Cover System

Take cover, rest, and return to the fight—Uncharted's cover system keeps Drake alive.

The Cover System in Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is a third-person perspective mechanic that allows the player to have Nathan Drake take cover behind walls, crates, and other environmental objects. From cover, the player can use either blind fire or aimed fire to kill enemies. The system lacks an actual on-screen health bar; instead, when the player takes damage, the graphics begin to lose color. While resting or taking cover for a brief period, Drake's health level, indicated by the screen color, returns to normal. This mechanic was compared by several reviewers to Gears of War.

Quick Facts

First appears: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007)
Developer: Naughty Dog
Primary user: Nathan Drake
Platforms: PlayStation 3 (Uncharted 1–3), PlayStation 4 (Uncharted 4)

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.

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.