Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

The PS3’s most critically acclaimed title Uncharted was bound to have a sequel eventually and sure enough, in 2008, Uncharted 2 was announced and released in late 2009 to even more acclaim than its predecessor. Do Nathan Drake’s adventures continue to excite or should he sail off into the sunset, once last time?!

“More of the same” is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot these days, generally with a negative connotation. That is NOT the case for Uncharted 2. I caught myself saying it several times during my initial play through but it was with a smile. The Uncharted series can simply be summed up as a Summer Blockbuster on a Blu-Ray…That YOU control.

Uncharted 2 was able to recapture that feeling for the entire 10-15 hour play through and more. I never expected Uncharted 2 to be able to top its prequel, but I was wrong. Many of you may now my love for the first Uncharted so, naturally like most would be, when a sequel is announced, plenty of things could wrong and tarnish the franchises reputation forever. Naughty Dog undoubtedly realized this and made sure that they ensured gamers would get more of the same but enjoy every minute of it.

Story:

The story is exactly what you would expect from Naughty Dog and its storywriters, a big budget, action-flick with twists, turns, and cheesy, but lovable one-liners to keep you entertained the whole ride through. 75% of the main game is told in a flashback which leads up to Nathan’s perilous escape from a train dangling from the side of a mountain. Of course, when the game opens with this scene, you’re scratching your head trying to make sense of it all, but it soon comes clear and the end result is fantastic.

Taking place shortly after Nathan’s first adventure, he is approached by two old acquaintances to retrieve an arbitrary oil lamp that could lead to the lost treasure of Marco Polo. Needless to say, things go awry shortly after and Nathan is caught right back up in the adventure of a lifetime. With stunning locales strewn throughout the game and a story fit for the silver screen, Uncharted 2 delivers yet again on being able to tell a terrific story any gamer can sit back, play through, and enjoy.

Gameplay:

The gameplay mechanics remain largely untouched form the first game and for good reason, there were no problems with the first games controls, so like the old proverb says, “If it ain’t broke…”

The style is very reminiscent, as many have said before, of a third person shooter with a Gears of Wars –esque cover system; which works VERY well. Popping out to take a shot or move from cover to cover is satisfying and easy, never irritating. Grenades are destined to go where you want them go thanks to the new arc design sighting. One feature that could be irritating at times but was well instituted was the quick time events thrown in during some of more hectic action sequences. They did NOT want you to put your controller down.

Another returning feature from the first game was the treasures hidden throughout the game for eagle-eyed adventurers. As well as the individual achievements such as killing “x” amount of guys without dying, or achieving “x” of headshots. Scoring these not only help increase your trophy count, but helped increase your in-game bank in order for you to buy various content ranging from concept art, movies, and extra characters for online and cheats.

As for online, I SUCK at online games and it was no different here, I was absolutely destroyed in every game, but I am happy to say there was 0 lag in the games I played and though I was destroyed, I had fun. Implementing the climbing mechanic of the single-player game into the multiplayer adds a new dimension to multiplayer. While I didn’t need or ask for a multiplayer section of the game, it’s nice it’s there for those who care for that style of gameplay. Just not my cup of tea.
<p ><strong>Graphics & Presentation</strong></p>
Hands down, the BEST graphics I have seen yet in gaming. I’m not sure how Naughty Dog keeps doing it, but they’re pushing us towards the uncanny valley faster than James Cameron EVER will!! The characters move and act lifelike, the set pieces are breathtaking, and the voice acting and soundtrack are outstanding. The Metal Gear Solid franchise and Mass Effect are the only games I can consider on par with Uncharted in presentation of presenting a living, breathing, believable world. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

In fact, Mass Effect is the ONLY other game (aside from the first Uncharted) that has mastered art of lip-syncing. Having played years and years of JRPGS and watching hours and hours of anime, to ACTUALLY see the lips matching what is being said, I’m impressed. I realize it’s because the developer(s) are Western developers, but still, it is small touches like that, that stand out to me. I welcome more developers to take note of the small stuff like that in the future.

Of course, I couldn’t escape talking about presentation without bringing up the amazing as always voice work of Nolan North and the rest of the cast. Believable and genuine are what I would describe the entire cast as. Nothing ever seems forced, and I think this is assisted via the fantastic writing staff. There isn’t a game with a tighter writing style than Naughty Dog, Bioware comes a close second, but I’ll read a Naughty Dog story over a Bioware any day. Sorry guys, I love your work, but they’re better at the moment, hey, it’s something to shoot for!!

Final Thoughts:

What else can I say about this title that hasn’t already been said? It IS more of the same, but in a very, VERY good way. Without a doubt, if you loved Uncharted 1, Uncharted 2 should be a definite must play for you. It’s one of the best single player experiences available for any console and should to be experienced who has the means. You won’t be disappointed in the slightest.

Final Score: 10