A Thief's End: Speculation on the Characters

A Thief's End: Speculation on the Characters

As we've entered the year of A Thief's End, it's time to fully open the metaphorical floodgates for some good ol' speculation. So, what better way to start than with the mainstay of any Uncharted game: the characters? Now, we'll fully explore the past and prospects for Nathan (not really) Drake in another article; here, we're going to look at the old friends, new enemies and surprise siblings that'll swing onto our screens in Uncharted 4. Who are they? what role will each of them play? and what could their presence mean for our hero?

Nadine and Rafe

Thus far we know very little about our new antagonists Nadine and Rafe outside of the above concepts and a couple of short descriptions; but that leaves us all the more room for conjecture. Nadine Ross is the driven owner of a South African security company (believed to be called "Shoreline", judging by the art bellow); with an entire army at her disposal (par for the course for an Uncharted villain). Her troops are said to outmatch any that we've seen before in the series in terms of capability, though that may just be down to the much improved AI in Uncharted 4 as supposed to their superior skill in combat. Given her background we can make a safe guess that the accented mercenaries in the demo belong to her, and I must say, they have some magnificent facial hair. 

It has often been said by the writers of the Uncharted series that each character reflects a different facet of Nathan Drake; for better or worse. In a Thief's End, Rafe Adler appears to be referred to as a sort of anti-Nate; employing "different morals" and "questionable methods" in his ruthless quest to obtain what he desires. Perhaps he will represent the very worst of the treasure hunting world, and act as a cautionary example of what being "in the game" can do to a man (though maybe the same could be said of Sam, to some extent). Note that his design appears very simple; no golden guns or scarred faces to distract you, just a cold, aloof expression. I'm scared of this guy already. 

Rafe's alliance with Nadine makes the pair a force to be reckoned with, though we have little to go on with regards to the nature of their relationship; is it laden with conflict? are they 'friends'? or are they rivals forming an uneasy union for a mutual goal? It'll be very interesting to find out, especially with Naughty Dog's desire to focus and develop the villains more than in previous games. One last thing to think about is casting. With Dominic Monaghan's apparent association with the project, it wouldn't be too foolish to assume that he'll be taking the role of Rafe, though no doubt there are unannounced characters that he could also be playing (if he 'is' in the game that is).  

Sam

Sam, what to say about Sam. We had no idea that this man even existed until the recent Playstation Experience demo, but now it seems that he'll be the driving force behind Nate's 'final' adventure. Roughly 5 years older (but probably not wiser) than his little brother, Sam (err Drake?) does indeed share the same parents as Nate (as confirmed by Naughty Dog), a fact which in itself raises many questions about the sibling's childhood and history (we'll explore this in a future article). Having been assumed dead by Nate, his reappearance after years of absence will inevitably be a huge shock... but this isn't a simple family reunion; Sam needs his brother for a reason, and his life depends on it.

The revelation of Nate having a brother gives context to the very first teaser for Uncharted 4; released back in November 2013. It adds perplexing meaning to the mysterious voice's (which we now know to be Sam's) bitter words:

"Some chains can never be broken. I lost 15 years; buried alive, erased. You left me rotting in that hellhole and never looked back. But you can't outrun the past, and when it catches up, when all your lies collapse around you, I'll be there, sifting through the wreckage. You owe me." 

Going through the monologue with what we know, unbreakable "chains" likely means the irrevocable bond of family or brotherhood. "Buried alive" is possibly a metaphor for Sam being abandoned (from his perspective) by Nate when they last crossed paths. As Nate did not believe that his brother was alive, we can make the guess that something happened to Sam that he was unlikely to have survived, perhaps a tomb collapsing or Sully's choice of pseudo death: being shot. Here's where things get even more interesting though: "but you can't outrun the past... when all your lies collapse around you" implies much about a shady chapter of Nate's life that we've not been privy to, and that chapter is about to be unearthed. 

