The Crown Jewel
Mr.Untouchable
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane. Looking at the sparse selection of titles that were available in 2007 for the Playstation 3, few titles stood out as gems. Of course, Ninja Theory’s Heavenly Sword comes to mind, but one title basically defined the PS3 experience, being praised by critics and gamers alike. That game was Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Naughty Dog had crafted not only a new character that was genuine, but also a game that had plenty of memorable moments. The first title had its share of flaws, but with lessons learned, the team set out to create a sequel to raise the bar in terms of gameplay and storytelling.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is undeniably the most amazing game you will play this generation – to date. The game is so ridiculously polished. I thought MGS:4 was the best single player experience this generation, but Uncharted 2 takes the cake.
Nathan Drake’s new adventure revolves around an unsolved historical mystery – this time surrounding Marco Polo and his doomed voyage home from China in 1292. After spending almost 20 years in the court of the emperor Kublai Khan, Marco Polo departed with 14 ships and over 600 passengers and crew – but when he arrived at his destination a year and a half later, only one ship remained, and only 18 of the passengers had survived. The story will eventually lead Drake to the Himalayas on a search for Shangri-La
Way more than most titles before it, this game feels like a true Hollywood Blockbuster that you control in the palm of your hands The first reason being that the game never, ever lets up, even at points that are supposed to be “slow”. There are more water cooler moments in this game than most. They all show themselves at the perfect moment too, from engrossing plot points to some intelligently crafted fight sequences. It’s a very unpredictable, yet entirely satisfying dynamic. Then, there is the excellent camera placement. Uncharted 2 intentionally fixes the camera so it can pull you into the world, showing even the smallest details. Even the way the camera pans when a scene starts is predesigned, bringing attention to the gorgeous scenery. It’s kind of hard to explain here, but when you see it in action, it will be appreciated. Lastly, there are the visual themselves. You will be hard-pressed to find a game (maybe MGS:4) that looks this good on any system, period. There are so many small details that have nothing to do with gameplay that shine throughout the entire game. It gives a great since of immersion with all of these elements working together.
What is so amazing about this game is how it continues to push you forward with crafting the story, though. There aren’t too many surprises, but the game makes you want to continue to play until the end. The developers have penned a story with a deliberate “smack-in-the-face” pace. It’s again, just like a blockbuster movie. You have to watch it, knowing that the ending will be well worth your time and in this case, effort. The delivery and character development are nothing short of amazing. The banter between the various characters in Drake’s world is sharp and witty. The game does a good job of filling moments of bland, dry space with meaningful conversations, giving a social aspect to Drake and Co. - even down to your enemies. You will actually care about the cast of this game.
As for gameplay, you can expect more in Uncharted 2. Of course gunfights, environmental navigation and puzzle solving mechanics are back, but now they are blended together in a more streamlined fashion, especially combat and navigation. For most it will take a second play through to actually appreciate the fantastic level design. While the first Uncharted had you mostly on the ground moving from cover to cover while firing your piece, the second adventure gives you a more vertical dynamic. Multiple levels and areas are abound for you to use to your advantage. Sure you can stay on the ground, but actually being able to move to higher ground to flank makes the battle more realistic, giving more of a tactical approach to combat. Couple this with clever options on how you actually dispatch enemies, and the possibilities become virtually endless.
What more can I say about Uncharted 2? The game is spectacular from the beginning to the end. Oh, I forgot the multiplayer…forgive me - Fu*king Awesome! Naughty Dog has done a fine job of bringing the single player elements into multiplayer. There are the standard team deathmatch, capture the flag (or treasure), and elimination amongst other modes. You also have co-op modes, one sort of like Horde in Gears 2 called Survival, and the other is playing out single player scenarios with up 2 buddies. In the co-op modes communication is critical, lest you be popped point blank with a .45 in the back of your skull. With so much going for the single-player expeirence, the multiplayer is just a thick layer of icing on the cake.
Uncharted 2 is a true contender for Game of the Year. It does not change anything in the third-person shooter genre; it just does everything that defines the genre with uncanny brilliance. This one is worth every bit of $60 and even a few sick days from the office. PS3
