Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection PC Review – A Potent Brew With A Few Rough Edges
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection finally brings the globe-trotting adventure franchise to PC, marking the first time players outside of the PlayStation ecosystem can experience the thrills of Nathan Drake and Chloe Frazer’s treasure hunts. The collection, comprised of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and its spin-off, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, promises stunning visuals and an epic journey. However, with Iron Galaxy Studios at the helm after their infamous PC port of Batman: Arkham Knight, many were hesitant about the PC release. While the collection boasts impressive improvements, a few technical hiccups and a bizarre distribution decision leave a bittersweet taste.
Prep Work: A Mixed Bag of Downloads and Expectations
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, unlike the PS5 remaster, takes a literal approach to "collection," bundling both games into a single 89.6GB download that balloons to a hefty 124GB after installation. This means even if you’re only interested in one game, you’ll still need to dedicate that massive space.
Switching between Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy is also oddly cumbersome. Attempting to switch forces a game restart with a loading screen, making the process feel clunky, especially since the games are clearly separate .exe files. The lack of individual game launches raises questions about the overall "convenience" of the collection.
First-time setup can also feel like a chore, particularly for less powerful PC builds due to the "shader building" process. This can take 15-20 minutes per game, potentially disrupting Steam’s two-hour refund policy. While you can play during the process, the flickering screens, lag, and potential crashes make it far from an ideal experience.
Gameplay: A Time-Honored Formula With Minor PC-Specific Enhancements
Despite the criticism that the Uncharted series has lost some of its luster in recent entries due to predictable plot beats, corny dialogue, and outdated mechanics, the core gameplay remains undeniably fun. From thrilling parkour sequences to engaging puzzles and cinematic action set pieces, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection delivers an exhilarating experience.
The keyboard and mouse controls are responsive and benefit from accessible features like lock-on aim and a persistent center dot. While not as comprehensive as the accessibility options in The Last of Us Part II, these features are a welcome addition for users who require them.
Hand-to-hand combat, unfortunately, still requires a degree of button mashing, but the ability to configure the ‘Hold’ action minimizes wrist-wrenching fatigue. Core gameplay remains largely untouched, with the familiar grappling hooks, puzzles, and driving sections, offering a familiar yet enjoyable experience.
Graphics: Stunning Visuals With Occasional Texture Inconsistencies
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection prioritizes character models, and it’s truly a sight to behold, especially in locations like the snow-capped vistas of Scotland with vibrant vegetation and ancient pirate ruins. Even at the “Low” graphics preset, character models remain impressive, with sweat-glossed foreheads, detailed skin textures, and realistic dirt accumulation on clothing.
However, this visual fidelity comes at the cost of inconsistent textures. While human models are crisp, other assets, like doors, vehicles, and text, often appear blurry or jagged. This dissonance can be jarring during cutscenes where characters and backgrounds don’t match in detail.
Despite these inconsistencies, the graphics are undeniably impressive, especially in comparison to the PS4 originals. The game is undeniably beautiful, especially in locations like the sandy terrains of Madagascar, where the scorching sun and vivid details create a truly immersive experience.
Performance: A Solid Foundation With Occasional Frame Rate Fluctuations
While not quite on par with other PlayStation–PC ports, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection boasts decent optimization. I tested the game on a PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 2400G 3.6GHz processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super GPU with 6GB of VRAM, 16GB of RAM, and a 500GB SSD. With this configuration, I achieved a sweet spot at Medium–High settings, delivering stunning visuals.
However, the frame rates can be erratic, with noticeable dips depending on the location and action in the game. Uncharted 4 averaged 65fps with dips to 51fps in various segments, while Madagascar’s large-scale chase sequence pushed the game to its limits with an average of 44fps and drops down to 28fps at certain points.
The Lost Legacy shows a similar pattern, averaging 50fps but experiencing significant drops during intense sequences. While these dips can be disruptive, they are often brief and don’t detract entirely from the overall experience.
Verdict: A Solid Port With Potential For Improvement
For newcomers to the Uncharted franchise, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection offers a visually stunning and gripping adventure. The collection’s price point also makes it an excellent deal, essentially offering one and a half games. However, for players who have experienced the games on PS4 or PS5, the technical issues and lack of significant gameplay improvements might make it a less compelling purchase.
Pros:
- Stunning visuals and audio
- Decent accessibility features
- Non-obtrusive motion blur
Cons:
- Bundled as a single, large application
- Less polished performance in The Lost Legacy
- No ammo auto-pickup or gameplay improvements
- Time-consuming first-time setup
Rating (out of 10): 7
While the collection doesn’t quite reach the pinnacle of PC ports, it still represents a valuable addition to the Uncharted franchise. With its engaging gameplay, stunning visuals, and immersive experience, it’s an adventure worth embarking on, especially for newcomers to the series. However, for veteran treasure hunters, the technical issues and lack of significant improvements may leave you wondering if the journey is worth the cost.
