Just a week ago, my best gaming experience on the PS3 was still the first instalment of the adventures of Nathan Drake in Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. That game was ahead of its time both graphically and cinematically, and no game that has been released on the PS3 since has been able to exceed the standards set by Naughty Dog. That is until I got hold of the sequel to Uncharted last week, and I'm happy to report that the sequel has outdone its predecessor in almost every way.
The game experience from the start is a dramatic cliffhanger, both literally and figuratively, as you help Nathan get out of a precarious situation at the edge of an icy mountain. It is one of the best opening scenes to a game I have played, and following that you will find that the game engages you with its wonderfully executed cinematic storytelling right till the end.
When it comes to cinematics, much has been said about what has been done in MGS4. I for one however think that Mr. Kojima had gotten it wrong and there is very much that he has to learn from Naughty Dog in respect of cinematic gaming, as opposed to just creating cinematics cutscenes. The graphics in Uncharted 2 top its predecessor's, making Uncharted 2 the best graphics seen on the PS3 yet. The palette is vibrant and colorful, the lighting effects are some of the best, and most impressively, the animations are unequaled. Couple such beautiful graphics with some of the best voice-acting and scripted dialogue and that's more than half the battle won in cinematics. But Mr. Kojima should pay particular heed to the fact that Uncharted 2 as a cinematic experience goes well beyond graphics and sounds. The way the cinematics are integrated, incorporated and paced with the gameplay makes Uncharted 2 stand out head and shoulders above Kojima's production. Naughty Dog did not at all lose sight of the fact that they were developing a game, and that rightful role of cinematics is to draw the audience deeper into the game.
The plot and storytelling are superb and are as intriguing and exciting as the best that Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider or any other adventure game has to offer. Lost treasures, puzzles and mysteries, creative retelling of history, friendships and betrayals, love and romance, plot twists - they're all there.
The cast of characters in Uncharted 2, expanded from the first instalment, is equally engaging. Uncharted 1 featured some very memorable and believable characters, and the same can be said for the new characters in Uncharted 2. The amazing thing is that Naughty Dog has obviously put in a lot of effort to inject distinct personalities into all their characters rather than just the protagonist.
Like its predecessor, Uncharted is a shooter, an adventure platformer and a stealth game all rolled into one, and manages to excel in all these areas. The fantastic animations help boost the gameplay tremendously as it gives a sense of realism in each and every of Nathan's atheletic feats and makes the execution of his moves all the more exciting. As a shooter, it is right up there with the best of them with a cover system that is fluid and functional. A nice graphical touch I noticed is that when taking aim, the background becomes faded, giving you the sense that you are focusing on your target. Unarmed combat has been improved too, now with the ability to do counter moves against your foes. There is nothing particularly groundbreaking in the basic gameplay mechanics of Uncharted 2 compared to Uncharted 1, but that's hardly a fault since the gameplay in Uncharted 1 was great.
In the final analysis, Uncharted 2 is brilliant primarily in the way it interweaves its incredibly intense gameplay with its remarkably well-paced and absorbing storytelling. The execution of both is excellent and therefore succeeds in delivering a truly interactive cinematic experience that keeps you at the edge of your seat and/ or riveted to your screen, filled with a real sense of adventure. This is something few other games have been able to accomplish.
I would certainly highly recommend this game to all PS3 owners as it is one that has risen well above all others on that console. As it belongs to a genre of games that is more generally appealing to a wider audience, there is little doubt that it will be the game of the year for 2009.
In a list of games that defined the PlayStation 3, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves would certainly be one of the top contenders. The blockbuster sequel to 2007’s Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune not only received critical acclaim and became a massive hit for Sony’s third console when it was released 15 years ago on October 13th, 2009, but it also cemented Naughty Dog’s future as a developer of cinematic, story-driven action-adventure games as opposed to its history of colorful platformers like Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter from previous PlayStation generations. To this day, Uncharted 2 stands as one of the PS3’s best exclusives and one of the most important PlayStation games of all time.
I loved this era on multiplayer games from Sony. People used to call the modes tacked on multiplayer but they were enjoyable. I loved Factions even more. I'm Still gutted that the second one isn't coming out.
Yeah, that one game where it not only has an amazing single player but the multiplayer was also just as good.
A fresh a breath air with it's more "skill focused, less is more" multiplayer in a time during COD fever where every other game with online was trying to be like it.
Shame NaughtyDog eventually did do COD like things with Uncharted 3 and 4, they ruined what made the original so good. It become an over the top arcade fest in the end.
Ironic cause the MP was basically Halo, and Bungie helped on the technical side of things too. MP was more simple back then, I've said this before but I played U2 MP religiously. I sucked at it like you have no idea, but mah gawd did I have so much fun. Can't find an MP game that hooked me like U2s these days. Then Factions came along and while it had its problem I found new religion with it. Agh damn it why did they cancel Factions 2 bruhh.
It is for sure my favorite game in the series. It's such a blast to play. The train levels still hold up and are fun as hell as well as the entire game.
Still remember the first gameplay video ... shooting the chasing truck and then the beautiful visuals & details whilst traversing the dilapidated Nepal streets ... perfection
Too bad Sony never ported the trilogy to PC ...
I'll say, the PS3 really did sequels better than people give it credit for. Resistance 2, Uncharted 2, Motorstorm Pacific Rift, Infamous 2... all were better than their initial offerings and still hold up to this day.
During MCM Comic Con London X EGX, CGM got the chance to be part of a press group interview with the stars of the Uncharted titles, namely the legendary Nolan North, who played protagonist Nathan Drake, Emily Rose, who portrayed Elena Fisher and Richard McGonagle, who took on the role of Victor ‘Sully’ Sullivan,
Chris, Joseph, and Josh celebrate Active Quest’s 100th episode by discussing their favorite games of all time.
Except what exactly was your gripe with it that made you decide not to go with a higher score(not saying you should since I haven't played it). It would be nice if you could clarify why you wouldn't give it a higher score.
I can't, I mean I can, but it will take some time to save up the money. :/ Nice review though.
NOT A PERFECT 10/10!?!?
microsoft obviously payed this guy off.
:p
Honestly, stop whining about kojimas storytelling, if you don't like it, don't buy it. For the rest of us it is a unique experience that focus's on the story. Nothing wrong with that. Because it excels in just about everything else, and they 'complement' the wonderful story.