Now it's worth remembering that this trailer was released before the departure of Creative Director Amy Hennig; at which point actor Todd Staskwick was in the role (it's been confirmed that he was originally playing Sam before Troy Baker came onboard). For all we know, the borderline animosity we hear here may have been significantly turned down with Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley at the helm; indeed, Nolan North (the voice of Nate) has commented that the pair did not separate on bad terms, well, per se. That said, the two are hardly going to see eye-to-eye all the time; there is a difficult and mysterious past alluded to, and a sense of regret and betrayal between these two characters which we will inevitably explore.

The complicated dynamic of Nathan and Sam will shed a fresh new light on the former that we've not seen before. As Neil says, "even Sully doesn't know everything about Nathan Drake... there are things that [he] doesn't talk about, and having someone else there that knows those things gives us the opportunity to poke at them and get them out". It sounds like Sam's presence will allow us to go through the skeletons (or in this case entire legions of dead mercenaries) in Nate's closet. There's also ample opportunity for some fun sibling rivalry and banter, with the both being more or less equally matched in terms of skill set and historical knowledge (well, maybe Nate has the edge); allowing for different character interactions than previously depicted in Uncharted. 

The impression is given by Nolan and Troy that despite his being older in years, there is an underlying recklessness and in some ways, immaturity with Sam compared to his brother (yep, someone even more foolhardy than Nathan Drake). Troy perhaps describes it best: "Sam has never really quite moved on, but Nate has; he's found Elena, he's found Sully, he's found his calling". Sam has essentially been left behind, remaining immersed in the addiction to a dangerous life... and he's one of the few people who can draw Nate back into it. I get an ominous feeling that this pursuit of pirate treasure can only end badly for the brothers, and something tells me that Sam can't be completely trusted.

Sully 

Interestingly, there has been very little said about Sully and Elena's involvement in Uncharted 4. The two have always been an important part of the core games; so with any luck their appearances won't be severely diminished compared to the PS3 instalments. We know that Sully will be accompanying his partner in crime for some duration of the game; he reluctantly agrees to aid Nate after he pitches his "surefire plan" to him in the E3 trailer. It's unknown whether Sully knew of Sam's existence until now, though one would presume so, even if he's not aware of all that he and Nate did together. As new things about Nate's past come to light, even Sully could be in for some revelations.

Elena

Though Naughty Dog have not categorically stated her return for A Thief's End, Elena's presence is all but confirmed for this new adventure. The obvious reason being the game's nature as a sequel; given the last one's conclusion it would hardly make sense for Mrs Fisher/Drake to be absent from her husband's current struggles. Additionally, a number of hints have been peppered throughout the currently released game footage such as the "call Elena" in Nate's notebook (pictured bellow) and the wedding band on his ring finger. In which case, the question isn't so much is she in the game as what role will she play? and how big will that role be? 

It would be easy to assume that given this story's fraternal focus that the attention on Nate's other relationships would be of less significance, but I would argue the contrary. The return of Sam and the exploration of Nate's past will introduce a new conflict with his present; which I would bet on being one of the core themes of A Thief's End. As Game Informer wrote in their recent coverage of Uncharted 4: "Drake will face the tough decision of who takes precedence throughout the game, the family he built for himself with Elena and Sully or his blood relative, Sam". Ultimately we will be seeing the impact of his choices on all involved, Elena arguably more than anyone.

In the same Game Informer article, Neil gives an overview of Elena and Nate's complicated history: 

"Throughout the games, and even in the gaps between the games, [their relationship] has been interesting to see... At the end of Uncharted 1 [Nate's] got this woman and they're both adrenaline junkies and both treasure hunters. And then we come to Uncharted 2 and they've grown apart. There are certain things that are very important to Elena's life that are very different than the things that are important in Drake's life. And then between the adventure, they come back together with Sully's help as well at the end of Uncharted 3." 

