REVIEW: Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is a thrilling epic adventure

Nathan Drake just won't quit. The star of the PlayStation 3 epics Uncharted and Uncharted 2 returns in search of more treasure. Uncharted 3 weaves a thrilling adventure spanning the globe and tells one of the best stories in video games this year.

The campaign is the star of this show, and the voice acting and motion capture animations are top of the line. Nolan North and Richard McGonagle team up as Drake and Sully to provide Hollywood-quality acting performances. They're joined by quality secondary performances that will engross you and provide shocking moments throughout the lengthy campaign.

New gameplay mechanics, such as climbing and shooting, are introduced at a steady pace. Newcomers will pick up on the ins and outs in a relatively short time, and veterans of the series will feel right at home jumping from platform to platform and fighting bad guys in hand to hand combat.

Major story sequences are often told through well-directed cutscenes, and some of the biggest moments in the game are revealed through interactive cutscenes. The use of sweeping camera angles and dazzling visuals hammers home the fact that developer Naughty Dog put a ton of effort into making this a PS3 must have.

The multiplayer side of things is solid, with many options to choose from. It's not the next great time waster, but there is still a lot of fun to be had. You can play as any of the main characters, or customize your own fighter with various clothes, weapon enhancements, and rewards. Online gameplay is smooth, and the maps include aspects of single player gameplay as well. Climbing from ledge to ledge and cracking skulls with a well timed sneak attack offer variation from the running and gunning bullet hoses that populate online shooters.

Uncharted 3 is a spectacular game. The stunning visuals, great voices and sound effects, and thrilling story make this a must-have for PlayStation 3 owners. In a holiday season crowded with epic sequels, Uncharted 3 stands out as the definitive single-player game available.