While the back of last year saw the welcome return of Halo on the Xbox 360, the poor old PlayStation 3 has been lacking a decent poster child. Heavenly Sword's Nariko had the hair and the attitude, but, as is often the case, the game eventually proved more style than substance. All is set to change with the arrival of Naughty Dog's Uncharted, arguably the system's first must-have title.

A classic 30s boy's own adventure set in the present day, Uncharted is a mix of Saturday morning serial, Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider. It casts you as Nathan ‘Nate' Drake, heir to the lost fortune of Sir Francis, ditches the whip for more wit and substitutes brains for boobs. Add some of the best graphics yet seen on the PS3 and you've got a cracking combination.

The game centres on treasure hunting and sees Nathan in a desperate race against rivals to track down the legendary city of Eldorado. Every hero needs a sidekick and Drake is paired with the cigar-smoking Sully, while the love interest comes in the form of reporter Elena Fisher. As with all good movies - aside from the ones about the war - the hero is American and the villain British.

No adventure is complete without a decent dose of combat and, as with Microsoft's Mass Effect, Uncharted gives a nod to Gears of War. A brilliantly executed duck-and-cover shooting system is complemented by satisfyingly simple hand-to-hand encounters: a smack in the mouth and a knee in the nuts says more than a high-flying spinning kick ever could.

As the story unfolds you'll run, jump, swim and climb your way around gloriously rendered jungles, explore hidden chambers and even uncover the odd Nazi U-boat. There are plenty of puzzles to solve and extra content to unlock including new costumes for main characters and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

In-game hints can be switched off to make things more challenging, though it's probably best to keep them on for the first half an hour. That said, the controls are straightforward and, unlike some titles, you don't need pixel-perfect precision; the game generally knows what you're trying to do and goes with it.

As well as being genuinely fun to play, Uncharted also shows just what the PS3 can pull out of the graphical hat. In some cases the detail and animation of the in-game graphics actually manage to surpass the pre-rendered cut-scenes. Sound is outstanding too, with excellent voice acting and a truly cinematic score that sets the mood from the title screen.

If you like Indy, Lara and Larry Buster Crabbe, Uncharted will grab you the minute you pick up your pad. If you don't, find out what you're missing. Master Chief should watch his back.

The PS3's first must-have title, Uncharted is set to go straight to number one.