“I never take breaks,” he tells me. “Unless I need to pee really badly, I don’t want to stop. If I stop, I can’t get back up. That’s how I am.”

Honestly, I have been hoping to interview Nolan for a long time. As long as I have been writing and publishing words. As long as I have known and loved Nathan Drake. But this feels as far from an ‘interview’ as you could get. He begins with a long apology for mixing things up and not meeting with me when initially arranged. “I feel like a shit,” he tells me. “Don’t worry; I didn’t think you were a shit.” “But this isn’t about you, Bryony. I felt like a shit.”

Apologising is important to Nolan, although there isn’t really anything to apologise for. Mistakes happen and anyway, we are chatting now. We talk first of his inability to slow down. However, despite it, Nolan managed to find time for himself during his stay in London. “I’d never been to the Churchill War Rooms, and I did it this time. I stood in line, got my ticket and spent a couple of hours in there.” I asked him if he’d ever taken the opportunity to visit the replica Golden Hinde in London. “Absolutely I have. I did visit it with my oldest son, who is a lifelong Uncharted fan. We had an opportunity to come here with the family a year and half ago, and we went on it and did the tour. And it was pretty interesting, after living with the story and all the history. And what some people maybe don’t know is that although it is a replica, it actually did circumnavigate the globe, following Sir Francis Drake’s journey. A group of sailors went all the way around, and they must have been crazy because, my god, I don’t care what kind of modern day equipment you put on that boat – it’s TINY, and the ocean is really big.”

It is comforting to know that, given that Nathan Drake is Nolan’s greatest role to date, Nolan is interested in the background, as well. Obviously that makes things more interesting for him while researching for the role, but it also feels important for fans to know that he cares beyond the paycheck and the fame that comes with it. “Some people think it is just a game, but, when you live the character for this long, you want to read books about the character, about Drake, and about the different places we had gone. Just for my own edification and fun. I am a history buff.” None of this is affected. Nolan isn’t telling me what he thinks I want to hear. I have interviewed people in the past, and you get a feel for those who are saying what their PR have told them to say. Nolan is not that guy.

Nolan meets with fans at #NatterWithNolan2k16

“Amy Hennig has stacks and stacks of research that she does, and she would always recommend books. I think I may actually still have her copy of Lawrence of Arabia. I still have that in my house, so I unfortunately need to return that to her.” “If she hasn’t asked for it back, I am sure she hasn’t missed it,” I try to reassure Nolan. “Oh, she has.” Nolan is very sure of that. And now I am imagining Amy Hennig getting more and more annoyed the longer it is before being reunited with that book. Although it is hard to imagine a world in which Amy Hennig and Nolan North could fall out, least of all over a book.

“It’s something I like telling people; Amy ‘birthed’ Nathan Drake, and she let me raise him.” In the Natter With Nolan event on that Friday evening Nolan told how Amy had gotten so good at knowing Nathan through Nolan’s portrayal of him, that she began to write for that ‘voice’. And Nolan, and the other cast members, would watch playthroughs of the game, and ad lib. It is how some of the best moments were formed – my personal favourite being the little skit in which Nathan (really Nolan in piss take mode) asks who the hell MacDuff is, and Graham McTavish hurling an insult about his ignorance. Amy once told me that this isn’t Charlie Cutter sneering at Nathan Drake, but rather Graham insulting Nolan. (Probably) in jest.

Nathan is Nolan’s career defining role; one that he has spent the last 10 years getting to enjoy. On the one hand, you might expect him to be itching to move on, and perhaps he would be if Uncharted had been stretched to breaking point. I feel an interesting and genuinely unexpected connection between us, because both of us (and all the other fans) have had to process the fact that there will be no more, for better or for worse. Naughty Dog (Neil Druckmann in particular) made it excruciatingly clear that there weren’t any plans, and neither would there be, for more Uncharted games.

“I’m not really sure I am through processing it,” Nolan tells me. “Fans will grieve that there isn’t going to be a new adventure. If you miss Drake, you just pop [the game] back in, and you play it again, and you have good times. What I grieve is the process of making the game; the auditions, and then putting on the suit, and seeing the geniuses behind the scenes making it happen.” He continues; “it’s like if you get together with a lot of friends to make a cake, and it’s the best cake, and ‘it’s too pretty to eat!’ you say. And then you slice into it and everyone eats it, and then it’s gone. And you get together and make another cake, until someone says ‘you know what? No more cake’. ‘Oh really? I really like the cake.’ So it’s… I don’t know. If you look up ‘bittersweet’ in the dictionary, there should be a picture of me in a mocap suit.”