As each game has progressed both characters have changed and grown. Though undoubtedly still as charming, witty and tenacious as her other half (described by Amy Hennig as the 'female version of Drake'), the plucky young woman we saw in Drake's Fortune has steadily become more wary and cynical; owed perhaps in part to Nate's struggle with commitment (getting blown up by a grenade can't have helped, either). She seems to understand him better than anyone, and recognises the potential for damage in his obsession with the dangerous lifestyle... and by the sound of it, Uncharted 4 may realise her fears.

"You can't have your cake and eat it too, and that's why I think their relationship keeps falling apart. The process is exploring the toll of [pursuing] this thing that is almost like an addiction. Like an addict who's not paying attention, there's a cost to this. You're neglecting everyone else around you."

I'm willing to predict that the narrative of A Thief's End will take the time to explore the effect of Nate becoming re-immersed in his 'addiction' on Sully and Elena. After settling down to a life with some semblance of normality, Elena is going to struggle with the appearance of Sam and the trouble he brings with him. This doesn't mean that for the whole duration of the plot she'll be nothing more than a vexatious stick in the mud, constantly telling off her husband and demanding him to come home. I think it's more likely that she'll express the same concern and exasperation for Nate that she did in Uncharted 3; questioning the wisdom of his decisions. 

Indeed, Elena isn't one to sit around while Nate goes galavanting off. Hopefully she won't be limited to brief appearances at the beginning and ending of the game; the woman who was prepared to venture to the Rub' al khali desert alone to save Sully would hardly take things lying down. It wouldn't be foolish to assume that she may even join Nate for some part of the search for Avery's treasure, albeit reluctantly. She does have extensive skills and contacts that could be invaluable to the brother's quest. There is the question however of whether Elena will even be aware of what Nate is doing, the fact that he has to call her could be to update her on the situation, or to come up with some far fetched cover story (which she'd probably see right through!)

In the concept art above, notice someone who appears to be a woman in the back of the boat, the hair in the bun could be an indicator of Elena indeed accompanying Nate (and Sully) on the adventure at some stage. It certainly doesn't resemble Nadine, and hopefully Elena would take precidence over a new female character in this case. The numerous phone numbers in Nate's journal are also worth mentioning, it could be that with her job as a foreign correspondent her contact details are constantly changing. This would suggest that Elena may be away in another country when Nate is on the island in the demo with Sam. The list of minutes is also a sign that he's called her several times before on his journey, perhaps to keep her up to date.  

Now much of this is pure speculation. Naughty Dog have been very tight-lipped about Elena; dodging most of the questions regarding her. With any luck though, we'll get to see plenty more of her in Uncharted 4.

Other Characters

It's really quite difficult to predict who else will make an appearance in A Thief's End. With the emphasis on Nate's past, his relationship with Sam, the better developed villains and the effects on Sully and Elena for this instalment, it may be difficult to give anyone else the attention they'd deserve if they were to be in the game. Even though Chloe has been a much loved recurring character in the series, it is unlikely that her involvement in the narrative will extend beyond a cameo appearance of sorts, perhaps at the end of the game with Charlie Cutter. Though taking into account that this is the conclusion of Nate's story, it'd be a great shame not to see them both back at some point. There will inevitably be more peripheral characters in the vein of Tenzin, Salim or Rameses, one of which may be whom Dominic Monaghan may be playing. Beyond that, there's not much we can say on the matter. 

What are your thoughts and theories on the characters of Uncharted 4? Let me know!

*Just to clarify, I am not an expert on game development or the gaming industry. I get my information from multiple reliable sources, but I may sometimes get things wrong or be inaccurate. If you do spot something such as a piece of information that is inaccurate please let me know and I'll correct myself.  

*All images/screenshots are under the copyright of their respective owner. I do not intend to distribute my blog for profit and will gladly remove any images if asked to.

I Hope You've enjoyed this post, I'm new to blogging and feedback is always appreciated, let me know your opinions :-)

Undiscovered Adventure

A Thief's End: Is Someone Going To Die?

Is this the end for one of our favourite characters?

