Getting Started

Overview

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is a cinematic action-adventure game that follows treasure hunter Nathan Drake through a globetrotting story. This guide is tailored for absolute newcomers. There is no character creation — you play as Nathan Drake throughout the entire game, with his appearance, skills, and equipment fixed.

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First Hour Walkthrough (Prologue + Chapters 1-2)

The game opens with a title card followed by a playable prologue: Nate and his brother Sam are diving to recover a coffin from a sunken ship. This is a simple swimming/climbing tutorial — follow the prompts. After the prologue, the story jumps back in time:

Chapter 1: The Lure of Adventure

• You control young Nate (teenager) breaking into a mansion with Sam.


• Learn basic moving (left stick), camera (right stick), and climbing (press X near ledges).


• Explore the mansion: interact with objects (press Triangle), find the first treasure (a golden idol in a glass case).


• After escaping, a cutscene ends the chapter.




Chapter 2: Infernal Place



• Back to present day: Nate and Sam escape a prison in Panama.


• Stealth tutorial: Crouch (circle), move silently, take out guards from behind (press R2 when close).


• Combat tutorial: Use a pistol (L2 to aim, R2 to shoot). When enemies have guns, use cover (press O near walls).


• You’ll find a shotgun and a machine pistol — experiment with both.


• Objective: reach the roof, then use a rope to swing across gaps (hold R1 to attach, then release at the apex).


• End of chapter unlocks the full combat and movement arsenal.

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Controls (All Platforms)

PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5

PC (Keyboard & Mouse)

• Default controls can be remapped in settings.

> Tip: On PC, a controller is highly recommended for smoother platforming and combat, but KBM works fine with practice.

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UI Overview

The Heads-Up Display (HUD) is minimal by design. Here’s what each element means:

1. Health Bar (top-left corner, white arc): Decreases when you take damage. It regenerates fully when you stay out of combat for a few seconds.
2. Ammo/Weapon Info (bottom-right): Displays current weapon icon, total ammo, and magazine count.
3. Gadget Slot (below ammo): Shows your currently equipped throwable or tool (e.g., grenades, rope).
4. Compass / Objective Marker (top of screen): A small compass shows cardinal directions; a yellow diamond marks your next objective.
5. Interaction Prompts (center of screen): Appear when near climbable ledges, objects, or enemies to interact with.
6. Minimalist Notifications (top-right): Rare areas where you unlock a trophy, collect a treasure, or get a checkpoint.

> Tip: The UI disappears when not in combat to let you enjoy the scenery. Press the Touch Pad (PS) or default key (PC) to toggle Photo Mode.

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Essential Early Objectives

• Complete Chapter 1 and 2 – This teaches you movement, stealth, and combat basics.


• Collect at least 1 treasure in Chapter 1 (the golden idol) to understand the collectible system.


• Practice stealth in Chapter 2: try to clear at least one room without raising an alarm.


• Learn rope swinging – The rope is critical for traversal and combat (you can swing and kick enemies).


• Adjust difficulty early: If you die repeatedly in the prison tutorial, consider lowering difficulty from Normal to Explorer (in Settings > Game). No shame in it.


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What to Do First & What to Avoid





✅ Do First:


1. Explore every nook and cranny – Lootable treasures and journal notes are everywhere. They unlock bonus content.
2. Use stealth whenever possible – Uncharted 4 rewards silent takedowns. The first encounter in Chapter 2 is designed to teach this.
3. Take advantage of verticality – Climb to high ledges for alternate routes and tactical advantages.
4. Save often – The game autosaves frequently, but you can also manual save at checkpoints.
5. Listen to optional dialogue – Sam and Nate chat during quiet moments; these reveal lore and backstory.



❌ Avoid:



• Rushing through areas – You’ll miss treasures and optional conversations.


• Standing still in gunfights – Always move from cover to cover. Enemies flank.


• Ignoring grenades – When you see a grenade indicator, sprint or roll away immediately.


• Firing wildly – Ammo is finite; headshots are efficient.


• Jumping off ledges without looking – Check for handholds below (a white glow indicates climbable surfaces).


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Early Resource Priorities



Uncharted 4 doesn’t have traditional RPG resources like mana or gold. The only “resource” you manage is:

• Ammunition – Scavenge from killed enemies and crates. Always pick up ammo when you see it.


• Weapon pickups – Enemies drop weapons with varying power. Experiment, but favor the pistol and AK-47 for accuracy.


• Grenades – Found in wooden crates. Use them to flush out enemies from cover.


• Treasures – Collect as many as possible. They unlock extras in the menu (concept art, character models, etc.). No gameplay impact but fun.


> Priority: Ammo > Grenades > New weapons > Treasures. If you see a heavy weapon like the shotgun, grab it; it’s great for close quarters.

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Common Beginner Mistakes



1. Not using cover – Running into open firefights is suicide. Always press Circle near a wall or crate to stick to it.
2. Ignoring the stealth approach – The game starts with a stealth tutorial for a reason. Alerting enemies gives them time to call reinforcements.
3. Forgetting to equip the rope – Throughout the game, you can use your rope to swing across gaps. Sometimes you need to hold R1 to use it; don’t just jump blindly.
4. Sliding down hills – When you start sliding, you can aim and shoot, but you lose control if you panic. Stay calm and enjoy the ride.
5. Not climbing fast enough – In chase sequences, you need to climb quickly. Don’t hesitate – jump and grab the next handhold before the previous one crumbles.
6. Using the touchpad accidentally – On PS, the touchpad opens the journal or camera. It can be annoying if pressed in combat. Be aware.

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Day-One Checklist



Before you start your first real playthrough, do this:


• [ ] Install the game (if physical: insert disc; if digital: download from PSN/Steam/EGS). Update to the latest version.


• [ ] Set up your controller on PC (wired or Bluetooth). Ensure batteries are charged (PS controllers) or AA batteries fresh (Xbox controller on PC).


• [ ] Adjust settings:

- Difficulty: Start on Normal (Explorer is story-focused, Crushing is for veterans).
- Subtitles: On (helps with accents and firefights).
- Camera Sensitivity: Start at default; adjust later if you get motion sickness.
- Audio: Set to surround sound if you have headphones.

• [ ] Play the prologue (boat scene) – it’s short but sets the tone.


• [ ] Complete Chapter 1 (mansion flashback) – treasure hunting begins.


• [ ] Complete Chapter 2 (prison escape) – get comfortable with combat.


• [ ] Return to the main menu and check the Extras section: you can view any treasures collected so far.


• [ ] Take a break after Chapter 2 – the game opens up into longer chapters. Hydrate!

> Pro tip: If you find the platforming frustrating, look for white handholds (they indicate a safe route). If you fall, the game usually respawns you just before the mistake.

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Final Advice

Uncharted 4 is a linear, story-driven experience. Don’t worry about “optimizing” your playthrough — just immerse yourself in Nate’s adventure. The game gently introduces every mechanic one at a time. If you ever feel lost, the yellow objective marker always points you forward. Good luck, and remember: fortune favors the bold!

“Sic parvis magna” — Greatness from small beginnings.