And suddenly I am sad.

But Nolan isn’t about to let the exit from “it all” spoil the decade of happy memories being Nathan Drake gave him. This is good advice for all of us. Nathan, however, gave Nolan far more than a lot of great memories. “[Uncharted is] the thing that has set me up for so many things. Like – not only career things, but in other aspects of your life; the parts that matter. It freed me up to be a better actor, and that confidence from work carries over to the rest of your life. It eases some financial stress, and takes away tensions as a husband and a father. I have been afforded to travel places at someone else’s expense for publicity. Jordan, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Britain, Spain… I’ve been everywhere. It is the role that has changed me for the better.”

I don’t think any of us believe that Nolan will struggle to find work, but Nolan is Nolan; we aren’t. It was immense talent, and not just ‘luck’ that got Nolan the job that launched him, but Nolan is very aware that these sorts of roles are few and far between. Many actors will never have the privilege that he has had. “Harrison Ford got two [such roles] – Indiana Jones and Han Solo. I don’t know if I’ll ever get another character like that, that I am so known for. I’m sure I’ll play great characters in the future, and get to give them truth and life, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get one this special again, because it so rare that it ever happens. I just want to be grateful for what I have.”

There is sincerity in his voice as Nolan tells me he doesn’t think anything could be better. “I don’t say onward and upward, because that means anything I do from here could be better, and I don’t think it could be, so it is just ‘onward’. Because upward is seemingly impossible.” It does seem inconceivable that anything could surpass Uncharted, but again Nolan and I are coming at it from opposite angles. I tell him that, on this, the eve of his 46^th birthday, there is still time. “Graham McTavish got his role in The Hobbit in his fifties,” he concedes. “I have 4 more years to work on that. But I think I pulled a leg muscle sleeping. Kicking the covers off.”

It seems time to steer this away from the slight melancholy over the end of Uncharted, so I ask, because I almost have to, about the film. It is something of a swearword amongst the Uncharted fan community; with some exceptions, few are really enthralled at the prospect of bringing Nathan and chums to the big screen. It is clearly something Nolan has been asked about many times, perhaps too many times in interviews. “The success of Assassin’s Creed will be very telling,” he muses. Nolan goes on talk about showbusiness (“it’s not showfriendship” he reminds me), and that people don’t understand the realities. “I appreciate people saying I could be Drake but the realities are you need a bona fide film star. Actors are actors are actors, but they want someone who has that value. They want a Chris Pine, or a Chris Pratt, or a Mark Wahlberg, even, because of the name. They want to secure their profit before the film is even made. But if there were a good role, which would be a nod to the fans; something that I think could be fun, or interesting, then there is the possibility of [me] doing something.”

Unexpectedly, at this point, Nolan talks about a different idea for the future of Uncharted; “I would like to look into the possibility of them securing the rights to an animated series, and having us do that. Continuing the stories, like Clone Wars. That would continue what people have come to know and love. Would that happen? I have no idea, but I think it is worth the conversation.”

By now, we are running out of time. I am conscious of the fact that Nolan has a full day of Comic Con ahead of him, and I am taking his time. But I’m sorry I really have to know about Pretty Little Liars. “Peter Hastings will be back. I can confirm that. I don’t know if I should confirm that, though.” This is all I expect, but Nolan follows with some heartfelt admiration for the show’s leads. “I watched those four girls – they are great talents, but also it is a great testament to their friendship that it has survived all these years in this business. I look forward to seeing what each of them do. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be on that show.” I feel like by now we must have run out of time. But I didn’t even get around to asking about Con Man; the series and mobile game that he is really in London to promote.

Nolan wants to talk about Con Man, though, and I am not about to cut him off. “And the big thing you should be looking forward to over here is Con Man, series 2. By the way, I started in comedy, but I’ve only done one sitcom, and I played the straight guy. But this thing came about because of Uncharted. Alan [Tudyk] was involved, and he saw this character I created just messing around having fun with everyone, and wanted it in his show. So he gave it a home, and now people love this character. Again, it is so rewarding that something I created… People loved it.”

