Analysis of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is a story-based action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published in 2016. It is the fourth game of the Uncharted series that has single-player and multiplayer modes. Single-player mode is narrative-based and has a single ending, and the multiplayer mode allows more than one player to combat each other or together against Artificial Intelligence. Here we review how Uncharted 4 can be engaging for the players.
- Single-Player Mode
In the single-player mode, players experience exploring the photorealistic environment and seeking adventure while solving puzzles and having the excitement of combating enemies to progress through the story. Other than the gameplay’s cinematography, the cutscenes as one of highly engaging elements of the game, incorporate an immersive storyline with dazzling graphics of landscapes, lost cities, and collapsing architectures. These attention-grabbing visuals and charming narrative that is rewarding for the players keep them focused on and involved in the game for a long time and enhance flow state (Csikzentmihalyi, M.,1991) To keep the player in the flow state, after experiencing difficult challenges and combats with enemies, the game offers periods that players can explore the game space, search for treasures, and solve puzzles, which is rewarding and relaxing for them. This also brings variation to the game as the player does not battle for extensive periods to get tired and frustrated, nor must they spend a long time continuously exploring the environment to become bored.
2. Multiplayer Mode
The game’s online multiplayer mode can engage up to ten players in cooperative and competitive gameplay. Players can choose among different characters from the game series and battle in teams to defeat their opponents.
2.1 Monetization Methods
Multiplayer mode contains a Downloadable Content (DLC) economy system. Through that, the player’s experience evolves by introducing new gameplay items, maps, and customization materials. Through hours of gameplay, such as by completing daily challenges and winning matches, players acquire in-game currency, called Relics. Players then can spend their Relics to get a variety of DLC Chests that contain Weapons, Boosters, Skins, Cosmetics. They can also make microtransactions, meaning they pay real money and buy bundles of Uncharted Points, which can be used to immediately unlock the in-game items they want.
2.2 Highly Engaging Mechanics
Some of the highly engaging mechanics in the game:
2.2.1 Linear Narrative Vs. Infinity Action
Reviewers have praised the gameplay mechanics, narrative, and visual design of Uncharted 4. Imagine Games Network, an American video game and entertainment media website, states that the game is “a remarkable achievement in blockbuster storytelling and graphical beauty”. GamesTM, a video games magazine, describes it as “a masterful piece of storytelling”. The game has the potential to satisfy almost every player type (Quantic Foundry Gamer Motivation Model). In single-player mode, narrative is fostered as intrinsic motivation to keep the player in the game for hours, while requiring players to engage in the game’s action. Even though players who enjoy story, adventure, and action can be engaged for hours in the game, the potential to be addicted for a long period of time is relatively low because the story is linear and leads to a single ending. On the other hand, in the multiplayer mode, due to constant updates, players who are mostly encouraged by achievement, mastery, action, and social aspects in the game are more likely to stick in the gameplay loop and build addictive behaviors.
2.2.2 Variable Reinforcement
In multiplayer mode players do not match with the players who have the same inventories or skills. To reinforce their gameplay and make up for this unfairness, players need to acquire in-game items. The in-game items that directly have effect on gameplay such as Weapons, Boosters, and Mysticals can be earned by Gameplay Chests, which are the most expensive chests in the game store. One can either play for a long time to achieve virtual items or purchase them immediately by spending real money. This DLC economy approach can be an addictive mechanic in two respects; Players who purchase items in the game store are more likely to play more because they feel more dominant and powerful in the game. On the other hand, those that do not want to purchase items or cannot afford paying for them, like adolescents, have to play for a considerable amount of time to unlock items.
2.2.3 Randomness in Game Chests
Each DLC Chest plays as a Loot Box that drops new random items. The mechanism of earning variable items by opening these chests in the game is like gambling in real life. Every time players open the chests, a random item drops and since it might not be the item that the player is looking for, they wish to open more chests to get what they want. So, they need to keep playing to earn more Relics to be able to get more chests and increase their chances, or instead pay for Uncharted Points in the game store.
2.2.4 Thirst for Novelty
Human beings are naturally interested in what is new. Thirst for novelty is what keeps players playing (Schelle J., 2015). The variety of new in-game items and constant updates in the multiplayer mode is an incentive for players to unlock as many items as possible. This mechanic can act as an intrinsic motivation for players who enjoy collecting items and “have them” even when not necessarily using them. It can also be an extrinsic motivation for players who show off what they have acquired by using them in the gameplay. Players who consider themselves experts usually tend to choose skins that set them apart from amateurs.
So, if you have played A Thief’s End,
Do you think the game’s narrative affects the amount of “time” you spend in the Single-player mode?
What about the engaging mechanics in the Multiplayer mode? What do you like about them?