After the excitement brought on by the reveal of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, thoughts have turned to the possible meaning of the cryptic information we have received thus far. Many are wondering what the implications of having a darker, more emotional and personal Uncharted game will be. 

I have noticed that a key point of discussion surrounding this topic is the prospect of a major character death. Honestly, I can't blame people for seeing it as a strong possibility, the mere title of the game is enough to make one jump to that conclusion. However, I suggest we have a proper look at the evidence. In this article, I will attempt to cover why Drake's next adventure is going to be his most personal yet, and who could be facing their "End" in the upcoming game. I'll warn you, this is going to be a long one.  

A New Direction

Until recently, one of the most talked about matters concerning Naughty Dog's next title was the apparent exodus from the studio. What came as the biggest shock was the departure of Amy Hennig, creative director and writer of the Uncharted series, who was initially confirmed to be working on the forth instalment. This was then followed, to everyone's confusion, by the loss of the game director, Justin Richmond and voice actor Todd Stashwick. Since then, co-presidents Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra have revealed that the Last of Us leads, Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley have taken over the project. 

I am not here to speculate on what happened internally with the developer; regardless of the events that transpired, this change of leadership is definitely significant. Neil and Bruce are by no means strangers to the world of Uncharted, both having played significant roles in the making of the first and second games. However, their recent experience with the Last of Us will undoubtedly have an effect on A Thief's End. To get to the point, its best said by the two men themselves (check out the full interview):

"We're taking what we learned from Uncharted 2, evolved into the Last of Us, and bringing it back [to Uncharted 4]... Each journey dovetails into the next, so we've taken that chronology, the story lines and the relationships and [evolved them]."  

The Uncharted series is reaching a new stage in it's development. We will likely never fully know what Amy's original vision was; it may have been in keeping with the more lighthearted tone of the previous games (though of course these weren't devoid of emotional moments), or perhaps it was heading in this direction all along. After the hard-hitting, thought provoking themes of their last title, Naughty Dog, Neil and Bruce in particular, seem keen to heighten the emotional stakes for the characters in A Thief's End. But does this necessarily mean we could be saying goodbye to one of them?

Its Personal

Aside from the new personnel heading Drake's next adventure, what else indicates that this new Uncharted will take a slightly different approach to its story from its predecessors? Well, what little concrete information we have received in the form of trailers, interviews and official publications does suggest the sort of journey we are to expect.

Back in November, we were given our first taste of the new game; a short, cryptic teaser. As the camera pans over an old map, we hear the bitter voice of then Uncharted actor Todd Stashwick, speaking of revenge. This trailer has been analysed to death, but in light of subsequent news and reveals, we may have a clearer picture of its meaning. Now that Nathan Drake is officially remaining the protagonist of the series, there is every reason to believe the threatening words are directed at him (though most of us assumed this already). 

So, here's my theory: as many (myself included) have suggested before, the mysterious narrator of the teaser is most likely an old friend or associate (or relative?) of Nate. At some point, 15 years before A Thief's End (presumably), Nate apparently 'left him', in what circumstances we do not know. Back in the present said man has returned, intent on tearing Nate's life apart. Using what we've learned since from both the E3 reveal trailer and the official game description, we can add more pieces to the puzzle. Nathan is "forced out of retirement" (from adventuring, he's not that old!) and back into "the game" (the "world of thieves").

Now back onto what you're reading this for, why on earth should any of this mean that somebody will die? Consider these words from the Naughty Dog website summarising the plot:

"It's [Nathan Drake's] greatest adventure yet and will test his physical limits, his resolve, and ultimately what he's willing to sacrifice to save the ones he loves"

Granted, that could mean anything, but the premise is enough to hint at a huge emotional event occuring in the storyline of Uncharted 4, and what with this possibly being the final game in the series, you could bet on it being a death.

Who?

I've argued why I feel the tone of A Thief's End gives us cause to consider a main character dying as a possibility. But what is perhaps an even more interesting area of speculation is who it could be. Lets go through each of them; who's death is more likley, and what are the potential conequences of loosing them?

