It’s ok to let go a sly smile Sony fans: the PlayStation 3 may have had a slow start, but now the industry legend is starting to tap into its vast treasure trove of big name brands and roll out the welcome mat for its preferred studios. SingStar, Ratchet & Clank, Killzone 2, Gran Turismo, they’re all edging closer to release as the console’s software options prepare to go up a gear. Top of the list is developer Naughty Dog’s latest venture, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, and we’ve had a chance to give this PS3 exclusive a walk around the park.

Ironically, Naughty Dog is heading into uncharted territory with this game, rarely veering outside their fantastic releases in the Jak & Daxter series. Gone are annoying talkative fury things and classic platform gameplay in place of memorably rendered characters and third-person shooting action. It’s an unlikely leap and we would normally be sceptical of such a vast change in genres. But given how successfully brother in arms Insomniac veered off the similarly themed Ratchet & Clank series to serve it up to alien scum in Resistance: Fall of Man, we were prepared to feel optimistic.

That optimism has quickly evolved into anticipation. Last week we played an early build of the game, an experience that revealed enough to suggest that you can teach a Naughty Dog new tricks.

But first, let’s talk story. The Drake in the title refers to a Sir Francis Drake whom history buffs and insomniac purveyors of the History Channel will know as the celebrated 16th century Englishman who sailed around the globe pissing off Spaniards… among other things. Like most people from that era, he is dead now, and it is in his coffin that modern day fortune hunter Nathan Drake (is he/is he not a relative?) – or you - discovers a clue to the whereabouts of the fabled treasure of El Dorado. Turns out it’s dust gathering on a long lost island in the Pacific and when our hero and his companions find themselves stranded on said lump of rock they must ward off nasty mercenaries while trying to unravel their new home’s secrets.

Whatever will they find on this desolate tropical island paradise during the 10-12 hour narrative? A hidden bunker with a mysterious button that needs to be constantly pressed? Brooke Shields humping her brother? A fat kid getting stoned by his mates? Monkey butlers? The mind boggles…

Prior to our hands on time with the game, we were given a little showing of the cinematic cut-scenes, character development and dialogue that Uncharted will display. It all suggested that we’ll enjoy a very memorable gaming character in the form of Nathan Drake. With more ‘tude than a thousand Avril Lavigne video clips, our hero has all the hallmarks of an Indiana Jones, an Allan Quatermain or even a Rick O’Connell and we can’t wait to play out this intriguing set-up and find ourselves a fortune.

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