Customer Reviews

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Game of The Year Edition

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Uncharted broke some new territory not long after the PS3 was released to the market. It took the classic 3rd person platformer and married it to a cinematic movie experience that broke several boundaries, making it one of the most addictive games on the console. As an unwritten law, any future sequels should always be bigger and more bombastic than the original, and Uncharted 2 succeeds on every level.

It's hard to fathom the difference in quality between Uncharted 1 and 2, for they are light years apart. Uncharted 2 amps up the game's graphical quality tenfold with a new game engine that allows for more diverse and highly detailed environments and character models. I was gobsmacked the first time I entered the game's jungle environment, which was quite simply a major paradigm shift from the first game. Lighting effects are gorgeous, as are texture detail and framerate. It's difficult to comprehend just how this game can look so good, as it indisputably pushes the boundaries of what the PS3 is capable of. I could pit this game against several top-tier PC games running at higher resolutions and Uncharted 2 would still hold up among them. Essential to the believability of the game are the characters. Their 3D models are absolutely striking. Facial animations are as realistic as we're going to get for the next few years, effectively eliminating any major uncanny valley effect and helping me immerse myself into the reality of what I'm seeing. Every cutscene in the game was acted out on a blank stage with the voice actors in tight black jumpsuits and motion-capture balls, which ironically makes the game even more impressive given the lack of any real environments to act against. Kudos to the cast of the game, for they truly make it what it is. Nolan North is absolutely the best actor to play Nathan Drake, mixing serious emotional believability with hilarious, side-splitting comic delivery. Farscape and Pitch Black alumni Claudia Black shines as the sexy, exotic Chloe Frazer, giving Nathan a true equal in both profession and personality. Equally great to have back is Emily Rose playing Elena Fisher, the adventurous, adorable reporter who serves as one of Nathan's two love interests. Indeed, the cast is what breathes true life into the game, proving that the biggest and baddest action sequences can fall flat without any heart or spirit from the characters.

Speaking of action sequences, they are plentiful, and they are amazing. My jaw dropped several times over the course of the game as I battled a Russian helicopter from inside a building that was actually toppling over, and held on for dear life on the side of a speeding train through the Nepal countryside. I could go on, but it would spoil the fun for the uninitiated. Sound design in the game is magnificent. Glorious cinematic adventure music harkens back to the golden days of Hollywood adventure blockbusters, while sound effects lend a big hand in immersing the gamer in a believable world. Every environment is punctuated with appropriate effects, and combat sounds rumble deep and loud through your speakers. It makes excellent use of a 5.1 surround system to draw you in. Great stuff! Uncharted 2 mixes high-octane, blistering action with moderate puzzle elements and a rich, wondrous storyline to craft a cinematic, interactive experience. Take the best parts of the Indiana Jones films, blend it with the Die Hard franchise, and pepper it with some pinpoint comedic timing and you have Uncharted 2.

It's not without its faults, though. Even on a moderate difficulty setting, Uncharted 2 can be cheap and brutal at times. Like the original, dying in Uncharted 2 rarely feels like the result of a player's inefficiency and more like the game just cheated. There were moments in the game where I had to die and repeat over 15 times before I actually beat the sequence. Each time it was a result of being surrounded cheaply and overwhelmed with sheer numbers. Nothing is more frustrating than diving behind cover from several enemies, only to have more shooting at you directly from behind and at the sides (and sometimes from the high ground). When I finally did gain the upper hand over my attackers, it felt more like blind luck and escaping by the skin of my gritted teeth. Thankfully, the game's immersive structure made me forget how red in the face and angry I was.

If you pass up Uncharted 2, you're passing up on one of the best videogames around today. Its narrative structure and presentation bests anything else on the market besides Mass Effect 2, and that's high praise indeed.

PRESENTATION: 10/10
GRAPHICS: 10/10
SOUND: 10/10
CONTROL: 9/10
FUNFACTOR: 10/10

OVERALL: 99%

PROS: Unbelievable graphics and character models, Hollywood-inspired action sequences, wonderful acting
CONS: Extremely frustrating difficulty in certain sequences

Excellent, game of the year. This is the game to buy if your into shooters. Play this then uncharted 1, then 3 in my opinion.

Great story line. Great characters and even more fun than the first game. I would recommend this title to people who like great action games with intriguing plots.

Uncharted 2 is hands down one of the best video games that I have ever played. After hearing so many good things abut the franchise I decided o try out Uncharted. While still a fun game, It wasn't anything that blew me away. I got Uncharted 2 recently and the visuals and gameplay are fantastic. It's literally like your playing out a Summer blockbuster movie. The shootouts are phenomenal and being able to throw down with bad guys in what can sometimes be pretty epic fights is really fun. Not to mention the new stealth attacks are fun to execute as well. It doesn't end there though. The storyline is also very fun, exciting, and intriguing. There are plenty of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.

If you have a PS3, do yourself a favour and buy Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. In my opinion it's definitely one of the best video games ever made. Uncharted 3 has a lot to live up to.

This is an excellent game and absolutely worth your money. It's almost like watching an interactive movie. The graphics are beautiful and the environments are lush. I loved the characters, the action and the puzzles. It was enjoyable up to the end, and I honestly can't wait for the third game to come out next year.

I have also confirmed that the vouchers for the DLC do work! Naughty Dog has officially announced on their forums that the expiry date on the voucher does have a typo, and should say 10/12/2011 instead of 10/12/2010.
(see: [...]).

So please, don't let that little typo from preventing you getting this little gem!

I bought this game for my boyfriend as his birthday gift. The only complaint that we have is that the case was cracked and we didn't know until he opened it as the crack was in the seam. Other than that, the game is great. I enjoy watching it as well since it is like a little movie.

97% metacritic score says it all. This is truly the best game made this console cycle.

The writing is sharp and witty and the pacing is perfect. It surpasses Uncharted 3 in
all the most important aspects.

The game is fantastic. Best graphics I have ever seen on a console game, a great story, and great gameplay. After playing it I understand why it won so many game of the year awards, it's an experience you can't miss.

I love immersing myself in the world of Drake. The detail to the scenery is astounding, and the flow of gameplay is pretty seamless in navigating most environments. The sound is equally as good. Too bad the game seems short, but hopefully the GOTY version will offer some longevity.

Voici un jeu captivant avec une histoire digne des meilleurs films. L'action est soutenu et l'intrigue nous garde en haleine. Bon choix !