In the pantheon of modern action-adventure gaming, few franchises have left a mark as indelible as Uncharted. Before the blockbuster set-pieces of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and the standalone expansion The Lost Legacy, there was the original trilogy that defined a generation. For PlayStation owners and newcomers alike, the best way to experience these classics is through Uncharted 1 2 3 The Nathan Drake Collection.
Released in October 2015 for PlayStation 4 (and later made available on PC via PlayStation Plus and the PS5 via backward compatibility), this remastered compilation is not just a cash-grab port. It is a loving, meticulous overhaul of three of the most important games ever made. This article dives deep into what makes this collection essential, how it improves upon the originals, and why—years later—it remains the gold standard for remastered trilogies.
In the industry of lazy remasters (looking at you, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy), Uncharted 1 2 3 The Nathan Drake Collection is a beacon of quality. Bluepoint Games treated the source material with respect. They didn't change art styles, break character models, or introduce new bugs. They simply made the games run faster, look cleaner, and play smoother.
It stands shoulder-to-shoulder with The Master Chief Collection and Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection as one of the best compilation packages ever sold. uncharted 1 2 3 the nathan drake collection
Widely considered the greatest sequel of all time (rivaling The Empire Strikes Back), Among Thieves is the crown jewel of The Nathan Drake Collection.
Why it shines: Everything is improved. Stealth mechanics are introduced. Pacing is flawless—moving from a dangling train car, to a war-torn Nepalese city, to the frozen mountains of Shambhala. The set-pieces (the building collapse, the train level, the tank chase) are still breathtaking a decade later.
The remaster elevates Among Thieves from "great" to "essential." The 60FPS makes the platforming precise, and the improved textures make the Himalayan vistas look next-gen. If you only play one game in this collection, play this one. Uncharted 1 2 3 The Nathan Drake Collection:
Not all treasures age equally. Here is a look at each game within the collection.
The "Bluepoint Effect": The remaster saves this game. The original’s sub-30fps framerate and lack of aim assist made its flaws glaring. At 60fps, the core loop becomes tolerable, revealing a rough diamond.
Interesting Insight: The "Wave" Problem. Drake’s Fortune has a notorious design crutch: the invisible arena. You enter a courtyard, waist-high walls appear, and 20 pirates spawn. It is mechanically shallow. However, notice how the game uses sound to hide repetition. The cracking of a wooden crate, the specific clink of a headshot, and Greg Edmonson’s sweeping orchestral swells turn a repetitive shooter into an adventure. The Plot: Focuses on the relationship between Drake
The Flaw That Taught Naughty Dog: The infamous jet-ski section (driving against a current while shooting explosives) is a violation of the game’s core promise. You are supposed to be a nimble climber, not a sluggish boat pilot. This failure directly led to Among Thieves removing all vehicle combat from the player’s control (putting Elena on the turret instead).
Tonal Takeaway: Pure pulp. Indiana Jones meets Romancing the Stone. Nate smiles after killing 50 men. No guilt. No consequence.
Playing the Nathan Drake Collection is not nostalgia; it is a masterclass in iteration. You watch a studio solve the puzzle of the third-person shooter in real time.
The collection’s single greatest achievement is the speed of loading. On PS5 (backwards compatible), dying in Drake’s Fortune takes 3 seconds to respawn. In 2007, it took 25. By removing the punishment of loading screens, Bluepoint revealed the truth: Nathan Drake was never a treasure hunter. He was a man too stubborn to die, and the Collection lets you feel every stubborn second.
Final Grade (as a remaster): A+ Final Grade (as a historical document): Essential.