Ok, Wow! Thats what I'm talking about!
To be honest, I wasnt really expecting much from this game. I had heard a bit about it before its release, but I wasnt planning on rushing out to get it. I happened to be on PSN, and saw the demo online. I decided just to go ahead and download it, mainly because it was free. I started playing for a bit, and I was seriously impressed. The graphics were stunning, of course, but the detail was incredible - down to Nathan's clothes absorbing the water, before gradually drying out. Plus, the gameplay looked pretty handy too.
This was enough for me to go out and the get the game. The full game did not disappoint either. The overall gameplay felt great - the weapons picked up along the way were useful, without being over-powered and the cover system worked really well.
The story was enjoyable too. Although not the deepest, it was still entertaining, and at times I felt like I was watching/playing a summer blockbuster. The voice asking was also pretty strong.
Although, most of the time you'll be in the jungle taking out pirates, the game does mix it up from time to time - players will get the chance to perform spectacular escape sequences on various vehiecles such as a run-down old jeep and a jet ski.
Many people have compared this to a combination of Tomb Raider meets Gears of War - and theyre right, thats a pretty accurate description. I couldnt help but feel like I was playing through a modern-day Indiana Jones movie, and was loving every minute of it. Although it borrows elements of gameplay from other titles, the key to the game's quality is how well it brings together all these elements, making a game thats fun, accessible and challenging, without leaving the player with the feeling that what theyre playing is recycled material.
If there are any PS3 owners out there who feel there arent a huge amount of top-drawer games for the system, they really need to go out and at the very least, give it a try...