Uncharted: Golden Abyss is an action-adventure game. It's a spin-off of the Uncharted series, although also a substantial experience in its own right that features the series protagonist, Nate. As with the other games you explore, run, jump and shoot your way through a blockbuster adventure with voice acted scenes interspersing the action and a focus on character and narrative.

It takes place before the events of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Nathan Drake get embroiled in a search for the lost city of Quivira with fellow treasure hunter Marisa Chase. You follow clues left by Marisa's mentor, who succumbed to his illness. Along the way you encounter various allies and enemies along with an appearance from series-favourite Victor Sullivan.

You progress through the game by running, jumping, shooting and solving puzzle elements. It's a linear experience although there are some larger areas to explore as you want, including jungles, temple ruins, caverns and encampments. On Vita, the normal gamepad controls are joined by some touch-screen elements as well as the use of the motion detection for enhanced aiming (something that is available in later versions of the main game).

The result is a game that offers new and welcome innovations while also offer considerable open-world style exploration. Through the action we get foreshadowing of the nagging doubts Nate has about his treasure hunting obsession -- a questionable side of his character we will see play out fully in Uncharted 4.