Eventually we start to wrap up our chat; but the last thing we talk about is his eldest son, Cooper. His pride in his son is touching. Earlier in our conversation Nolan had expressed jealousy at me being able to spend the rest of my Sunday with my family; clearly Nolan is missing his.  Anyway, apparently Cooper is entering the acting business, and, in his father’s words is “painfully handsome, with big shoulders, and is as tall as me. But he is a sweetheart.” Just before we finish, Nolan mentions that he hopes to work together on a project with Cooper soon. Wouldn’t that be amazing?

Nolan is whisked off to the Con; (which he tells me is incredibly well organised and well run), leaving me to my thoughts, and with the hope that the interview recorded successfully. I doubt I ever imagined, when my husband and I brought our first PlayStation home, that I would at one point be talking with one of the medium’s biggest stars about life, family, jetlag, and work. Like I said; I’ve wanted to chat with Nolan like this for a long time, and doing so now has brought all my love for Uncharted, for Nathan Drake, and for this community full circle. Nolan and I will talk again in future, I know that. But this? This was perfect.

Another year, another Uncharted game finished. But this wasn’t any Uncharted game, it was the last one. Ever. Assuming another studio doesn’t pick it up, that is. It’s been a long road for Naughty Dog, for Nathan Drake and for the fans, and a period of mourning is inevitable.

Several people have asked me for my thoughts on Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, as Uncharted, in general, has been something I have had a lot of thoughts about over the past 9 years. I still remember the day my husband (then my fiancé) tried to persuade me into the purchase of a PS3 at a time we were both planning to move house and get married. “I think you’ll like this game,” he said, loading up the Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune trailer.

So what if our wedding cake had fewer tiers than planned?

Since then, the ride has been… special for me. Uncharted and my love for it has opened doors. It led to a dabbling in games journalism, to the extent of interviewing Jonathon Ross on the red carpet at the BAFTAs, and looking through the eyes and into soul of Troy Baker as angels sang and time stood still. Because of Uncharted I have been inspired to write creatively; a hobby that gives me great pleasure. Uncharted has brought me into physical and digital contact with so many amazing people from all around the world; both fans and developers alike.

It is fair to say, then, that the final Uncharted was always going to be a big deal. Always.

No write up of Uncharted 4 can be complete without referring to the pivotal moment in its development; the moment that knocked the wind from my sails. I woke one morning to the news that writer and Creative Director Amy Hennig and Naughty Dog had ‘parted ways’. You remember it. I won’t go over it, except to say that since that point, there was uncertainty. Would they continue? How would this affect development? Would Uncharted still be Uncharted? And what would Amy go on to do? In the interests of full disclosure, over the years of my involvement in Uncharted fandom I have come to know Amy and I am lucky enough to be able to call her a friend. She is awesome and supportive, and I am grateful not only for her creative output, but also for her friendship. That said, you can see how difficult Uncharted 4 was always going to be, personally, without her leadership. It has also caused me inner turmoil when faced with producing this article. How much influence does this have on my writing? I have to bear it in mind, and so long as I do so, I also have to be able to trust my own opinions.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End follows Nathan, his long lost brother Sam, Sully, and Elena on the trail of the treasure of Captain Henry Avery, the legendary pirate who retired after pulling off the largest heist in history. It is Sam who has the initial interest, and in their younger days, he and Nate search for it with Rafe, a mega rich guy who wants the glory. It goes a tad wrong, and Sam is presumed to have bitten the dust, when in fact he is merely incarcerated. The adventure kicks off again when Sam barrels back into Nate’s life, citing a need to pick up the trail once more, in order to pay off some mean guys he shared a prison cell with.

In some of the early scenes, we see Samuel (a few years Nate’s senior), busting Nate out of the St Francis Boys’ Home where they had been left by their father following their mother’s suicide. What is particularly lovely about these scenes is that this is the first time we have really seen Nathan learning something. Sam shows him where to climb, and encourages him when he worries about missing a jump. This is Nathan-before-Nathan, and it is charming. Young Sam is played by Chase Austin, and is one of the standout performances of the game. He is gentle, mischievous, and witty. It is somewhat unsurprising that Nathan looks up to him in the way he does.

