IT SEEMED to be the trend that when an incredibly strong action series from Sony hit the mobile platform – something else hit the fan around the same time.

PSP transformations of games such as Killzone and Resistance were pretty ugly and best left forgotten. Uncharted however is trying to avoid the same fate by utilising the PS Vita’s richer level of interaction and unrivalled level of technical and graphical prowess. The fan may just stay clean with this one.

Nathan Drake, the gaming world’s much smoother, cooler and modern-day version of Dr Indiana Jones is back on another adventure that takes him over ruins, through caverns and across lush jungles. The pathway to his new goal of a legendary lost city is paved with death-defying leaps, deep-dark chasms and dangerously demonic enemies. There’s never any let-up as far as the action goes.

Golden Abyss may be a predecessor to all the other Uncharted games, but in no way does it backtrack on quality, if anything, the Vita’s new features actually help to strengthen the experience by providing a wealth of input methods.

Embracers of the tech can use the touch pads to move around, swing across vines, and leap from ledges, while traditionalists can rely more on using the dual-analogue sticks. The quick-time events where moves need to be mimicked on the touchscreen can get annoying if you’re already comfortable with the analogue sticks.

For a hand-held, there’s no arguing that the campaign is both deeply impressive and long, and with plenty of exploration, gunfights, and mini-games.

Attention to detail has always been a defining factor for the Uncharted series, and that manages to carry through to this pocket-sized romp. It’s not unusual to see Nathan scrabbling desperately as rocks he’s hanging from crumble. It’s this small detail that paints such a perfect big picture.

But there’s one thing that stands out like Garfield entering Crufts – the fact there’s no multiplayer.

It’s both been an important and key element to the last two PlayStation 3 games in the series, and with the PS Vita’s 3G and Wi-fi capabilities, it seems ludicrous not to have it. Don’t worry too much though, Sony have stated that an announcement regarding multiplayer will be made soon. We wait in hope.

Uncharted may be developers Naughty Dog’s baby, but SCE Bend Studio have done their utmost to stay true to the series’ unbridled quality whilst embracing the new tech.

8/10