There is little I can say about Uncharted 2: Among Thieves other than "pure perfection." As soon as I booted up the game, I was in complete awe of the graphics, which only seemed to get better and better the further in I got. The dialogue and voice-acting are better than you'd find in blockbuster films. The story and character development are intriguing and exciting; each twist and turn had me gripping onto the controller, never wanting to put it down. Uncharted 2 shows off the unmatchable power of the PS3 with ease.
The Story:
Uncharted 2 starts out with Drake waking up on a derailed train hanging off a cliff in the middle of some snow-covered mountains -- how he got there and what derailed the train will be explained much later as you play through the story. Nathan Drake is trying to piece together what happened to the lost expedition of Marco Polo when the famous explorer left with 14 ships and 600 passengers to return with only one ship and 18 passengers. While piecing together clues, Nathan stumbles across Marco Polo's secret expedition to Shambhala (also known as Shangri-La) to recover the powerful Cintamani Stone. Once Nate finds out that a psychotic criminal named Zorin Lazarevic is after the stone as well, it becomes a race to destroy the artifact before it falls into the wrong hands.
Uncharted 2 takes players into the snowy depths of the Himalayas, the war-torn streets of Nepal, to gorgeous tropical locations, and gun fights on top of trains speeding through picturesque countrysides. The game is a long, twisting story filled with back-stabbing, love connections, and even reunions with past friends. By the way, having played the first Uncharted is vital as this sequel has recurring characters and many references to the original.
The Characters:
Fans of the first Uncharted will be very pleased to know that Sully and Elena return to help out in Nathan’s new adventures. Also along for the ride is Nate’s new love interest, Chloe Frazer. The character development in Uncharted 2 is some of the best I have seen in video game history. Players will not be able to help but fall in love with each character’s personality and individuality. The small, “everyday” style of dialogue that happens between the characters as you play through is so brilliantly written and acted that players will feel as if they are really there, overhearing their conversations. None of the little chats feel cued or triggered; each of them feel genuine, as if they have true emotion behind them.
The Graphics:
Uncharted 2 has the most beautiful visuals I have even seen in a movie or video game. There were moments where I would do nothing but stand there and pan the camera around, taking in the breathtaking scenery. Naughty Dog has perfected the perception of distance and making even the slightest detail completely realistic. It’s really the small things that get my attention, like how Nathan’s tracks in the snow ice over after a few seconds, or how when on top of high buildings or ledges, you can see the wind blowing through his hair, or even each little ripple in the water as he swims through it. Even the characters have such small little details about how they carry themselves or how they walk that add life to each one of them.
The Controls:
The controls are basically the same as in the original game, with only a few tweaks. Now gamers can throw grenades and walk over fallen logs without having to use the annoying SIXAXIS motion controls. Also, it’s now easier to grab ledges without walking off the edge, and the hint button has changed from L2 to the “up” button on the D-pad.
Overall:
No question, Uncharted 2 is my Game of the Year. No other game has captivated my attention like this. The only complaint I have about this title is that it had to end -- I am anxiously awaiting an Uncharted 3.
Score: 10 out of 10
Look for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves exclusively for the PS3 on October 13.
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- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
- Score: 5.00/5.0
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- GamePro's Score: 5.00/5.0