We also learn that Nathan and Samuel’s mother was a gifted historian with much to offer the world of academia. Her career was cut short by her illness which also left her two sons alone in the world. Since the dawn of Uncharted fandom there has been an obsession to find out about Nate’s father – was he some hotshot treasure hunter or a criminal in whose footsteps Nate might follow? Would he eventually turn up? Who was he, and who *is* he? Some speculated that one of the characters seen in  one of the trailers *must* have been the father, because we *must* know, right? But ultimately Nathan and Samuel’s father was dismissed as ‘always the arsehole’. It was their mother who laid all the genetic groundwork. A lovely subversive touch.

These young Nate and Sam scenes are also slightly problematic, though. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception sees Nathan’s past painted as one so utterly hopeless and broken that he had to invent a new identity to escape its horrors. The name ‘Drake’ is used to such powerful effect. It is not the name that makes the person, it is their deeds. Nathan often tells people proudly why his name is ‘Drake’ and from whom he is descended. It’s tragic. However, this effect is seriously diluted when we learn the real reason behind the adopted name.

To evade the police. That’s it.

Nate’s mother had a theory that Sir Francis had heirs. Sam merely suggests the two of them change their name when a misdemeanour goes tits up and they need to make a getaway. All the emotion and tragedy and depth behind the identity crisis explored in Uncharted 3 is actually pinned on a snap decision. One thing I never wanted to know was Nathan’s birth name, as it means absolutely nothing and adds absolutely nothing. It’s Nathan Morgan. Great. And what happened to Father Duffy, the guy who “wasn’t ready to give up on Nate”? We never hear about him again. Nathan didn’t run away because he felt abandoned, and because no one was there for him; he ran away to avoid getting into trouble.

Other than a breath taking opening sequence, the first third of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End feels interminable. It jumps around in timelines, so just as you get excited about the idea of snooping around a big house in search of some of Mrs Cassandra Morgan’s things, you find yourself being punched in the face in a Panamanian jail.

Or eating pasta with Elena at their very smart looking house filled with tasteful bits of stuff picked up on their journey. You find Nate in his attic, and you have the option to pick up and inspect some of his mementos. These are items which reference the first three games, and it is a quiet moment of nostalgia. However, you as the player choose what to interact with, so this is no longer about Nathan, and what is important to him, but rather about a trip down memory lane by and for the player.

Nathan’s holster hangs on the wall, and there is not a real firearm within it, but a toy one. You can pull it out and shoot at a couple of things dangling from the ceiling. Again, it’s cute and fun, but it just suggests that Nathan and his previous adventuring lifestyle lacked maturity. And this is an overriding theme throughout the game – he’s grown up, moved on, and has been lobotomised along the way. It is not until one of the very last scenes of the entire game that this is addressed, and mercifully Elena comments that in their attempt to live a normal life, perhaps they have ‘over steered’.

Once the dragging opening act is over, Nathan and Sam go on a jaunt to Scotland, and finally it begins to feel like Uncharted. You climb, you explore, and you solve puzzles. Where this game truly stands out is the visuals, the mechanics, and the acting. It is lovely to get back to proper adventuring with Nate and crew. As you follow the clues on the trail left behind by Henry Avery, the historical aspect of Uncharted unfolds. The story of the pirates and their obsession with treasure is beautifully echoed in the modern day story.

Honestly I was expecting this game to be mostly about the relationship between two long separated brothers, but the thread of pure spun gold that is beautifully woven into the complete yarn is that of a husband and wife and their struggles to adapt to what they see as ‘normal’. The fact that Elena actively tries to persuade Nathan to go on a little safe adventure towards the start of the story suggests that she truly does know him. But Nate’s refusal and later massive lie about where he is and what he is doing belies the vulnerability and fragility in him that has always fascinated me and made him so interesting.  He makes some lame comment when he is spectacularly called out on his lying about how he was ‘trying to protect’ her. Nate; have you *met* your wife? The one who punched you square in the jaw after easily tracking you down in 2007? The comment is retracted when he eventually admits it was himself he was trying to protect. He couldn’t face losing her. Apparently he *hasn’t* met his wife (‘cos she would never not understand him) but at least his reasoning is based on a legitimate fear that you can well expect a man like Nathan Drake to have.

