Adieu, Nathan Drake. We will miss your soggy half-tucks and granite grip. We bid a fond farewell to the man of a million cliff jumps and usher in a new(ish) set of treasure hunters to Uncharted, Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross. The question now is how will the retirement of series mainstay Nathan Drake and the introduction of two new protagonists change the dynamic of the game? As Naughty Dog sunsets Drake & Co. while elevating Chloe to star status (with Nadine playing the role of Sully), they simultaneously maintain the integrity of the franchise and give players a fresh take on the world of Uncharted.
What is The Lost Legacy?
In Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, players take control of Chloe Frazer. Introduced in Uncharted 2, Among Thieves as a thief and fellow treasure hunter, the new expansion gives Ms. Frazer her own adventure — one complete with its own specialized McGuffin.
Like Nathan and Sully before her, all great Uncharted heroes need a solid backup. Frazer enlists the grit and expertise of Shoreline mercenary Nadine Ross to aid in her journey. Nadine played a pivotal role in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End as the woman who kicked Nathan Drake out of all those windows and generally made “Uncharting” a living hell for “the good guys”.
The Lost Legacy takes Nadine and Chloe, both veteran Uncharted explorers, on a mad hunt through India searching for the Tusk of Ganesha. Standing in their way is series newcomer Asav, a war-monger and Nadine’s former colleague. The trio will collide on the road to glory as they battle for the rights to The Tusk.
Uncharted Waters
Uncharted has been anchored by its spectacular set pieces, engaging story, its wise-cracking hero, and his cadre of colorful companions. For the past 10 years, the series has done an excellent job cultivating a wealth of engaging personalities fans can interact with. From Sullivan to Tenzin, Naughty Dog worked to craft a strong world outside of the main protagonist.
Without the presence of Nate in this latest entry, the Uncharted series is handed over to a few pieces of that expanded universe puzzle. Chloe and Nadine serve as a fan-friendly transition into a new era of the franchise; a franchise with the versatility to tell new and engaging stories with a fresh set of characters each time. Nathan’s departure opens the door to all new opportunities for the series.
It’s Lethal Weapon, but with Treasures and Such
Nadine and Chloe bring a different dynamic to the Uncharted series. While we are accustomed to the unbreakable family bond between Sully, Nate, and Elena, our new duo will be more akin to new partners, Riggs and Murtaugh, in their first Lethal Weapon outing. Chloe is in search of the Tusk of Ganesha for personal reasons, well beyond simply playing keep away with Asav. Nadine is in it for the cash as a gun for hire. Their journey will be contentious at first but leading to a stronger, more trust-based bond later.
The dynamic of both characters will be the catalyst for The Lost Legacy’s success. How will these two bad ladies work together to take down an even worse guy in Asav? The duo’s interactions will inform how well they work together or how bitterly they work against one another.
This new business-first companionship will integrate story and gameplay in a way that’s unlike any other Uncharted outing before it. Along with more open-world exploration, this side story aims to show fans that the series has many other places to go, stories to tell, and enhancements to introduce.
Starting a New Legacy
With this move to Nadine and Chloe, we are given a wider glimpse of this world Nathan lived in. Having different protagonists and character dynamics gives Uncharted a fresh feel. The use of established characters gives fans the tether to the original franchise that many may be looking for. It is truly Uncharted territory with The Lost Legacy, and the future is looking bright.
Rest easy, Nathan, the ladies got this one.
