Uncharted 2 Review
I don’t really need to open up with the obligatory explanation of what Uncharted 2 is, or who made it, because honestly unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard of it. So let us proceed straight to it.
The first thing that caught your eye was most likely the graphics, and for good reason. Uncharted 2 gives every game a run for its money in this department, no matter the platform you play on. Weather effects, explosions, and animations all look phenomenal, especially on an HD TV. One could stand still (a stat that is tracked) for ages looking out at the vistas presented throughout the games story. One gripe is that Naughty Dog didn’t seem to keep many set pieces close to the chest, and this causes you to think, “Yup, that was awesome when I watched it”. Grant it, it wasn’t required that I watch it, but what videogame fan wouldn’t have?
Uncharted isn’t a one trick pony either, offering a sizeable singleplayer game with solid shooting controls and a bit of puzzle action, the latter of which can get quite frustrating due to the games lack of fluent climbing controls… with practice you can wow spectators with daring jumps, but it will take a lot of practice (and deaths) before this happens.
You can play through the story in about 7-9 hours, but you will most likely be drawn back for another playthrough to unlock some of the trophies you missed on the first run. A comrade is at your side about 90% of the time, so it’s a wonder as to why co-op wasn’t more fleshed out. The three levels presented from the singleplayer quest are a blast to play with friends, but with so many more available, it’s a wonder why this feature wasn’t more fleshed out. Grant it I am not one to say that every game would be better with co-op; I just think it works great in this game.
The multiplayer features a plethora of game modes, and about eight maps that can be played 5v5 with matchmaking. This is a fully featured multiplayer title out of the box, and a big win for PS3 fans looking for that special versus mode. It takes a few cards out of Call of Duty’s hand, with customizable perks and a level system, and a cover system reminiscent of Gears of War. This all works great, but matchmaking can sometimes take awhile, and it gets frustrating online when you seem to always kill your enemy just as he kills you.
There are plenty of unlocks, concept art, and developer videos that will keep you coming back. The videos in particular are interesting to watch, mainly to see how the game took form from a cinematic perspective, as well as the voice actors portraying the characters.
Uncharted 2 is a great game, and while not wholly original, what it does sets the bar high for future developers. They took everything from the original and improved tenfold. I would fully recommend this game to anybody that owns a PS3.
9.7 - Presentation: Great story and cutscenes, and while controls get the job done, there are too many instances where you miss a jump that was just moments ago made with ease.
9.9 - Graphics: The best visuals on a console, and gives great competition to the PS3.
9.5 - Sound: Voice acting, gunfire, and explosions sound great.
8.5 - Gameplay: A tried and true formula. Good mix of puzzles and combat, but the former’s controls are frustrating at best.
8.8 - Longevity: Naughty Dog improved the length of singleplayer, but didn’t offer enough co-op levels. Multiplayer is fun, but won’t compete with the big boys.
- Overall: 9.3/10
Afterthoughts (no effect on final score): Uncharted was hyped to great extent, and in a way I think that derives from the game when you actually play it. With most of the epic events spoiled from previous footage, you can’t help but feel like you have been there and done that. Regardless, it is well worth the price of admission. Trophies are great, offering a viable excuse to come back to singleplayer.