It has to be noted that the performances of Emily Rose and Nolan North (Elena and Nathan) are utterly top notch and I fully expect them to win all the awards. They have been in Uncharted from the very start, and it some ways it propelled them both onto the biggest stage. You can imagine that both are very fond of the two characters, and they give this swan song their every last bit of effort. And by god it pays off. You feel their love for each other; at times I felt a little intrusive. I kinda wanted to give them some alone time so they could sort their shit out. The emotional punch is multiplied by the technical beauty of Uncharted 4. It is clear that the animators threw everything and the kitchen sink at making us truly believe everything that Nolan and Emily were portraying.

Ultimately I have also come a long way with Nate and Elena, and while I found Sam to be an interesting and complex character, it isn’t him I want to know more about, especially given that this is almost certainly the last time we get to spend any time with the Drakes. Sam isn’t the only character to be introduced to us in Uncharted 4 – along with a few minor characters (Father Duffy, where are you???) we also meet, unsurprisingly, some new bad people. The two head honchos are Nadine Ross, and Rafe Adler. It has to be said that as villains go, these guys are pretty awesome. Nadine kicks your sorry arse from here to Kentucky on a couple of occasions, and I appreciate the fact that Naughty Dog didn’t stray into “ooh can’t hit a girl” territory. I was also pleased by the depth of Rafe. He has enough money to never need to steal a thing, or work for a thing, but he is driven by a need for glory and to prove that life doesn’t have to be handed to him on that silver platter. This drive, coupled with charisma and psychopathy, make him, I think, one of the best antagonists Uncharted has seen. (I am still besotted with Atoq Navarro, though, and his drive simply to screw over his boss.)

All in all the story itself is enjoyable; I just have those few issues with how it is told, the pacing, and what it does to previous entries in the series. But of course, Uncharted 4 isn’t just a story. Gameplay and mechanics wise, there are several additions; a grappling hook, a slidey down a hilly thing, a hiding in long grass stealth trick, and a helpful climbing peg thingy. I can’t tell you how much I loved hiding in long grass and pulling Bad Guys to their doom one idiot at a time. At one point Nate and Elena were sitting on a pile of bodies so large there was barely enough space left for them in the grass for themselves. This and the stealth system in general works really well (and thank god for that when playing on Hard), and rather than being a chore (I am not always the single most patient person on the planet) it was a delight. The AI has been tuned as well – to the point that the Bad Guys will inform each other when they come across one of their dead pals. This is cute, but kind of hilarious when you have obliterated 20 of them with bullets, hidden yourself again, and snapped another neck. “One of our guys down!” Yes… along with all your other mates…! Anyway – stealth is great.

The grappling hook… not so much. Not because it isn’t fun, but because – why the hell didn’t Nate take it on all his previous adventures? Seems like it might have been useful. It was something Sam introduced him to way back when. It feels like a “what can we add, what can we add, what can we add? Oh – grappling hooks are cool!” Yes, they are, but they don’t work when you consider Nathan’s history.

Set pieces are something Uncharted has been known for since forever, and Uncharted 4 packs them in perhaps like no other game. But they all feel somewhat familiar, and that is because, for the most part, they are. While this adds to the nostalgia in what is Nathan’s swan song, it does feel a little unoriginal. And as I am all about the narrative, and what it tells us about Nathan and chums, again this feels more about the player than the characters. It serves to make the world feel less like a place where heroes and villains race for treasure, and more like a playground (albeit an incredibly pretty one) for some (incredibly pretty) avatars.

And this is a recurring and niggling irritation for me – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End considers the players more than it considers the characters. Even little tiny things like having to press triangle to ask Nathan to take something from another character, to larger things like optional dialogue. Nathan’s story is one to uncover. It is not one for us to write ourselves. Ultimately, the dialogue options are minor and don’t alter any of the overall story line, but having spent so much effort in previous instalments on making Nathan feel real, human, and strangely autonomous for a character in interactive media; it is such a shame to make him… an avatar again.

