Title: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Platform: PS3
Platform Reviewed: PS3
Developer:
Naughty Dog
Publisher:
Sony
MSRP:$59.99 £49.99 €57.35
Writer: Martin
'lost' Perry
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Review
Drake returns but this time he's out for more than just his bank account. Read on for more about one of this years best games.
Drake's Fortune, the original Uncharted game, was a big success for both Naughty Dog and Sony. It came along at a time where few believed that the PlayStation 3 would ever get its 'killer app' to justify Sony's pricing strategy. It was, however, more than just an exclusive to hurl around fevered console war arguments, it was a landmark piece of entertainment for this generation and cemented the developer's place among the top tier. With his fortune not quite made, and I won't spoil the first story for those of you who haven't experienced it, Drake returns to the PS3 and to treasure hunting. The result is a seriously strong competitor for Game of the Year and, once again, proves itself more than just a system seller. It's something you really shouldn't miss out on.
In 1292 Marco Polo decided that 20 years was quite enough time to spend in the court of Kublai Khan. He headed off home with 14 ships and around 600 passengers – the boats being laden with treasures. The guy takes a good year to get home and manages to lose 13 of the ships and the majority of the crew. Having never told what happened rumors circulate of a huge sapphire known as the Cintimani Stone may well have caused a detour. Drake is hired by a former flame and long-standing friend to help track down this stone but, like all good villains, they betray him and a long-winding story follows that juggles personal relationships, power hungry warlords and history. It's quite brilliant and the story-telling is superb thanks to the quality of the acting on show in the cinematics. You could genuinely cut this stuff together into a DVD.
The story is only part of the appeal however. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves sticks to the same gameplay structure as the previous game with third-person shooting taking up more than half of the playtime. The intuitive cover system has returned but tweaked to feel more natural. Hopping over and rolling between cover spots can be done without trouble, the game responds to little more than a suggestive stick push and a press of the circle button. Blind-firing remains a powerful tool but its effectiveness has been toned back and a bigger focused on the player taking risks. The bullets fly and each of your (and your enemies rounds) feels dangerous. Nathan Drake may well be able to heal up pretty quickly but spend too long outside of cover or fail to take out the various special enemies and you'll soon be full of holes. Most other third-person action games would be happy to just deliver shooting at this standard but Naughty Dog take it further.
The odds are always weighed against Nathan, along with the player, in these situations and overcoming them calls on improvisation. Gas canisters can be thrown, the battlefield navigated and the enemy quickly flanked. You'll often twist these things together into a plan of attack that makes you feel like Rambo. You beat the soldiers because you're better than them, you fight smarter. Not only does the game allow you freedom of armed attack but also tightens up the melee combat. The finishing blow returns and, along with the amount of bullets that they take on, enemies take a realistic level of damage before falling. It is not simply that you have depleted a health bar, you've dealt the decisive move that disables him. Shots to the face still work but may well involve shooting off a helmet before they can be achieved.
In the run up to the first Uncharted the game's platforming was sold the extent that some players found themselves a little disappointed at the number of climbing sections. There's definitely more of them this time around and the quality has improved. The game features more urban (if you can describe Nepal as urban) sections and buildings provide excellent multi-leveled climbing frames that are often mixed in which natural obstacles. On a hillside in the Himalayas you'll climb around a cliff before leaping onto exposed timber framing. Again, control has been improved and navigating these complicated surfaces is more about spotting the next stop on your route than forcing the analogue stick into the exact right spot. Not that it ever was like that with Uncharted of course.
The developers have put together 'best in class' mechanics for platforming and gunplay but twisted them in together along with the melee combat. On top of that stealth has been integrated. I say integrated instead of introduced because these are not static sections of gameplay. With the exception of perhaps one scene you can enter an area, take out as many enemies as you can but then shoot yourself out of a bad situation. You may well want to whip the pistol out straight away and Uncharted 2 allows that. It might not lead to a win for Nathan and pals but should you screw up the balanced sneaking you won't automatically end up at the restart screen.
This freedom is facilitated by truly brilliant level design. Locations spread across the world, including the likes of Borneo amongst the previously mentioned Himalayas, give a more varied playground. Yes, buildings blend into ancient rock but they are often complex towers in themselves. The very best sections, and thats most of the game, feature structures that turn from shooting gallery to jungle gym simply by everybody putting the guns away. That's what makes the game quite so special; leaps might be ludicrous, the supernatural may be present but at all times the gameplay feels natural. Layer upon layer it comes together beautifully – so much so that you probably won't notice until you recount your adventure to a friend.
Speaking of beauty Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is easily one of the best looking games across any platform. That's probably not that surprising if you've seen screenshots but interacting with these characters and places yourself is the only way to get the best of it. The free flowing animation system, which was a little rough around the edges last time, has been worked on to the point where it rarely falters. Nate moves naturally down steps, across rocks and reacts to each explosions differently. Texture and model detail is wonderful throughout but is merely part of excellent creative design. There's a slight cartoon edge to the whole thing with colors being vivid. There's a true sense of cohesion and immersion with sprawling vistas dwarfing your adventure. You do not best these places, they merely allow you to pass through.
So when the lengthy single-player campaign throws you, now an open-mouthed Naughty Dog fanatic, out at the end what else is there to do? Well, thanks to a some 'experimentation' on behalf of the developers you've got a fully featured online multiplayer component too. Typical modes pull alongside a couple of co-operative ones and retain the same mix of monkey clambering, hand-to-hand combat and gun fights as the single-player game. You may well have seen the news story regarding Naughty Dog thanking the likes of Bungie for their help. It may well be thanks for the very similar match making set up. You can earn boosts like Call of Duty by ranking up – its all here and the intriguing levels make it worth persevering over more experienced players that have been involved since the beta.
I'm not sure if this review really explains exactly how great this game is. I played it in two sittings, I didn't really want to stop the first one. This genre, the action adventure, has rarely if ever provided depth and brilliant layered gameplay like this without relying on RPG elements being thrown in. This is a thoroughbred born of the likes of Tomb Raider and Prince of Persia but surpassing the best of both of those franchises. Bonus videos show how highly Naughty Dog value its talent and it pays off. Be surprised if I don't pick this as my Game of the Year.
Score: 5 out of 5
The Good- Gameplay with variety that is truly brilliant throughout.
- Fantastic Sunday serial style story that drags you in and holds you for the full 10 hours.
- Exciting levels that use cunning design rather than gimmicks to entertain.
- Unique online multi-player that rewards those who play longest.
- Almost flawless, truly beautiful presentation and design.
The Bad- The occasional (unavoidable) visual wobble cracks the immersion.
- At some points the purpose of the levels in the story doesn't really justify Drake's effort.
The Ugly
