Nathan Drake may be the iconic protagonist of the Uncharted series, but Uncharted: Lost Legacy shows that future installments don't need him in order to succeed. Many players are currently replaying or experiencing the series for the first time via the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves collection, which bundles remastered versions of Uncharted 4: A Thieves End along with Drake's Fortune, Among Thieves, and Drake's Deception. It also includes Uncharted 4's expansion/epilogue, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, which puts players in the shoes of Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross.
[Warning: Spoilers ahead for Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.]
Nadine Ross made her debut in Uncharted 4 as a secondary antagonist, though her combat prowess and privately owned army made her an ever-present and near unstoppable force. Chloe Frazer was introduced in Uncharted 2 as the third protagonist and had a brief but intimate relationship with Nate prior to the first Uncharted game. Chloe is also in the treasure hunting business and appears in Uncharted 3. She's only mentioned in Uncharted 4, but she had a starring role in the Lost Legacy expansion.
These two characters and their chemistry with the rest of the cast are part of what made Nathan Drake's adventures so engrossing. While it may be hard for a series like Uncharted to step away from its flagship character to explore something new, it has a strong foundation of side characters that have built a similar level of emotional investment from players. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy provides a glimpse into what the future of the series could be and how retiring Nathan Drake could result in one of Uncharted's best games.
The Lost Legacy Lets Uncharted's Supporting Characters Shine
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy opens with Chloe navigating a street market in India and talking to a smart and resourceful little girl. The stakes are raised almost immediately when it's revealed that the city is on the outskirts of a growing civil war that both Chloe and Nadine have ties to. Chloe is chasing a treasure that her dad obsessed over, and Nadine realizes that Shoreline, her previously owned PMC, is now working with the enemy. Like any good story, these events bring both characters to interesting crossroads that will eventually come to clash.
Building up to those moments feels subtle and natural thanks to Chloe and Nadine's chemistry. The two ride the fine line of being similar in personality but different in motivation, making their banter clever, their fallout impactful, and their action sequences some of Uncharted's best. This adventure also provides insight into the seedier side of the treasure hunting business when Chloe keeps Sam Drake's involvement from Nadine, with the former being the bane of her existence throughout Uncharted 4. It has all the calling cards of the Uncharted games that came before it and hints at a deeper struggle with Chloe and Nadine that's ripe for exploration.
At the end of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, the antagonist and warmonger Asav warns Chloe and Nadine that more people like him will rise up. This in conjunction with Nadine's decision to continue treasure hunting with Chloe sets up a future that Naughty Dog should explore in a future Uncharted game. Much like this expansion, beloved characters like Sully, Sam, and even Nathan can make appearances and keep the sense of familiarity alive. The world of Uncharted still has many stories to tell and places to explore, and since Nathan Drake is getting older with each Uncharted game, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy proves that Chloe and Nadine are more than capable of picking up the torch and carrying the story forward.