Uncharted 4 asks us to imprint too much of ourselves onto an already masterfully created character. This is amplified by the removal of a proper Nate’s Theme 4.0. Greg Edmonson’s original theme did so much to help create Nate, and how we see him. Who didn’t love firing up their PS3 and having that sweeping theme sing you into a great adventure? Now the loading screen is silent and bland. I did appreciate the film style title sequence; but you see that once and it’s gone. While Greg’s complete score will remain with me forever, the score for Uncharted 4 is sadly, ultimately forgettable.

With all this negativity, you might think I did not enjoy Uncharted 4. This is not the case. But in many ways I simply would rather it weren’t an Uncharted game, because it isn’t, really. In an attempt to make it a more mature experience, a lot of the warmth, charm, and humour of the original three games has been stripped out. There are beautiful moments, and beautiful details (people painting walls, screes that collapse when you shoot them, characters who react to torchlight), but I would happily lose all this just to feel like I was playing an Uncharted game all the way through. Where Uncharted has been known for tuning everything up to 11, now it has been dialled back to 9. I am aware, of course, that a lot of this comes down to personal preference, but I am trying to consider Uncharted 4 in the context of all Uncharted games and narrative. The difference in directing styles between Amy Hennig and Neil Druckmann is obvious. For me – Amy’s style works best, others will think otherwise, I am sure. It was said repeatedly during production, (and to the point of grating on my nerves) that Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End would be the last Uncharted; at least the last to be made by Naughty Dog. Honestly? I am OK with that. I don’t, however, think the end was such that another would be “really hard”, but it is clear that Naughty Dog are more than ready to move on. I look forward to seeing what they do next; they have never made a game that wasn’t excellent.

Thank you for chatting to us. We love hearing about Uncharted inspired creations of all media. So to start off – who are you, individually and as a team?

TYLER HICKMAN: I’m a director/editor mainly, though I do write on occasion. My main influences are David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia), Steven Spielberg (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Christopher Nolan (Inception) and a lot of others that would just make this too long an answer.

BRENNAN SCOTT: Like Tyler, I’m also a director. More so, I’m also a writer/cinematographer/composer. I’m a mixed bag of cinema treats if you will. My main influences are Sam Raimi, Dario Argento, and Mario Bava.

Team wise, Tyler and I are what I would call “soul mates of filmmaking.” There are just those people you always have to work with because they bring out the best in your talents. I think we do that for each other very well. We’ve developed a shorthand when we work on anything which is pretty special.

TYLER: We met back in film school in 2007. We got on quickly, and have since worked on over a dozen films together. We both bring different things to the table. Brennan has a more horror/thriller aspect to his work and aesthetic, where as I tend to lean heavily towards action/adventure work. Both of us strongly believe in the power of story and character co-existing, not one in service of the other.

From a filmmaking standpoint, Brennan and I always approach every story from the same perspective: why should I care? What makes this story unique or special or horrifying or heart pounding? We like to work with stories that don’t happen in everyday circumstances. Heightened stakes, tension, emotions, etc.

Can you tell me a little about Uncharted: Drake’s Odyssey?

TYLER: When we made our first Uncharted fan film, “Uncharted: Drake’s Legacy”, we were very inspired, of course, by the games. But also, seeing other Uncharted fan films, we as fans weren’t happy with what was being made in the fan world. Don’t get me wrong, some of them are INCREDIBLE, but for us, we just wanted to see some solid action and adventure, Uncharted style.

BRENNAN: After we made our first Drake’s Legacy, there was all this time to rewatch it and wonder if we could’ve done something better or different. When Tyler pitched me the idea of doing another, I knew I’d be up for doing it if we tighten the screws, so to speak. Really bring an intimacy to the characters this time.

With the first, there was a slight disconnect with the action scene that played out for the bulk of the film. Tyler and I wanted to reverse it; bring it back to those intimate moments between characters. Good or bad. And what helped inspire this segment was that central idea. Let’s just tell a good, hopefully fun story.

TYLER: For this one, “Uncharted: Drake’s Odyssey”, we decided to make it a direct sequel to the first one we did and really flesh out the story and create a larger canvas to tell it. This one was HEAVILY inspired by the Indiana Jones trilogy, and I think it shows in the finished product. We also played through the Uncharted games a few times for this one. Lifting lines of dialogue word-for-word from the games in some places was something we felt would really help to bring out the authenticity of these characters in a real-world setting. We were inspired to make a better film than our last one. That, and Uncharted 4 is coming out, so we’re just a little excited about that!

