Of all the game studios working today, none stand out quite like Naughty Dog. Their jump to the Playstation 3 to develop more cinematic gaming experience has led to some of the best modern games on the market. Their first foray into developing more cinematic experiences was the Uncharted  trilogy, an imperfect yet incredibly enjoyable  trilogy. The second game, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, is one of my favorite games of all-time.

After taking a break from the Uncharted series to work on The Last of Us, Naughty Dog has now jumped ship to the Playstation 4 and has returned to the Uncharted franchise one last time in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and the result is a worthy conclusion to the series.

The game takes place three years after the events of Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, Nathan Drake has retired from his old life as a treasure hunter and is now married to Elena Fisher from the previous games. After his brother, Sam (who was believed to be dead for 15 years) comes knocking at Drake’s door, Sam tells Drake that the drug lord, Hector Alcazar, has put a bounty on his head if he doesn’t find the lost treasure of pirate Henry Avery in three months. Nate agrees to embark on one last adventure to find Avery’s lost treasure. However, Drake and Sam aren’t the only ones looking for the treasure, as Drake’s former foe, Rafe Alder, is also looking for the treasure backed by an entire army and the help of Nadine Ross.

Without spoiling anything, the overall narrative is pretty good. Like recent Naughty Dog games, it’s incredibly cinematic and rivals some of today’s big budget blockbusters. It’s definitely a step backwards when compared to Naughty Dog’s previous game, The Last of Us, as that game is still etched in my brain even though I finished it three years ago. However, when strictly compared to the previous Uncharted games, it’s the best narrative of the whole series. I especially appreciate how the game ditches the mystical and supernatural elements from the previous games in favor of a more grounded adventure about pirates. While you don’t need to play the previous Uncharted games to enjoy Uncharted 4, it’s highly recommended as the game features numerous references to the original games that players new to the series won’t understand.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End  expands on the foundation set forth by the previous games in a number of ways. While the original games were very linear in their level design, Uncharted 4 features a more expansive level design allowing you more room to explore the environment. Another new feature is the rope mechanic. The rope mechanic is used in a number of ways, such as using it to traverse the environment or perform the new aerial takedowns in combat. Speaking of combat, it be avoided more than it could in the previous games. This is thanks to an improved stealth system that allows you to hide in longs blade of grass to avoid enemies. The game’s more vertical level design can result in less firefight for players who have the skill to be undetected.

The game also incorporates elements from Naughty Dog’s previous game The Last of Us. While you won’t be crafting items or bashing goons’ faces to death with bricks, you will be able to interact more with the environment. Just like in The Last of Us, you will be able to engage in optional conversations with other characters and interact with many items in the environment.

Ever since Uncharted 2,  jaw-dropping set pieces have become a staple of the series. They return in Uncharted 4; however, they are less prevalent this time around. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, as an over-reliance on set pieces in Uncharted 3 is one of the many reasons why I prefed Uncharted 2. In fact it’s the game’s more quieter moments that really stand out, like exploring the open terrain of Madagascar or having a lemur steal your food in a crowded marketplace.

Naughty Dog has always been known to push the envelope when it come to graphics and Uncharted 4 is no different. While it would be hyperbole to say that it’s the best-looking game ever made, it is the best-looking game PS4 has to offer. The game’s art direction is also striking. Despite having the bulk of the game set in Madagascar, there are other locations, like Scotland and Italy, to explore before you even set foot in Madagascar. I would go as far to say that Uncharted 4 has the best locations since Uncharted 2.

I’ve spent a long time saying how great Uncharted 4 is. However, I do have a few minor issues with the game and they involve the game’s narrative. The first issue is the game’s opening. It’s incredibly slow and drags out way too long when compared to the previous games. While this slow burn worked for The Last of Us, it doesn’t really fit for an action game like Uncharted. Another issue I have with the game’s plot is the main villain, Rafe. While he comes across as interesting at first, by the end of the game he is just a boring, forgettable, and generic evil bad guy. I found Nadine to be a way more interesting antagonist as she and Rafe never see eye to eye.

The last issue I have with the plot is the fact that the game never really takes any risks. Naughty Dog has said numerous times that this is their final Uncharted  game and the way it ends will make it difficult for another studio to make an Uncharted 5. I was expecting something big to happen at the end and without spoiling the game’s conclusion, that never really happens. That being said, I still really enjoyed the actual ending. It may come across as unoriginal for some, but it does end the series on a relatively high note.

Uncharted 4 is the culmination of nearly a decade’s worth of work from Naughty Dog. It combines the best elements from previous Uncharted games, and even The Last of Us, to create a near-perfect gaming experience. While I wish some aspects of the plot were tweaked, I still found Uncharted 4 to best the best game in the series. Overall I would give Uncharted 4  a 9 out of 10, as it ends Naughty Dog’s best series on a high note.