Cover System

Lore & Background

In *Uncharted: Drake's Fortune*, the cover system is a core combat mechanic that lets Nathan Drake survive against overwhelming odds. When facing enemies, the player can either rush in for melee and combo attacks at close range or hang back and use firearms from behind cover. The third-person perspective drew frequent comparisons to *Gears of War*: Drake can press against walls, crates, and rubble, then pop out to fire with precision or spray bullets blindly while staying low. Like that game, *Uncharted* ditches a visible health bar—instead, the screen's color drains as Drake takes hits. A few seconds of rest in cover lets the color flood back, signaling full recovery. This system reinforces Drake's role as a resourceful survivor who uses positioning and timing rather than brute force.

In Their Own Story

Nate presses his back against a crumbling stone wall inside the old fort. Bullets chip the masonry inches from his head. He waits, counts the pauses in the gunfire, then leans out just enough to fire two rounds from his pistol. A mercenary drops. Nate ducks back, the screen desaturated from damage. He holds still, breathing, letting the color seep back as the cover protects him. He peeks again, fires, and slides to the next crate. The rhythm of cover, rest, and return is the only thing keeping him alive.

Reader's Guide

To use the cover system in *Uncharted: Drake's Fortune*, approach a wall, crate, or other low obstacle and press the appropriate button to have Drake take cover behind it. While in cover, you can peek out to aim and fire at enemies, or use blind fire by shooting without aiming, which exposes less of your body but is less accurate. The game lacks an on-screen health bar; instead, the screen loses color as you take damage. To recover health, stay in cover or rest for a brief period—the color will return to normal, indicating full health. You can move between cover points by releasing the cover button and sprinting to the next object, then pressing the cover button again. This system is essential for surviving firefights, especially on higher difficulties where enemy accuracy and damage are increased.

Did You Know?

• The cover system in *Uncharted: Drake's Fortune* was compared by several reviewers to *Gears of War*.
• The game lacks an on-screen health bar; instead, the screen loses color when Drake takes damage, and color returns when he rests in cover.
• While in cover, players can use either blind fire or aimed fire to kill enemies.
• The cover system is tied to health recovery: resting or taking cover for a brief period restores Drake's health to normal.
• The Japanese version of *Uncharted: Drake's Fortune* is censored to remove blood, which normally appears when shooting enemies.