As for plot tidbits, we can let slide that Piri Reis factors into the plot. That’s all I really want to say about it.

BRENNAN: Drake gets punched. A lot.

I am very pleased to hear you are keeping it authentically Uncharted! I see Elena kicking a serious amount of arse in Drake’s Legacy, and then gets sent packing by Nate. Can we expect to see her back and being all brilliant again?

TYLER: We were very fortunate to be able to cast Ashley Castro in the role of Elena Fisher in Uncharted: Drake’s Legacy. She nailed the role! As she wasn’t too aware of the games before filming, we worked very closely with her as a creative team to help bring Elena to life.

As such, Nate and Elena have a very complicated relationship. Between the first and second games (where our story takes place), they’ve experienced a breakup, and things aren’t great between them. Drake’s Legacy scratched the surface of what was going on between them, and we wanted to bring that relationship into a much more clear view in Uncharted: Drake’s Odyssey.

BRENNAN: Elena’s character is the humanity in Drake’s life. And a lot of what she brings to the table is heart, as well as, information that drives the stories home. So, by us bringing Elena’s character back, she has to have that brilliance to virtually create this new installment. She really makes herself known in Odyssey. She’s provides the motivation for this new adventure. And she has a bit of a bone to pick.

Also, I’d like to talk a little about the special effects, which in Drake’s Legacy were kind of awesome. There’s a lot of shooting, and blood, and bullets smacking the ground and trees, etc. How much of the production time is taken up adding all those details? (I assume the fire out of the front of the gun wasn’t actually there, for example)…

TYLER: Thank you! We appreciate that. There was a TON of action in Drake’s Legacy, and to get all those details right did take some time. For some of the shots and VFX, I was learning as I went. There are great resources online to utilize, and I made full use of my time on the web learning how to do the VFX for the short. While none of the guns actually fired, most of them were real firearms. The only ones that weren’t real were the ones Nate and Elena used (which were plastic and rubber). All of the firearms used by the baddies were, in fact, real.

BRENNAN: There were many days after principle photography to find actors to be bad guys and film action that could fit into the previous footage. It was the most work we had done using sfx in a short.

Does Uncharted; Drake’s Odyssey film fit within Uncharted canon, or does it take some liberties with the timeline?

TYLER: It does. This film fits between Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and Uncharted: Among Thieves. We didn’t want to take too many liberties with the universe just out of respect for what Naughty Dog has done. You can’t really improve upon what they’ve built, so why try? We try to be as faithful as we can, so instead of changing anything, we just add in our own stuff.

Casting is a big issue for fans of Uncharted. Can you tell me who your Nathan Drake is, and why you chose that particular person?

TYLER: Casting is incredibly important in these sorts of films. The fans (including us) have very strict ideas about who Nathan Drake is. What drives him, how he reacts to situations, his physicality, his charm and determination. All of those attributes are extremely difficult to pin down without having an extremely talented actor. We looked at some talented individuals for Drake before settling on an actor we’ve used many times in the past: Nate Loftin.

He’s very gifted as an actor, he is physically able to pull off the stunt work, he looks pretty damn similar to Drake, he’s a very hard worker, and he will do the scene until it is absolutely right. Not only that, but before Brennan and I even told him about the project, he was already an Uncharted fan.

BRENNAN: He even contributes to the dialogue and action scenes as well. We could never use anyone else.

What is the next dream for you, in terms of film-making?

TYLER: We would love to make a feature length film. We’ve got more than a few feature scripts between the two of us ranging in genres from horror to thriller to action to drama and virtually everything in between. Finding a financier and distribution for our feature film would be a dream come true, and hopefully the first of many films!

BRENNAN: Even if it’s just as writers, it would be amazing to be a part of something bigger that makes its way to more people. I know I definitely just want to reach out to as many people as possible with my filmmaking. And it’s an amazing medium for that. Hopefully, Uncharted: Drake’s Odyssey will provide more of that reach.