Sully

Poor Sullivan, he's allready had two "deaths", it would be really unlucky if it happend a third time. Jokes aside, I definitely wouldn't rule out Drake's old partner in crime as a candidate, though of course there is the glaring problem of retreading old ground. In the first game, Drake's fortune, he was shot in the chest, but was saved by Sir Francis' note book, which was in his breast pocket. In Uncharted 3, it appeared that Sully had been shot in the back (in what was a very convincing scene), but it turned out that Nathan had halucinated the whole thing.

I can't say the first incidence was nearly as emotional as the second (seriously, compare Nate's reactions in each, its actually rather amusing how quickly he recovers from the sudden demise of his dear friend and mentor in Uncharted 1). One can really see how far ther series' storytelling has progressed when Sully is "killed" in the third game: it comes as a complete shock to the player, and most of us genuinely thought he was dead. He wasn't, but the game gave us long enough to experince the horror Nate must have been feeling. People have questioned whether it was wise to let Sully live, I have heard some say that to them it ended up feeling rather cheap. Maybe Naughty Dog should have gone all out; I have a hunch that they may have considered it, but in the end Sully survived to fight another day. 

Now here's a question, what would happen if Victor Sullivan did die in Uncharted 4? It would certainly be sad, but perhaps not as impactful or shocking as it would have been had we not seen it before. It all comes down to execution (pun intended). Sully is still a logical choice: he's the closest thing Nate has to a father, loosing him would be devastating, but maybe not so much that it would make the story flat out depressing (Don't worry I'll elaborate). And besides, I can't help thinking that Nate calling on him for "one last time" in the new trailer was somewat foreboding.  

Elena

I'll admit it, I don't really wan't anyone to die, but of all of the Uncharted crew (excluding Nate), I especially hope it isn't Elena (there's a number of reasons, but we'll get to that). Like Sully, she's no stranger to near-death experiences, after being on the receiving end of a grenade explosion (damn you Harry Flyn!) in Uncharted 2. Again, a lot of us thought she might have been a goner (I'd played Uncharted 3 first, so I knew she wasn't) but in the end she made a full recovery. 

I wasn't aware of this until recently, but Neil Druckman (who co-wrote Among Thieves with Amy Hennig) apparently wanted Elena to be killed off . Obviously, this didn't end up happening in the finished game, but perhaps now he has creative control of Uncharted 4, Neil could have it in for her once more (not that I'm suggesting that Neil has some sort of vendetta against her or anything).

There's another reason Elena is particularly at risk. The actress who plays her, Emily Rose, has a successful TV career with the SyFy show Haven. Filming takes place in Nova Scotia, Canada, on the other side of the continent from Santa Monica, where Naughty Dog are based. This has raised a number of logistical problems in the past when making Uncharted. The following quote from Emily is in Drake's Journal, a book by Nolan North documenting the making of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception:

"[Having a TV show] takes me out of commission for six months of the year. That could take me out of what [Naughty Dog] could feasibly do with [Uncharted 3]. In fact, I went to Amy [Hennig] and Evan [Wells] and told them if they had to kill [Elena] then I'd be okay with it. I immediately regretted it, but Amy quickly assured me that it wasn't an option"

Naturally, the task of shooting Haven and acting/providing Mo-cap for Uncharted puts a lot of pressure on Emily. Add now that she became a mother last year, and her time is further limited. I'm positive that she will be in Uncharted 4, but never the less, would Emily reconsider Elena's fate?

Nate

The big man himself, would the guys at Naughty Dog really kill gaming's favourite wisecracking fortune hunter? My knee jerk reaction would be a straight up no, but looking at what we've learned so far, I can't say that its beyond the realm of possibility. Perhaps the most obvious indication is the title: A Thief's End. Is Nate the "Thief" and does "End" mean death? Maybe. I recommend an excellent article by All Things Uncharted, which goes in depth on the subject. 

