PS3 320GB Uncharted 3 Bundle

It took a deployment to Afghanistan to finally break down and purchase a PS3, but I'm glad I finally made the decision.The 320GB Uncharted 3 bundle is perfect for the adventure/action game types that really aren't interested in the Move bundle. I already have the Kinect for the 360 back home, and while neat, I found it to be a bit of a gimmick. Add in that space is a premium out here, I felt that the Move was an unnecessary premium.I owned the original PS3 a few years back and I have to say that the fit and finish of the lighter slim doesn't seem as nice as the original (IE, satin black versus the nicer looking Piano Black) but I wouldn't go so far as to call it cheap. It seems this time around, it's just the basics, but you have to ask yourself: How often are you staring at your gaming console anyway?I probably don't have to tell you that the graphics are on par with the 360. I haven't had the two side by side, but nothing has been so significantly better to stand out from what you'd expect from the competing console. Really these days, with an exception of a few rare exclusive games, your decision is probably more on what controller you're more comfortable with.Speaking of controllers, the tried and true wireless Playstation controller is still mostly unchanged and feels like it could still take the beatings that most controllers do.But that's enough about the console.Uncharted 3 is probably one of the most enjoyable bundled games I've played since the days when Sonic 2 and Super Mario World were the standard issue. The controls are easy to pick up, the storyline is intriguing, action packed, and character development is quite good. I hadn't played the first two games, but with the plot of the number 3 installment being pretty self contained, I was able to step right in without feeling lost in the events. I likened the game to Indiana Jones or The Mummy, set in modern times. You follow the footsteps of Nathan Drake and his friends as they search for lost treasure by puzzle solving, fist fighting, and shooting their way across the globe. Throughout the game, you wonder if he also moonlights as a parkour champion, as you spend a good deal of your time climbing and making death defying leaps over obstacles in your way. The game's pace is very good at going from highs and lows, and not staying in either for too long. You may find yourself solving one of the game's many puzzles only the next to end up in an epic shoot out as you try to escape a burning building. I will say that the game is not for the faint of heart. Even on normal, you may find yourself dying... a lot. There are just certain ways to do some things and the game doesn't always reward brute force. Despite this, the single player campaign gets a 5 out of 5 in my book.Multiplayer, for a tack on feature is actually pretty fun. I haven't tried any of the online features yet, but the split screen offers co-op modes of a separate story line, as well as deathmatch-like scenarios such as capture the flag, base defense, and survival. It's no Halo or Modern Warfare, but I'd give the multiplayer a high 3 out of 5.So in conclusion, if you have been on the fence about the PS3, love adventure/action games, and not really interested in gimmicks like the Move, this is definitely the bundle for you.

I'm a big fan of the Uncharted series, but I mainly want this review to be about the system. That's why you're really buying this set, right?...but briefly: I loved Uncharted, and I own Uncharted 2, both great...Uncharted 3 just doesn't have the drama that those two games had, but it does have some great moments of gameplay.On to the system: I bought this, because I like portability. I got the PS3, soon after it came out (but, not soon enough to get one of the PS2 backwards compatible ones). Obviously, this system is smaller, and much lighter.Another thing I disliked about my first PS3: the noise. My PS3 is my whole entertainment system, for my bedroom; I hated watching a film, or listening to music, and hearing the loud fan noise, especially when the fan boosted to compensate for the heat. This system is so quiet that I unplugged it, because I thought it was already off (and my head was about 6" away).There are design improvements: The system doesn't get as hot, and there are less air vents (and better designed). So, dust isn't as big of a problem, with the slim. The matte finish isn't the fingerprint leech that its predecessor was (and if you purchase a vinyl skin, you'll have even less to worry about). ...and, if you're interested in upgrading the hard drive, the PS3 slim's drive is much easier to remove.Usually, I don't hear any noise from the system, and my room is quiet enough for me to notice. In fact, my MacBook is louder than the PS3 Slim. Occasionally, I do hear the drive scanning/loading a disk, but I haven't noticed any change in performance, going from an 80GB PS3 fat, to the 320GB PS3 slim.I recommend getting a vinyl skin (for the ps3) (Bundle Monster Vinyl Skin Sticker For PlayStation PS3 S SLIM Game Console - Cover Protector Art Decal - Dragon Ying Yang), a PS3 Silicone Controller Sleeve - Black, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Fresh Scent, 75-Count Tubs (Pack of 6), and some covers for the unused ports - such as this: Cosmos Clear silicone anti-dust stopper/plug set - 2x USB, 2x 3.5mm earphone/mic jack, 1x SD card slot, 1x mini-display port, 1x 1394/fireware, 1x RJ45 for macbook PRO/regular/AIR aluminum unibody + Cosmos cable tie (USB+Ethernet...not sure if there are covers for the A/V port, HDMI, or optical).That's just some helpers, if you want to keep your system clean and looking like new, with less work.