We would like to thank Brennan and Tyler for taking the time to chat to us. When the finished product arrives you can bet your bottom dollar we’ll be letting you know. In the meantime, take a look at Vacant Republic’s first Uncharted film…

So we are back almost at square one. No director, no cast, and now, (barring a miracle), no release date.

Is it time to call time on the whole idea? Tomorrow marks six years since the film was first announced. Since then it has been nothing but directors leaving and appalling cast suggestions. Last year offered hope with an actual release date announcement, a shooting schedule, and the knowledge that the ever perfect Chris Pratt had been offered the part (although, alas, he turned it down).

Seriously, kill it already before it gets even more embarrassing.

Well, what follows is a really good indication that Uncharted 4 will indeed be great fun, light when it needs to be, and full of humour. Because what we expect to see, and what we are presented with, are two very different things.

Nate and Sully emerge into a busy market square, which bustles with countless people doing normal things. To their left is a view over a Madagascan* valley which sweeps down to a river, next to which stands a tower which is “Sam’s tower”; identifiable by the explosions around it. The day is bright and sunny, and flowers bloom around them. The two exchange some dialogue, about how long before they are found by Rafe, and jokes are made.

The excrement does hit the fan shortly after and Nate and Sully are involved in an intense gunfight, but it isn’t gritty and humourless or even very tense. In fact Nate is in very good spirits, remarking that ‘they’ didn’t send enough goons, given that the pair are still alive. The colours are rich, yet somehow slightly more pastel shaded than previous games, giving the scene a nice warm feel. The flowers and pinks and purples, the grass is lush and green. It is an entirely different mood from what we have seen before, and makes up 50% of the settings we have been shown.

One thing leads to another, and next we know Nate is driving a jeep (badly) downhill pursued by a guy in a big armoured truck who is doing everything in his power to eliminate Nate. And Sully. What follows is a breathtaking rollercoaster (almost literally) through back gardens (which they really should pay for), across a town square and over fields and farms. And it is funny! It is exhilarating! And full of the Uncharted charm we know and love. Fear not.

*The flag on the back of the jeep is Madagascan.

What I do want to bring your attention to is… Elena! (Who wasn’t in the demo.)

Thanks to our buddies at Uncharted France for digging these out.

It looks as though her face has also undergone quite a redesign for this gen (as has Sully’s). Elena is now looking more and more like Cate Blanchett. We are so delighted to see her.

This one isn’t Elena, but we like it.

Check out more images over at Uncharted France…

Now, there is an entire essay to be written about whether or not Nathan ever really ‘succeeded’ but now is not the time.

Now is the time to take a look for yourself. Enjoy.

The Nathan Drake Collection is out on PS4 on October 9th.

• It will include Drake’s Fortune, Among Thieves and Drake’s Deception
• It will not include Golden Abyss
• It will not include the multiplayer elements from Among Thieves or Drake’s Deception
• It will give access to the multiplayer beta for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
• It will be released on October 9th
• You can download it or get a real life disc
• Bluepoint are doing the remastering, not Naughty Dog
• You should buy it.

The Nathan Drake Collection will feature 1080p and 60fps, and will also include the ever popular photomode which was included with the The Last of Us: Remastered.

It is unfortunate that Golden Abyss will not be included – that was a fantastic game which suffered from being a Vita only title. I suppose Vita to PS4 was too much in this instance. Golden Abyss did make extensive use of the Vita’s ‘cool’ controls. Many people are also peeved at the lack of multiplayer, although personally I am not going to cry about that. The story and campaign is Uncharted’s soul, and while the multiplayer was fun, I think we can live with Uncharted 4’s instalment.

Finally, the name The Nathan Drake Collection has raised eyebrows, not least because of the aforementioned omission of Golden Abyss, but also… um… what about Uncharted 4? Isn’t Nate the protagonist in Uncharted 4? Or are Naughty Dog paving the way for someone new to take the reins? If Uncharted 4 is the last ever Uncharted title we are getting, (and god damn Neil Druckmann for repeatedly insinuating that it is) surely this really isn’t the ultimate Nathan Drake Collection at all? Why not call it… Uncharted Remastered, or something about it being an HD collection, or whatever? ‘The Nathan Drake Collection’ feels oddly specific. And a misnomer. Unless Uncharted will continue with someone new.