The Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection has washed up on a new platform that lets us turn up the technical parts of the most recent games in the series to 11. But the PS5 already has its remastered collection, so is this PC port a big step forward or just more of the same?
We've spent the last week reminding ourselves why third-person adventures from Naughty Dog are the best, and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy are the best examples. With these PS4 classics, you can explore the thickest jungles, climb all kinds of structures, and casually snap your neck. Whether you're playing for the first time or the fifth, the campaigns easily get lost because they jump from one exotic location to the next and show some of the best character growth in the series' history.
Legacy Of Thieves Collection Game Review
Before you even think about the technical details, you should know that both of these games by Naughty Dog are as good as ever, with fun and dynamic level design and great storylines. If anything, the fact that there are only two of them will bother you.
We're not here to remind you how good these games are, though, because any PC gamer knows that a series like this gets a lot of praise. No, this review is mostly about how the PC version is better than the console version. On paper, many technical specs make it to the PC port, with ultra-wide support, variable framerate, 4K resolution, and even DualSense support being some of the most important ones. But lighting and shadows are also improving, and we can now change the graphics settings beyond the simple presets available on the console.
No matter how you feel about these games, you can't deny that they both look great and have a lot of small details that make them more immersive. You can feel the history of every character and place, from Nate's beard to the rough textures of old surfaces. Ancient ruins have never looked more interesting to explore.
When these beautiful 4K graphics are put on an HDR screen, the colors and details stand out, making the cinematics look even better. With all the graphics settings on "Ultra," we could get between 50 and 60 frames per second when the game was in motion. Both titles could easily be considered two of the best-looking games out there.
Everything is more precise and brighter on a higher-resolution screen. But even if you don't have a 4K or UHD TV, these games will still look great and run well in Performance mode, even if you don't.
When you use Performance+, your system is pushed to try to reach 120 frames per second. It does mean that you could lose resolution. It was great to drive at 120fps through the muddy Indian countryside. Even when I ran straight into trees, I was too distracted by the beautiful scenery and the people chasing me with guns. The art team at Naughty Dog kept giving me breathtaking views that made me stop and look. I was stunned by a simple lemon tree. It was so well made that I spent ten minutes taking pictures of it in Photomode. Hanging by a thread from the edge of a cliff? Picture time!
Here, not only are the graphics getting better. With the PS5 DualSense controller, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection takes advantage of new technology. That haptic feedback is everywhere and happens almost every time you do something. You might notice it most when you are in battle. There's the effect of getting shot or fighting to get out of a hold. When carrying a minigun, reloading your weapon, or even rolling into cover, it can be so subtle that you might not notice. But it is there, which makes it more "real."
It may be easier to see when you're not in the middle of a battle. One of the things being sold is that the grappling rope now has haptics. When I was playing Uncharted 4, I didn't notice this. I even checked three times to ensure I hadn't missed a setting. So I went to Lost Legacy again. When Chloe jumped into her swing, she gave the rope a little pull to make sure it was still attached to the branch. Nathan didn't have the same experience as me, which is disappointing, but he got all the other benefits. There are different amounts of rumble when you grab handholds, hang precariously, or walk very carefully on narrow ledges. Also, sliding a puzzle piece makes satisfying clicks and clunks. Oh my god, someone set up my couch for passing out.
In this way, the Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection is an obvious suggestion, and for many people who are just starting, it's almost a no-brainer. If you can turn up the graphics settings, now is the time to play the latest game in the series if you haven't already. But if you already know Nate and the rest of the gang from PS5, like many of us, it might not be the significant improvement you're looking for.
When you put the PS5 and PC versions of Uncharted side by side, it will take a long time to figure out why the PC version looks better. It's the better package, but it's not as good as the PC port of Marvel's Spider-Man, where you can feel the power of the graphics and performance with every swing and dive. Uncharted is a much smaller change than the others, and sometimes you might forget that you're playing a new version of the collection. It's like getting your favorite movie on 4K Blu-ray: some people will see the point, while others won't.
While playing the Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection, I only ran into a few bugs. We started with a few character path problems. Most of the time, I ran into them in Lost Legacy. Nadine would walk right where I wanted to go, and I'd have to bump into her to get her to move. In Uncharted 4, another bug made Nathan climb up very slippery rocks when he was already tired. I had to pull myself up onto the ledge, but the game kept telling me to use the left stick to grab handholds. The water on my non-4K TV covered up the scuff marks that show a shimmy spot. I didn't notice them until I accidentally pushed them up on the TV.
There was one bizarre glitch: I was in the middle of a cutscene when the video suddenly stopped, giving me control of the game again. The sound from the cutscene was still playing, and when I moved toward the chair where the cutscene character was supposed to be sitting, all I could see was an open book floating in the air. It was fixed by returning to the checkpoint and repeatedly starting the game.
The fact that there are no upgrades for old players is more of a plus for the PS5 version than a drawback for the PC port. The PS5 version lets you run at 4K at 40fps, 1440p at 60fps, or even 1080p at a variable rate. Even though it isn't as detailed as the PC version, it does much of what the PC version does without the need or worry of a £1000+ gaming machine.
Even with these minor problems, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection on the PS5 blew me away. The DualSense controller's improved feedback improved the beautiful landscapes and smooth gameplay, taking an already great game to a new level. Both of these stories still make sense after almost six years. The conflicts lie, and questionable redemptions haven't changed enough over time to make the story seem old. You won't be disappointed by this release, whether you're like me and coming to it with fresh eyes or eager to relive this adventure.
Ultimately, the Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection on PC is worth what you think it is worth. You might not want to buy this one if you've already played the PS5 remasters with their improved performance and graphics. However, if you haven't played these classic PS4 games yet, this is an excellent port with all the graphics power you'd expect.