Originally billed as single player DLC for Uncharted 4, The Lost Legacy broke away from last year’s sequel to become its very own standalone instalment, though still there for those who bought the season pass. Benching the Drake brothers for fan favourite Chloe and Uncharted 4 villain Nadine, this turned  into more than a three-hour thrill ride packed with set pieces. As good as that would be, The Lost Legacy is way bigger with more than one surprise up its sleeve.
Picking up a short time after the events of Uncharted 4, seasoned thief Chloe Fraser is on the trial of an ancient relic: the Tusk of Ganesh. Little is known about this precious artefact that once belonged to a lost kingdom deep within India’s stinning Western Ghats. Realising that it’ll take more than her research and smooth-talking, Chloe enlists the help of combat-ready mercenary Nadine Ross. Stoic, professional, and to-the-point, she isn’t exactly a perfect match for Chloe’s more carefree approach, and these clashing personalities being a plot device Naughty Dog leans on throughout their adventure.
Of course, it wouldn’t be an Uncharted game without a maniacal villain in tow. It isn’t long before Chloe and Nadine come face-to-face with Asav, the unassuming, softly-spoken militia leader who hounds them on their Indian excursion. Although he plays off existing archetypes, Asav makes for a great antagonist, combining the smarts of smarts of Rafe with the physicality of Lazarevic. The fact that he’s a racial supremacist, a pureblood obsessed with ancient Indian culture, makes him all the more interesting as a villainous character.
Despite a clear change in focus, The Lost Legacy isn’t a complete departure from Uncharted 4. The minute to minute gameplay still hinges around combat, exploration, and puzzle solving, each component as fluid and refined as they were in A Thief’s End. That said, there are some notable changes including the heavily-publicised hub world, breathing some open world magic into the series.
Here players are free to explore a sizeable open area at their own pace, taking in the scenery, battling patrols, and hunting for treasures on the way to visiting three fortresses in the area. It’s a freer approach fans than fans will be used to, but it’s a further evolution of the broader levels that featured in Uncharted 4, and in particular the Madagascar level that had you driving around what felt like a huge open area in the jeep. In The Lost Legacy, it actually is an open area, with nothing more than the jeep and a map to guide you.
This only accounts for a small portion of the game, however. It isn’t long before the series returns to its roots, layering on one explosive set piece after another with plenty of story-driven moments and surprises in between. Again, it builds on what went in Uncharted  4, with a stealthier approach often preferred in combat situations as you sneak through foliage and try to get the drop on enemies, and with Nadine there to back you up once it all kicks off.
What’s just as surprising is the game’s length. If you were expecting The Lost Legacy to last just a few hours then you are very much mistaken. From start to finish, our initial playthrough clocked in at around the eight-hour mark – the same amount of time it takes to beat some previous games in the series. While some may have questioned Naughty Dog’s decision to release The Lost Legacy as a standalone game, it’s more than justified.
That’s without even mentioning online multiplayer. This game bundles in the excellent multiplayer from Uncharted 4, looking to bring players in to join those still playing through through that game and adding content for all. The biggest change is the newly expanded Survival Arena co-op mode, which adds to the existing Survival mode with new stages and new enemies.
What’s Good:
- India looks absolutely stunning
- Fluid, mobile combat
- More experimental than previous entries
- Fantastic multiplayer spread
What’s Bad:
- Pacing feels a tad off in places
Forget Nathan Drake and Chloe Fraser, if you managed to bag The Lost Legacy as part of Uncharted 4’s season pass then you’re the real thief here. There’s a staggering wealth of content to explore, the quality of which is easily on par with A Thief’s End. The stakes may not be as high, but it’s impossible not build a connection with Chloe and Nadine or revel in the set piece action and story surprises. As far as standalone expansions go, they don’t get more epic than this.
Score: 9/10
Version tested: PlayStation 4 Pro
Ferrick
Wouldn’t have expected anything less!
Currently avoiding starting anything in-depth just so I can sink my teeth into this come Wednesday!
three_leg_jake
I’m really glad they haven’t gone open world as that just isn’t what Uncharted games are about but I fear at some stage they will.
