Great PS3 Exclusive Action Adventure Game.
Yeah, I know, I'm a bit late to the party. For the last year in a half (almost), I've had nothing but people telling me that I need to experience Uncharted 2. It's apparently one of the greatest games ever made, but I felt that I should get a grasp on this world of Nathan Drake before I ventured into a sequel without knowing anything about Drake or anything.
Uncharted is not a perfect game. In fact, it's far from perfect. Yes, the typical "Dude Raider" or "Tomb Robber" stereo-types are very noteworthy here. In fact, the first few chapters of the game (chapters are how levels are divided in this game) put me off for awhile. I simply dismissed the game as a Tomb Raider knock off, and for several months, the game sat on my shelf collecting dust. However, I recently was once again hounded by several people to play the sequel, so I decided that it's time to trek through the original game and get it down.
Let's note that while the story is probably the best thing this game offers, that is the only thing this game has on Tomb Raider. My main beef with Uncharted is that the gunplay mechanics are downright disastrous. Enemies will weave and dodge, and come on, what dude takes four shotgun blasts to the chest without going down? Unless your Batman, Steven Seagal, or Arnold, you ain't taking bullets. In fact I find it hard to believe how bad the gunplay of this game is consider the year before this game came out, Gears of War revolutionized third person shooting. But I won't get all Xbox 360 on you here.
What I do like about Uncharted is that unlike Tomb Raider, there is a bit better sense in that the control mechanics for climbing, swimming, and doing all your raiding type of stuff. I enjoyed the control of this game better then any previous Tomb Raider game. But I firmly believe that this is a world where both of these franchise's can exist, so besides comparisons, I won't be saying that either is better then the other.
However, let me get back to the story. Ah the story, it's so damn well written. I actually chuckled a few times during this game at the witty dialogue. Not to mention, I enjoyed more of this story here then the most recent "Indiana Jones" film. Look, Naughty Dog, you created a story here that rivals the latest Indiana Jones film...that should tell someone something. Nathan Drake is on the hunt for the lost gold of Sir Francis Drake, who he shares relation to. The story that unfolds is quite damn good, including something that games almost never do: establishing a cast of characters that you actually give a damn about. Nathan Drake isn't just your typical Space Marine running in and doing some killing against some aliens, nor is he your typical gun or sword totatting badass, who kills demons. Nathan Drake is as human as you or I. At least that is how I felt.
Uncharted's story pace is so perfect though, which more then makes up for the shotty gunplay. Now that I've finished it...I hear that sequel calling my name...
But do yourself a favor, if you have a PS3, and you haven't given Uncharted a try...check out the first game first...it's pretty damn good.
