Uncharted: Golden Abyss

16 cert, Sony, PlayStation Vita ****

The fourth instalment in the Unchartedstory is also its first on a portable system. And it's a great way to make its debut on the PlayStation Vita.

Set before the events of Drake's Fortune, Golden Abyssfollows Nathan Drake as he tries to uncover the mystery of the 400-year-old massacre of a Spanish expedition. He's joined by Jason Dante and Marisa Chase as he winds his way through ruins of temples, scaling walls and avoiding danger, which is everywhere. Whether it's burning buildings, armed enemies or scaling dizzying drops, there's never a dull moment.

The game shows off perfectly what the Vita is capable of, from the controls to the use of screen space. The screen may be less than 13cm in size, but the quality of the graphics is far superior to anything you’d expect from a handheld device. Drake looks almost as good as he does in his PS3 titles; the environments are richly detailed.

One of the best things about this version of Drake, is the controls. They’re far more imaginative than anything on the console. Analogue sticks control basic movement and camera angles but it’s the new interfaces on the Vita that really stand out.

You may have to slash through a hanging tarp by swiping across the screen. Or make Drake scale pipes and walls by tracing a path for him to follow. Sure, you can use the control sticks to make Drake climb, too, but the touchscreen is more fun. Even fighting includes some elements of the touchscreen.

There are minor annoyances. At times the touchscreen controls are brought in unexpectedly and interrupt the game’s flow. But it’s easily shaken off.

Little details make this fun to play, such as looking down the sight of a sniper rifle to pick off enemies one by one. When you’re zoomed in, the scope behaves as it should, taking a second to focus. Plus there are extras to collect, artefacts dotted around the levels.

Golden Abyssgets the Vita off to a great start.