Looking forward to playing this, I love a bit out Uncharted.
MrYd
More of the sort of open world bit that UC4 had? That Madagascar bit was the worst. Looked lovely, but just annoyingly tedious. Especially those winching the rubbish vehicle up a small slope.
And the multiplayer wasn’t very good, so we didn’t really need more of that.
But I’m sure the rest of the game is fun and looks great. You’re just not going to convince me that £30 DLC is a good idea. All sounds like it should have been kept as DLC, but then they wouldn’t be able to charge as much.
Once it’s a more reasonable price, then I’ll pick it up.
kjkg
Agree on the Madagascar bit, just so boring. Uncharted 4 is actually the only U game I haven’t replayed (including the Vita game, GA) as just didn’t love it as much and open sequences like that with almost nothing to do were just dull.
Sadly and weirdly, I have no interest in this. U4 killed my love for the series a bit. And this is from a guy that has platinumed 7 games in the series.
MrYd
Were there not some collectibles hiding in the Madagascar open world bit? The only challenge being to find where they were. No fighting to get to them. No puzzles to solve to collect them. Not even any “climb up the highlighted path with no chance of failure” bits.
You know. All the bits that make them part of a game rather than an exercise in “wandering around the map until you find them”.
No, it was just a big “open world” section with a couple of bits of actual gameplay in them. Less fun than your average “wa*king simulator” and with significantly less story.
double-o-dave
I’ve been ‘trying’ to replay U4 in sections since I got the Pro & a 4K HDR TV, but it’s proving difficult. Nearly every scene I get to is “Oh no, not this bit again”. I had enough the other night when I got to the jeep lift bit…Boooooring!
double-o-dave
I wasn’t a fan of the driving around Madagascar bit either. I actually completely lost my bearings, got lost, couldn’t get up a certain slope, then ended up turning it off ’til I calmed down.
stueeeee
I quite like it really. Bit serene and slower paced, (kind of like the village in UC2) but yes the first time around it was a bit frustrating not knowing where to go, but 2nd time I sort of knew and didn’t get frustrated.
double-o-dave
I think the main problem is my own patience ;)
KeRaSh
Totally forgot this comes out before Destiny 2. I’ll need to finish this before D2 or else it’ll just gather dust…
ron_mcphatty
Perfect, and the length is a very nice surprise. Great review, looking forward to giving this a spin.
DividSmythe
Glad to hear it’s good. I’ve got this for £15 too. As shopto offered the triple pass for £15 to people who bought the game off them at the time.
Starman
I’ll get this when it’s a more reasonable price. Uncharted gameplay without the odious Nathan drake sounds good to me!
wonkey-willy
£22 at shopto including jak and daxter not a bad price me thinks
Stefan L
Yeah, it’s a very reasonable price since it has been handed out to those that bought into the season passes way back when.
The Lone Steven
But the most important question is, is there a fanservice level where they frolick around in bikinis and engage in some NSFW stuff? I’m asking on the behalf of another member. *Eyes dart rapidly from left to right and vice versa*
It’s Uncharted and i would be surprised if it did suck. Though, the worst it could do would be UC3 and even then, UC3 was just a case of trying to top UC2 for the sake of it. It is interesting to see what they did with what is basically a glorified DLC. Hopefully, a bundle will be done or the UC complete Collection becomes a thing.
Could be because I can’t play UC4(I’m a peasent and probably should be shot if you believe the Daily Mail) but the idea of a villian for UC teaming up is a bit odd.
Nolan North is voicing someone in this isn’t he? Even when he isn’t in the game, he finds a way.
Eldave0
Sounds great, sign me up. Some more of these smaller Uncharted experiences would be lovely (Sully and Sam next please!)
Ade
If only I could bring myself to be bothered to finish Uncharted 4… the shooting grind dampened my enthusiasm. Uncharted 2 is were it was at for me, pretty much perfection until the series standard sucky end of game boss.