3 that Sir Francis was part of a secret order under Queen Elizabeth I. His attempt to cover up her majesty’s covert operations and web of lies gave birth to the sub-heading “Drake’s Deception”. Towards the end of the third game it is revealed that Drake was sent to the lost city of Ubar in search of a ancient relic with the power to manipulate those who defied the English throne.
Could our narrator be a fellow/former conspirator of Drake’s? Perhaps he tried to trigger a mutiny again the great sea captain or became privy to his ulterior motive. Either way, it sounds as if he was left for dead, something he’s quite understandably a bit miffed about.
The map is also marked with several notes such as “I have lost everything” and “Abandon all hope”, no doubt scrawled down by the trailer’s narrator. Though not immediately indicative, it could suggest that we may not be playing as Drake after all. Maybe we get to see this new character’s journey for vengeance from his own perspective.
More interesting is the line “Every betrayed us all.” At a glance it may seem nonsensical but when you consider that Henry Every (also known as “Avery” among other names) was one of the most notorious pirates to ever set sail, pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place.
Not only was he an infamous pirate (which could also explain the skull and cross bones insignia), Every was one of the few to retire with his loot and riches in tact. Though his crew was eventually found, tried, and executed, Every eluded capture and disappeared. These lost chapters in the pirate’s life could easily set the foundation for another Uncharted adventure. However, this still doesn’t identify our “buried” and “erased” narrator.
The closest link we found was sailor Robert Drury who found himself marooned in Madagascar. However, this was some time after Every’s successful pirating career.
Since the trailer went live it has been revealed that Todd Stashwick is the man behind the mysterious voice. We briefly trawled his Twitter profile for more details but sadly none came to the surface.
Prior to last night’s reveal, Eskimo Press went live with information, supposedly from a Naughty Dog insider no longer at the studio. The source, named only as “Erina” confirmed that Uncharted 4 was indeed in the pipeline. Aside from that they speculated that a third team was currently at work under the Naughty Dog umbrella, and could be working on yet another Uncharted primed for PS3 and Vita. They also said Uncharted 4 has been in development for approximately 2 years. Of course, none of this can be verified.
To round off, we’re certain that Uncharted 4 will have links to the past. However, the chances of abandoning Nate, Elena, Sully and co. seems slim, considering how they are the bread and butter of the franchise. Though it would certainly be interesting to play parts of the game set in the 16th/18th century, there’s a good chance the focus will be spread between past and present.
US retailer EB Games has already gone live with its pre-order page. You can reserve your copy now for $99.99. Bargain!
Alex C
I’m tempted to think that we might be playing as (the real) Drake, with Nate doing something similar in the current timezone, mirroring each other. The games have always hinted at this, albeit fleetingly in some cases, so being able to really be Francis Drake would be very fitting. And ace.
Blair Inglis
Uncharted Creed?
Bambo_19
That made me chuckle. But I do think playing as Francis will be a great Idea since they can keep the essence of Drake the same as they are related. Also a main Character to be English would be a nice change from the typical American Hero in most games.
Kubr1ck
Libertalia looks like just the sort of place an Uncharted would travel to. From the ÃŽle Sainte-Marie Wiki –
“St. Mary’s Island as it is known in English, became a popular base for pirates throughout the 17th and 18th centuries due to several reasons: it was not far from the maritime routes along which ships returning from the East Indies sailed in transit, their holds overflowing with wealth, it was provided with bays and inlets protected from storms and finally, it had abundant fruit and was situated in quiet waters.
Legendary pirates like William Kidd, Robert Culliford, Olivier Levasseur, Henry Every, Abraham Samuel and Thomas Tew, lived in the île aux Forbans, an island located in the bay of Sainte Marie’s main town, Ambodifotatra. Many of them would found a family line.
Numerous vestiges of this history remain at Sainte Marie. For example, several authentic pirate vessels still lie within a few meters of the surface in the Baie des Forbans. One of these has been tentatively identified as Captain Condent’s ship, the Fiery Dragon.
The utopian pirate republic of Libertalia was also rumored to exist in this area, although the republic’s existence, let alone its location, has never been proven.
At Sainte Marie, the inhabitants are attached to traditions. The social or family events are faithfully linked to practices invoking the ancestors’ spirits. The wealth and variety of these rituals underline the authenticity and depth of the “Saint-marien” cultural identity.”
Kubr1ck
Also discovered that “For God and Liberty” refers to Libertalia’s motto. Also Libertalia is “described in the book A General History of the Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson, an otherwise unknown individual who may have been a pseudonym of Daniel Defoe”. Defoe, also being the author of Robinson Crusoe, the famous castaway.
Loxstokk
The narrators accent is American, not English. Therefore we Know the narrator isn’t Sir F. Drake.
bunimomike
Was a lovely surprise and anyone who enjoys the current franchise most be in huge anticipation of how Naughty Dog will make this look on the new hardware. *holds onto socks*
Bilbo_bobbins
ha ha, nice one.
Scythegpd
I suspect it’ll be an old acquaintance, someone Drake left behind in the same was he was left behind in Uncharted 2.
Story wise my guess is either
– Garden of Eden
– Fountain of youth
Dunno why the second one comes to mind. The first 2 because of the biblical references.
Kennykazey
Wasn’t Fountain of Youth the treasure of UC2?
Scythegpd
That might be why it popped into mind :D
Kennykazey
VGA reveal? Naughty Dog’s shown off their last few games there and it’s been in development since UC3 so they should have the first in-engine trailer ready soon.
TheShepanator
It was rumoured Henry Every escaped to madagascar with his booty and lived like a king for the rest of his life.
I reckon the narrator is one of drake’s former partners that drake left behind during a hiest gone pear-shaped, which is why he’s so miffed. And that him and nate are racing to plunder Every’s booty on madagascar
boeboe
Giggidy.
Moonpie
Couldn’t have said it better myself
swieep
If the map is aged this would be current time.. if the map was new it could be way back in time when the map ‘was’ new..
double-o-dave
I’m hoping the whole thing is set in the past. I guess the ‘Uncharted’ games don’t necessarily have to involve Drake and co.
In fact you could even have ‘Uncharted – Lara Croft and the Temple of Doom’. I don’t think Square Enix would be happy though.
Moonpie
Sorry buddy but couldn’t disagree more, Uncharted has to include Nate it just wouldn’t be the same, maybe include some missions in the past from a different characters perspective might be cool. But “WE WANT DRAKE”
Ferrick
I’m gonna go ahead and assume that this one will be set in the pursuit of finding Atlantis.
It fits into the idea of burial and will give Naughty Dog something refreshing to work with, i.e, water. (Pun intended)
Moonpie
Really hope that it involves Nate & Chloe. Guess that this will be #19 on the PS4 that I need to buy
KittDJW
Me too.. Another to add to my collection. :)
PARKER94!
Love the Uncharted series, and when people said after 3 maybe it was time to finish the series I was firmly in disagreement, but this doesn’t even excite me in the slightest.
Lets hope a proper trailer will.