Let’s Travel the World with Uncharted 4 Part 3 – Madagascar


The open-world chapters in Madagascar are the best segments of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
(All screenshots are, of course, the property of Naughty Dog and Sony Computer Entertainment)


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Madagascar

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Uncharted 4 Travel Itinerary 3: Madagascar

Malagasy Outback

The Madagascar chapters took the gaming world by storm when Uncharted 4 was released. I mean, open-world style driving for just one chapter? With river plains as far as the eyes can see, and all sorts of treasures to dig and uncover?

What tops that?

The short of it, if you’ve ever dreamed of going on a road trip in Africa, if you’ve ever dreamed of any road trip, you will love this chapter of Uncharted 4. Titled, The Twelve Towers.

At this point, allow me to also give mention to something that truly awed me while I was playing this chapter. Nope, it wasn’t the vibrant colour palette. Nor was it the quirky dialogue Sully and Sam regularly dish out.

It’s the mud. THE MUD. Silly as this might sound, I was utterly fascinated by the physics assigned. Not only does the mud has an impact on your driving, it splashes everywhere too if you drive or waddle into it.

Best of all, it washes off if you go under a waterfall. Short of tropical heat and stench actually emanating from the PlayStation, I think this is as realistic as a game can get, as far as an African trek is concerned.

If you have the pleasure of playing this chapter with a VR kit on, I’m sure you would appreciate the experience even more.

Once again, our facilitator. Mr. Nathan Drake
Nathan Drake Uncharted 4.
Swinger Extraordinaire … Wait. That just sounds wrong.
Real-Life References
Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar.
Madagascar’s famous Avenue of the Baobabs. | Source: Gavinevans
Malagasy river plains
Malagasy river plains
A Malagasy mountain road
A Malagasy mountain road.
Madagascar Outback
Gorgeous colours as far as the eye can see.
And our virtual trip …
Uncharted 4 Madagascar Chapter.
Our trusty 4×4. There’s a running gag about this in the game.
Uncharted 4 Chapter 10: The Twelve Towers
A mountain looming somewhere in the background always adds to the ambience.
Uncharted 4 Open-World Driving.
Truly a truly gorgeous way to spend quality time with your mentor and big bro.
Uncharted 4 - A Thief's End Madagascar Ruins
For your convenience, there’s no nasty wildlife to run into. But there are plenty of abandoned structures full of shiny treasures.
Spectacular Madagascar Panorama in Uncharted 4 - A Thief's End.
On a clear day, you can see forever. In Madagascar.
Waterfall Driving in Uncharted 4 - A Thief's End.
All right, guys. Car wash time. We’re muddy.
Rickety bridge in Uncharted 4 - A Thief's End
Pay attention to your co-drivers during this scene in the game. The dialogue is hilarious.

Fictitious Port City in Madagascar

In reality, Nathan’s actual journey in Uncharted 4 involves only four locations. New Orleans, Italy, Scotland, and Madagascar.

The feeling one gets when playing, though, is that of a much longer and far more extensive trip. In my opinion, Naughty Dog generated this illusion by always having dramatic changes of scenery in between story arcs.

One moment you’re in frosty Scotland, the next, you are washing away mud in an African stream.

And after explosive encounters in the Madagascar outback, you are suddenly in the heart of a bustling marketplace.

Just like that, you are back in civilization. Surrounded by the sights and sounds of everyday life. So many things on sale. So many people!

It’s dizzying. The headiness one gets is also remarkably similar to that of a tourist stepping into an unfamiliar city for the first time. A sensation of excitement tinged with panic and anxiety over not being able to check out everything. Or do the right stuffs.

To share, I spent over half an hour exploring every stall and corner before I so very reluctantly continued with the main quest. I momentarily even hated the burden of the main quest. This port city chapter was that amazing.

Firstly, Some Real-Life References …
Art and craft items for sale in an African marketplace.
Art and craft items for sale in an African marketplace.
A Malagasy market place.
A Malagasy market place.
Real-Life Uncharted 4 Locations | Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Street in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar.
Uncharted 4 King’s Bay City 
Uncharted 4 King's Bay City
Overview of the marketplace. I hid all NPCs for that early morning effect.
King's Bay City Market
I’m not into sausages and air-dried meats. But still, wow.
Uncharted 4 Madagascar Market
A low angle, low key shot of the interior of the butchery.
Uncharted 4 King's Bay City ticket salon.
Okay, NOT a sight I’d want to see during my real-life trips, but it greatly adds to the realism.
Uncharted 4 Madagascar Market
All sorts of things being cooked. Yummy!
King's Bay City Food Market
I wonder what those red piles are. Saffron?




That Crazy Escape …

Now, if you’ve played the game, or have read reviews about it, you’d know that the port city chapter contains one of the most thrilling segments of the game.

Without giving away spoilers, let me just say that it’s incredible, unbelievable even, that Naughty Dog created an entire city just for this part.

Mind you, I’m not talking about nondescript streets and run-of-the-mill houses haphazardly strung together for a *** *****. There’s such a variety of architecture and terrain during this segment, you do feel as if you are charging across an entire city. (Regrettably, with not enough time to gawk, might I add)

Did Naughty Dog do this because Uncharted 4 is Nathan’s swansong, and they wanted the series to end with a bang? My guess, absolutely. They deserve a standing ovation too.

Crazy car chase in Uncharted 4 - A Thief's End 1
On the sunny side of the street.
Uncharted 4 Car Chase.
Something I really hate is in this picture.
Uncharted 4 King's Bay City Car Chase.
Lots of hairpin turns in this city. I wouldn’t want to drive here!
Uncharted 4 - A Thief's End Car Chase Climax.
Take that, goon!
More Real-Life References
Antananarivo Street.
Antananarivo street.
Antananarivo, Madagascar
I found this on Pixabay and it’s supposed to be Antananarivo. Feels like it, doesn’t it? If you’ve played the crazy chase segment.
Cute Madagascar Lemur.
Lemurs are synonymous with Madagascar. Don’t forget to play with one in Uncharted 4!!

If you enjoyed this cyber visit of Madagascar,
consider getting a copy of Uncharted 4 – A Thief’s End.

Read my other Video Game Tourist posts.

Summary
Let’s Travel the World with Uncharted 4 Part 3 – Madagascar
Article Name
Let’s Travel the World with Uncharted 4 Part 3 – Madagascar
Description
Part 3 of my Travel the World with Uncharted 4 series. After various adventures in Europe, we jump across the breadth of the world to sunny Madagascar.
Author
Scribbling Geek
Scribbling Geekhttps://www.scribblinggeek.com
Geek, gamer, writer, movie lover, photographer, and occasional graphic artist. I like to consider myself a one-stop content creator of sorts. But the truth is, I obsess over too many hobbies.

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