Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Game review by Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Tomb Raider meets James Bond in teen action game.

PlayStation 3 2007
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 21 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 85 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this game has plenty of shooting and cursing. That said, neither the violence nor the language pushes the envelope, but be aware there's frequent curse words (s--t, a--hole, God damn, son of a bitch, etc.) and you can shoot enemies -- who are human -- in the leg or arm or head (which will result in a different animation). When the player is shot, a blood red border fills the screen to tell the player death is near.

Community Reviews

Orhan0813
Orhan0813 Adult
March 17, 2019
age 15+

Not Bad, But Has Room To Improve!

This game is not a bad game but it does have mistakes! The controls are a bit messy and in the later chapters there are some very disturbing and zombie-like creatures which try to rip you and other humans apart! This does kind of spoil the game but this game must be thanked as without it, there would be no other Uncharted games which have fixed these issues. The violence is stronger in this game then in the other Uncharted's. There is more blood, there is a trap which impales an enemy which you have the ability to walk around and zoom into! The game is pretty scary towards as in the beginning there are rotting bodies in a submarine which are zoomed into, there are those zombie creatures towards the end where your stuck in a Nazi base and there's a never ending wave of them! Language is pretty strong as there are villains who shout out sentences that have F word in them, the word is not fully heard but very little left to the imagination! Sex is not an issue in the game as Uncharted is mainly combat aimed! Get this game and if you have a couple of issues like mine then get Uncharted 2 which is 10 times better!

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Sensible Tablecloth
Sensible Tablecloth Adult
March 19, 2016
age 10+

Mild violence and language

The violence and language are not very bad and, unlike many video games, the main character is a good role model for kids because, despite shooting people, he is fighting for a very good cause and is clearly a nice person.

This title has:

Great role models
See all 21 parent reviews

What’s It About?

UNCHARTED: DRAKE'S FORTUNE really gets going about two hours into the game, when agile treasure-hunter Nathan Drake and a female videographer crash land on a dangerous isle in search of the legendary El Dorado. This PS3 exclusive is played from a third-person perspective in which you control Nate as he swims rivers, jumps chasms, swings from vines, and exchanges fire with mercenaries -- all without losing his charm while trying to impress his reluctant sidekick, Elena Fisher.

Nate can duck for cover by tapping the O key on the controller, and then twist around to aim (L1) and fire (R1) at enemies using a variety of weapons. If you get shot too many times, the screen begins to fade to black and white with a red border, which means you better find cover before it's "game over." Fortunately, the auto-save feature does a great job at picking up where you left off. Along with exploration and combat, Nate must also be adept at puzzle-solving as he inches toward the fabled treasure.

Is It Any Good?

Despite some shimmery edges around parts of the environment, such as trees, the graphics are great, especially the fluid character animation and huge outdoor levels. Plus, every few minutes you will be treated to a short cinematic interlude to help push the story along. There are more than 100 minutes of these high-quality non-interactive sequences and they help add to the suspension of disbelief.

The high production values will attract you to Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, but its tense gameplay will keep you glued to the TV. Armchair adventurers might feel a bit of deja vu with the many borrowed Tomb Raider -like elements, but you won't be disappointed with this polished and immersive single-player journey.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether Nate Drake, the protagonist, would be as cool if he didn't swear so often or if he tried to use non-violent approaches. He appears to be a scruffy, charming, and insubordinate treasure-hunter, so perhaps it fits his image, but would the game be as fun if it were rated "E" or "E10+" with less violence, swearing, and smoking?

Game Details

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