Passes the test, better than the rest
When Uncharted: Drake's Fortune launched in 2007, Naughty Dog wasn't quite sure what it was. Was it a third person shooter or an action game? Thankfully Uncharted 2 mixes the two masterfully and improves on its predecessor in every way imaginable.
In Uncharted 2 Among Thieves, Nathan Drake returns in a cinematic masterpiece that is so well paced you'll forget that you've been playing for twelve hours (and so will everyone that's been watching). From the opening scene on a train dangling from a cliff to the intense helicopter chase, you're always at the edge of your seat and your sanity and beautiful graphics just extend that even further. He is joined by a colorful cast of believably-voiced friends and enemies, sinking you much deeper into the campaign. A seamless blend of action and story must also be complemented with a tight control scheme, which the game has also perfected. Grenades are now mapped to a dedicated button and the clunky melee combat has been simplified to two buttons to never take you away from the action.
The other big change in Uncharted 2 is the addition of multiplayer. Naughty Dog borrows popular mechanics from other big shooters like leveling and perks and combines them with all the standard game modes to create a deep, robust, and rewarding online experience unlike any other. Add in the third person camera, cover system and constant DLC and you'll finally have something that will pull you away from Call of Duty.
Uncharted 2 isn't revolutionary, but it is one action adventure game that challenges even some of the best action movies around. Naughty Dog has created a game that shines by the sum of its parts with an over-the-top campaign, addicting multiplayer, and beautiful visuals that make this the game of the year.