What other facts do we have that hint at his next adventure being his last? Well, as mentioned earlier, the whole "what he's willing to sacrifice" line does have some serious connotations, could Nate "sacrifice" his own life to save Sully or Elena? There's no doubt it would be a very bold move, but one that I don't think would be taken very well. 

Personally, I do take issue with the idea of  Nate dying, and there's a big reason for it... 

The Problem

So, why am I against Nate, or for that matter Elena, getting killed off in Uncharted 4? Honestly, I'm unsure whether it would really work. 

Let me explain; if, as has been suggested, this is the final Uncharted game, then why climax the series on such a tragic note? To me, it just doesn't fit with what Uncharted is; an over the top adventure series. Yes it can be an evolution in storytelling, yes it can up the emotion and the drama, but I for one wouldn't consider killing off the protagonist or his wife something that "people will be comfortable with" if they've played the previous games. 

This argument could really apply to any of the characters, but here's where I see a difference. Sully's death would be tragic; however, if done right I would argue that the story could still maintain a hopeful tone. I don't think that would be possible if we lost Nate or Elena; the story would hit a dead end, and consequently, the whole adventure would close feeling rather hollow.

Don't get me wrong, I love Sully, and I'd hate it if he did die, though in many ways I believe that Nate could push through his pain and recover (hell he did that in the first game easily enough, not that I'd wan't him to just shrug it off again). Elena on the other hand, I don't know. To me she represents his future (especially if she is with child, if rumours are to be believed), l can't imagine him gong back to his witty, adventurous self after losing her.

Obviously, this is purely my own opinion, and if any one could do it effectively, its Naughty Dog. I just don't feel that ending Nate or Elena's life is the conclusion to Uncharted many people would want. 

*Feel free to argue against me though, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Other Possibilities

How many words in and I haven't even mentioned Chloe Frazer! Whilst the big 3 (Nate, Sully and Elena) will definitely make an appearance, there's no  guarantee that we'll see Chloe in A Thief's End. She is however a fan favourite, not to mention that her absence in Uncharted's last instalment would assuredly be noticed.  

Naughty Dog may bring her back, but only if its isn't superfluous and serves the plot, they'd need a good reason to do so (same goes for Charlie Cutter). If that reason was significant enough, then she could well die (I know, this is such a cheery topic). Is it likely though? hmmm, I'm not sure. Chloe is a main character in her own right, and her death would be poignant, perhaps she even is the "Thief"in the title? We're entering the territory of pure conjecture here.  

Now there's one more possibility (other than another minor character dying, RIP cameraman Jeff), what if its the mysterious man in the trailer who will have a dramatic death? All evidence says he's the antagonist, and antagonists usually die in Uncharted, but I have a feeling that he will be so much more than a villain. 

Maybe he and Nate were once close friends, or (in what would be a shocking twist) it may be revealed that he is in fact Nate's Father. Either way he could have a deeply emotional end (this is particularly true with the latter), perhaps with a scene of redemption in his final moments (or in the case of him being the father, apologising for abandoning Nathan when he was young). I don't think its a potential scenario we can overlook. 

To Conclude

I've led you down the perilous road of guesswork and speculation; we've looked at what we know so far, and what it all means for the characters we love. Is this really the end for one of them? well, despite all I've said, we just don't know. Someone could die, no one could die, It could be Nate, it could be the villain, there is no "surefire" way to be certain. 

Right now the only people who know the answers are working away at what promises to be a phenomenal game (no matter what happens), and a fitting end to an incredible series...

...if it is the end, that is.

*Just to clarify, I am not an expert on game development or the gaming industry. I get my information from multiple reliable sources, but I may sometimes get things wrong or be inaccurate. If you do spot something such as a piece of information that is inaccurate please let me know and I'll correct myself.  

*All images/screenshots are under the copyright of their respective owner. I do not intend to distribute my blog for profit and will gladly remove any images if asked to.

I Hope You've enjoyed this post, I'm new to blogging and feedback is always appreciated, let me know your opinions :-)

Undiscovered Adventure