TheUnchartedgames are narrative-driven experiences that live and die on their characters. While the dramatic set pieces and action-oriented gameplay are nice, the cast ties it all together.The main characters of Nathan Drake, Elena Fisher, and Victor “Sully” Sullivanhave personalities that make each entry feel unique and interconnected.
Yet one ofUncharted’s supporting characters doesn’t seem to fit into the grand scheme of things. Samuel “Sam” Drake - Nathan’s older brother - is notably absent throughout most of the series, and when he appears has poor character development that feels phoned in. It doesn’t sit well with the audience when Sam is supposed to be the last living relative of the series' main protagonist.
RELATED:A Look at Amy Hennig, One of Gaming’s Most Influential Women
The Return of The Prodigal Son
Sam Drake was introduced inUncharted 4: A Thief’s End- the last mainline game released for theUnchartedseries. To explain his absence from the other games, it is revealed that Sam spend 15 years in a Panamanian prison - an unfortunate consequence of a botched job involving Sam, Nate, and Rafe Adler.Sam was shot in the back three timesand fell off a rooftop while trying to escape the jail’s custodians, which is why Nate and Rafe assumed he was dead.
Sam survived both the gunshot wounds and the fall, and was locked up for a good portion of Nate’s adult adventures. Upon hearing that he survived, Rafe bribes the prison warden to set Sam free, whereupon the two of them resume the hunt for Captain Avery’s treasure. Sam steals every piece of information Rafe has on Avery’s treasure before double-crossing him, and with no one left to turn to, Sam goes tohis only remaining blood relation: Nate.
Sam’s compulsive need to find Avery’s treasure is what allows him to break all the rules. He betrays Rafe and lies to Nate about owing crime lord Hector Alcazar half of the treasure in return for busting him out of prison. This deceptionpulls Nate out of retirementand back into the thieving life. While Nate initially enjoys the new adventure with his brother, he slowly starts to see the danger of Sam’s obsession.
Unlike Nate, whose friends steer down the right path, Sam is caught in a cycle of greed and pride. He is jealous of Nate’s exploits, and is eager to prove himself no matter the cost. In a way, he is very much likethe Nathan Drake who players meet at the startof theUnchartedseries, but Sam is more reckless and prone to taking shortcuts to try and make up for the time he lost in jail.
Uncharted’s Sam Shows Some Things Never Change
Sam does show signs of maturity inUncharted 4. He slips Elena some Libertalia coins to help start her business, and even takes a bullet that was meant for Nate. But these small acts of selflessness can’t undo a life of selfishness. He is still focused on catching up to Nate, and can be seenaiding Nadine and Chole inUncharted: The Lost Legacy.
As a character, Sam adds little to theUncharteduniverse. He catalyzed Nate’s return to adventuring, but once Nate gets back into the swing of things, Sam’s impulsive and selfish tendencies aren’t enough to carry him as a character despite serving as a foil to the protagonist. Because of his prior imprisonment, Sam has trouble interacting with the rest of the established cast. He defaults to his brother’s counsel when more people enter the conversation and his lack of people skills is apparent. Naughty Dog’s portrayal of an ex-con is somewhat believable, but adding Nate’s brother inthe final mainlineUnchartedentrywasn’t a great idea. There are people who still love him, but Sam will always have problems working his way into peoples' hearts.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collectionis available now for PS5 with a PC version is in development.
