Well I have been spending the past few days playing through this game and I must say, this is one of the best games I have ever played! Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is simply a masterpiece of modern gaming. An almost perfect blend of story, cinematic action sequences and gameplay topped off with some of the best graphics and visuals I have ever seen. A game truly deserving of all the hype and praise it has received. If for some reason you have not had a chance to play it yet, you need to do so immediately. It is a must play for anyone with a PS3. But enough gushing, let's break it down and take a closer look at all the parts that make up the whole.
The game really does feel like an interactive action movie. More so than any other game I have ever played. This is due to several key components... cutscenes, story, pacing, cinematic direction and level design. Uncharted 2 takes all of these things and blends them seamlessly into a video game experience like no other. Let's start with the story. The guys at Naughty Dog really did an amazing job creating a wonderful story and fantastic writing. The Uncharted series has always based it's stories in real historical mystery and the second outing is based around the travels of Marco Polo and the mystery surrounding his return from China where most of his expedition went missing. Our hero, Nathan Drake, sets off to find out exactly what happened and winds up in a story much bigger then he originally bargained for. The story is filled with action, love, betrayal, humor and actually manages to get you invested in the characters and their actions. Something most video games never quite manage. It's obvious that the story was very important to the guys a Naughty Dog and I must say, they nailed it.
A solid story is important but how you present that story is just as crucial. For that we need cutscenes and action sequences. Fantastically written and acted, the cutscenes in Uncharted 2 are a real treat. Which is a good thing because there are quite a few and unlike some games, you never want to skip a single one. The story and scenes are so well done that you are actually looking forward to the next one. Part of that is due to the fact that the voice actors actually act out every scene wearing mo-cap suits. The result is a much more life like performance that is actually happening. Doing it this way really seems to capture the life of the scene and allows the actors to play off each others performances. Couple the solid writing, good acting and cinematic direction and you have a real treat. Not to mention, all the cutscenes and action sequences are seamlessly integrated into the game. No load time, no prompting. They just take over and put you back in control in such a way that you really feel a part of the game.
And speaking of action sequences. OH MY GOD! This game pulls off action sequences like no other. This game has so many "Oh *#%$!" moments it's amazing and they just happen while your playing. Fortunately, they don't require you to do anything. No button pressing to do, no timed events. Just pure action. Usually brief, like having the floor come out from under you and then you are back in control scrambling to climb back up. And while these scenes are pre-scripted, it really feels like it's actually happening while you are playing and never takes you out of the action. It's a wonderful addition to the cutscenes and a key part of making the game as fluid as it is.
Another part of the equation is the level design and the game shines here as well. The level design is fluid and well done. Rarely will you ever find yourself wondering where to go next. It's just intuitive. After a battle, I always found myself going the right direction. A feat even more impressive considering how large and open some of levels are. There is no glowing trail or anything, just good level design that seem to naturally lead you to the next location or battle. Of course, if you do get stuck somewhere long enough the game has a helpful hint system to point you in the right direction. (I only had to use the feature once the entire time playing)
Of course the game isn't all about story and exploration. There is also a whole lot of fighting to be done. It is and Action/Adventure game after all. Once again, Naughty Dog delivers. The fighting and gun play have a great feel to it. Pop in and out of cover, make your way around to flank the enemy and get flanked yourself. The mechanics are great and everything feels very smooth. The AI will flank, change position and even flush you out of you hiding spot with grenades. Your probably not staying in one place too long which add a great deal of excitement to the battle. You'll be pinned down by five or six guys, trying to pick off the Heavy Armor Shotgun guy headed right at you only to be flushed out by a grenade. All of a sudden you are running for your life, avoiding bullets, sniper fire and the Shotty on your tail. Certainly never a dull moment. And there is no auto-aim or "lock on" feature to get in the way. You can blind fire from behind cover or pop up of more accurate firing and you can also "run and gun" which is helpful when you get flushed out.
Of course gun play isn't your only option. The game also features hand-to-hand combat and stealth kills. Quite often when you enter an area occupied by baddies, you have the element of surprise. You can survey the situation and plan your attack and many times you have the opportunity to pick off several bad guys by sneaking around, grabbing one at a time. You also have the ability to run up and beat the crap out of them too although, it's usually best to do when there is only one or two guys left. Otherwise you could find yourself full of bullets. Still, it is very satisfying. I found myself running in for a quick beat down when ever I got the chance. The animation is solid, varied and just all around fun.
And that brings us to the graphics. Not much to say but WOW! The game is gorgeous. Wonderful locations and lush colors and textures are everywhere. But the real kicker is the amount of moving objects on the screen at one time. Particle effects in the air, dust rolling through, bushes and flags moving in the wind, water dripping from a leaky pipe etc... So many details and objects are moving about that the game really comes to life. The city in Nepal is especially impressive to me. If you see this game in motion, you would hard pressed to Not be impressed. A truly jaw dropping experience.
Put all the above things together and you get one of the best gaming experiences ever made for any console. Don't get me wrong, the game is not perfect. There are a few things here and there... like popping in and out of cover can be a bit tricky and the AI seems particularly oblivious before the fighting starts. Why the patrolling bad guy doesn't seem alarmed when his fellow guards go missing is lost on me. They will even walk right past dead bodies and think nothing of it. But these are minor issues and completely overshadowed by the game as a whole.
All the pieces are solid on there own, but it's the way in which Naughty Dog was able to put it all together the makes the game so special. The graphics, animation, pacing and story all come together in a way that sucks you in and doesn't let go until the credits roll. So fluid and well paced that you feel you are constantly moving forward and action so good that you would almost swear you just played through a 10 hour movie. This game is truly amazing and the sets bar in which all future Action/Adventure games will be measured.
And that just covers the single player adventure. The game also features a solid Multiplayer game mode that will have you playing long after the credits roll.
Final Verdict - 9.8/10
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