At this weekend’s PlayStation Experience in Las Vegas, Naughty Dog unveiled its first look at gameplay from the highly anticipated Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Within the 15-minutes of footage, Nathan Drake, the man with the strongest grip alive, can be seen scouring caves and grappling with thugs as he searches for lost pirate treasure. You can watch the video after the jump.

The gameplay starts off light, with a gorgeous view of the explorer’s next-gen environments. Getting a grasp of his surroundings, the video is a nice reintroduction to Uncharted gameplay mechanics. It’s an incredible reminder how simple yet amazing the series is and how badly I want to play this now. From the dirt in Drakes fingernails to splashing water  to scratches on a wall the climbing pick makes, the attention to details are astounding. And his new grappling hook is a nice addition to the game’s many adventurer’s tools.

Everything flows so well, it’s not just the flora and fauna that looks so organic. That’s what makes the Uncharted series so special, everything about the gameplay works harmoniously together that it’s like watching a movie rather than playing a game. Which is why Columbia Pictures needs to get the film adaptation moving along. It’s perfect fodder for the movie going masses if done correctly.

Uncharted 4 continues to carry the wit of Drake’s character as he delivers well-timed quips. It’s his personality that really differentiates itself from the great yet dour Tomb Raider reboot. Both games work for what they’re trying to accomplish.

What the gameplay also demonstrates very well is the diverse tactics and movements Drake has under his belt. It would appear he can take advantage of more opportunities of stealth in the vast open world he has been provided. But when pacifism fails, the various takedowns and shoot ’em up action is also shown to work quite effectively.

As far as story goes, very little has been revealed. In this video we know that Drake is searching for someone to lead him to his prized treasure, and that someone is his older brother. (I don’t recall him having mentioning his brother in the past.) The Drake family has always led Nathan down curious paths, which here will be nothing short of exciting once again.

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Here is the official plot synopsis for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, courtesy of PlayStation:

Several years after his last adventure, retired fortune hunter, Nathan Drake, is forced back into the world of thieves. With the stakes much more personal, Drake embarks on a globe-trotting journey in pursuit of a historical conspiracy behind a fabled pirate treasure. His greatest adventure will test his physical limits, his resolve, and ultimately what he’s willing to sacrifice to save the ones he loves.

Developed by Naughty Dog and directed by Bruce Straley (The Last of Us; Uncharted 2: Among Thieves) and Neil Druckmann (The Last of Us), Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End will be available in 2015 exclusively for PlayStation.

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Source: PlayStation