Ahem.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of the best single player campaigns since Metal Gear Solid in 1998. It’s that game changing. The team at Naughty Dog are true artists who know and love their medium. Literally every moment in Uncharted (minus one sequence but more on that later) is programmed, polished, and written fantastically by the game’s creators. It is almost a shame that this game is an exclusive to the PS3 as every gamer needs to experience it as a whole. Trust me, going to a friend’s house and playing a part of Uncharted 2 is simply not enough to say you have played the game. No one person can play this game (regardless of your console allegiance) and find an immediate resistance to continue through Nathan Drake’s adventure.
This sequel to the 2007 hit, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves follows Nathan Drake on his latest adventure to uncover the lost fleet of Marco Polo. After being approached by old “colleagues” about a mysterious client’s interest in the legend of Marco Polo, Drake and his trusty pal Sully embark on an epic tale of action, betrayal, and then some more action. In the heart of the old Indy movies, the game takes the player on a wonderful voyage from one ancient beauty to the next, and you blow up a whole lot of stuff along the way.
YAY:
- The gameplay is everything that has worked in the past 10 years in perfect harmony. The cover system is fast and easy to push the fight while maintaining full control of Drake, the shooting relies on burst fire accuracy with some great run and gun moments, the platforming is fun and suspenseful, and it regularly irks a response from the player that is very similar to “oh shit!”.
- The set-pieces in Uncharted 2 are mindbogglingly good. Every moment of the game is filled with so much urgency and suspense that you find your hands sweating all over the controller. I don’t care how many times you have seen the Nepal war zone helicopter fight online, as soon as you play through that section of the game you’ll be leaning forward wide-eyed at what you just experienced in-a-video game.
- The writing in most video games lately has gotten choppy by their conclusion. Uncharted 1 certainly got lost in its own moment so much that the ending seemed really off track, but Uncharted 2 takes control of the wheel and puts the pedal to the floor. The in-game conversations between Drake and his companions are nice and exposing, while the cinematic cutscenes are intense and rather fun. It’s no Metal Gear or Bioshock, but its better than any blockbuster film released this year.
- Oh yeah and the game’s gorgeous, but that’s beside the point.
NAY:
- The only real thing that turned me off in Uncharted 2 was the final boss battle. It’s the lamest sequence in the game. After fighting legions of mercs, soldiers, and monsters, Drake’s final opponent has the most retarded weakness on the planet. I’ll give you a hint far more subtle than the game, “they’re round and blue sacks”.
If you don’t own a PS3, then you finally have a reason to make up for it. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a game that cannot be missed. Do horrible and terrible things if necessary to play it. You won’t be disappointed.
