Photo Mode - Uncharted 4

When I got my first gaming PC back in 2012, I discovered the simple, bright joy of sharing my best snaps of the games I had been playing. I found that I absolutely loved making even the most mediocre of games shine through bending angles, carefully accentuated focal points, and butts.

Unfortunately, only so much can be accomplished without inconvenient console commands or some real technical knowhow. Enter Sony's hastily-branded "Photo Mode".

Now, I'm not gonna pretend this is the very first take on such a wonderful idea. It most likely isn't. However, this Photo Mode has not only welcomed us with arms held out and bosom erect within one particular title, but, by this point, more than several. At the least, it's the most prominent. Most recently, provided to Nathan Drake's swan song...

TREASURE DICKS 4: HARD IN MADAGASCAR

I can't count the hours I must have spent in Uncharted 4, using this feature. Naughty Dog are known for pushing the bounds of whatever platform they work with, so a Photo Mode for their latest is the most obvious thing you could possibly suggest outside a virtual reality Cleveland Steamer Simulator.

Today (tonight, this evening, etc.), I'm going to showcase my best gawks and ganders.

[Keep in mind, I have neglected to play the final two chapters. I decided to stop at the game's climax and redo all the goodness on Crushing difficulty. Without going too much into it, the game is rather liberal with its checkpoints otherwise. Not like you'll be seeing shots from every chapter anyway, just giving full disclosure in case anyone's considering I was a big idiot for not showcasing some pretty house or tree from those final moments.]  

THE ACTION

During these earlier shots, I had no idea you could manipulate the FOV, filters, character models, etc. So, I'm surprised I got in even one decent action scene. It's hard enough, as it is, to click in both sticks as you're in the heat of things.

Good luck doing that on Crushing without seriously screwing yourself over.

Here's Drake pretending to belittle a mountain.

So immersive that I now need a solid shower.

Bet you didn't know Drake had Delsin's smoke powers!

I died getting this shot, but it was fucking worth it.

Finally! A little complexity! A higher saturation, motion blur, and a "vignette" (sounds like slang for an especially skittish young lady).

By far the most entertaining section I played. It's one thing to watch, but wait 'til you play it!

Here's a dandy little bugger called "Chromatic Aberration". It sort of warps/fringes the colors on-screen. Combined with a little film grain, it makes scenes look rather... snuffy? I mean, Uncharted is already a pretty brutal game.

Stealth grenades are best grenades.

Attempting to get in a good melee scene will make you feel especially silly. You'll likely end up not only getting shot in the process, but hit with the butt of some slightly bigger jerk than Drake's rifle. I hate those butts.

"RUN, COWARDS! AHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

I wish Drake was a little more to the left, but I do still like this shot.

I can't imagine it being too difficult to implement a completely detachable camera. It would've really helped improved the Photo Mode's already solid flexibility.  

THE SCENERY

I know I'm overanalyzing, but how in the hell would you be able to climb using such narrow supports and in the freezing cold?

Standing and doing nothing is a more reasonable action in such conditions.

It's like Journey, if Journey's protagonist wore straps, khakis, and had an itchy trigger finger.

Sadly, I couldn't emphasize the height any further. I could not get it within that "Colossus" range.

I believe this was my first instance of using the "Vibrant" filter. It quickly became my favorite and most-used.

Like I said...

"I wonder what percentage of that population I could ruin by the end of the day."

"But, for now, I must defile historic curiosities."

There are a lot of wonderful shots to be taken during chapters 10 and 12. Plenty of side objectives and open nature.

I didn't even need the "Vibrant" filter. It is that glorious.

Some pretty shit-looking fish, though.

"Sepia" was a heavily-underused filter. What self-respecting photographer doesn't always use "Sepia"?

"If the blood to my penis equaled the blood that I've spilled..."

Another frequently-used filter of mine was "Blorenge", which seemed to emphasize and dirty up the oranges and blues. Likely a reference to "blorenge" famously being one of the few words that rhymes with "orange".

My most underused filter was "Inferno". This goes for all iterations of Photo Mode. It's a very novel filter, but it did succeed in making this island look like the deepest crux of Hell.

Likely the best shot I took!

Even with all this blue, Drake is more than happy to press onwards towards his next handful of victims.

Probably my second favorite shot. "Chromatic Aberration" is great for nailing horror-centric scenes.

Skellington is here to confirm its usefulness.

I decided to experiment with 200% saturation + "Vibrant" filter.

Decidedly less colorful, but sexy all the same.

It wasn't very often that I played with the depth of field, but I tried my best to make it work here.

Shots like this make me all kinds of excited for The Not So Last Of Us.

I'm sad to not have very many shots showcasing the platforming. It's hard to pause the animation at just the right time.

I assure you that Drake did not blow half that home and its occupants to bits just so I could get a better angle on that forest, as par for the course as that would've been.

I normally wouldn't care to take solo shots of any character but Drake, but I do have an unabashed bias towards Elena.

I live for the day when no foliage is just 2D visual trickery.

Looks like that doorway is trying to eat me.

Legendary pyrates, joined together in paradise.  

STUPID ASSHOLE SHIT

Drake's chesthair game.

800% PSYCHO

Innocent beach frolicking before the day's body count.

"YYYYYY M, C A!"

You can remove character models during cutscenes. I should experiment with this further.

"If I have to shit in that bucket, I will."

Karate CHOP!  

THE BUTTS

I'd rather have Drake sit on my face than plow several pounds of lead through it.

Swiggedy swooty, I'm sneakin' up on dat booty.

Some more mud butt.

Flying butts are a rare sighting. Savor this moment.

Sam's butt is thoroughly unimpressive, but it does exude grit.

Whoa! Another one!

Elena deserves the prettiest filter for her prettiest butt.

Those are some powerful squats.

The even more elusive double butt shot!

A most unfortunate butt. RIP.

"Ya got a great ass, Sully!"

LOOK WHO CAME:

Seymour   

Luckrequired   22

ikiryou   12

Malthor   12

Gajknight   11

GodEmperor Paige   11

Luca Blight   10

Rasori   6

DeadMoon   2

Batthink   1

Dango    1