The Uncharted series prides itself on cinematic presentation and blistering, blockbuster-style action, with a mix of story and spectacle going on that’s normally reserved for the silver screen. Several directors have toyed with adapting the series to film, but whatever Hollywood may give us, the authentic Nathan Drake experience will always remain on PlayStation 3.
Still, Hollywood’s influence is all over Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. And while the series has always been a sort of Raiders of the Lost Ark/Da Vinci Code mashup, a few more films come to mind now that we've all got our hands on the third game.
Using last month's launch trailer as a reference, we've picked apart some of Uncharted 3's most visible homages to some of the most rollicking adventure films of all time. Check out the trailer and our screen grabs below, and remember that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
1. Lawrence of Arabia
It’s been reported that Lawrence of Arabia was a chief influence on Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, and seeing these two shots back to back makes it clear. Director David Lean’s sprawling epic was a blockbuster for its time, combining hundreds of extras, on-location shooting in Moroccan deserts, and a $15 million budget, which was big, big money in 1962.
2. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Uncharted 3's launch trailer borrowed a visual from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. After Peter Jackson’s magnum opus, nothing says epic like a ring with some mysterious writing on it. Just like Frodo, Drake’s fate is intertwined with a mysterious ring he (seemingly) inherited. He can’t seem to get rid of it either, once having left it in the tomb of its original owner, Sir Francis Drake, only to have Elena bring it right back. Like Hobbit, like treasure hunter. And like LotR's One Ring, Drake's ring plays a huge role in the series' climax.
Also, here's a shot of Drake exploring a vast underground crypt by torchlight, which brings to mind the Fellowship’s journey through Moria.
3. Inception
Between Inception and Uncharted 3, outdoor cafes are becoming the place to have an intimidating sit-down full of pensive glances and penetrating stares. While Drake’s meeting with Katherine Marlowe doesn't end quite as explosively as Cobb’s talk with Ariadne, you never know what that calculating Brit has up her sleeve. Maybe everything that came before was a dream? The sequence that precedes the chat certainly feels like one...
4. Star Wars: A New Hope
After some major midair turbulence, Drake ends up trudging through a seemingly endless desert. From high above, he’s just a lonely speck. Seem familiar? The same thing happened to those luckless droids in Star Wars, C-3PO and R2-D2. At least Drake doesn’t have to worry about sand in his rotors. Or Jawas.
