Review - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Game: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Platform: PS3
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Players: 1
Release: Out Now

It might be just after you take down a helicopter, or after scrambling up a train that’s literally dangling from the edge of a cliff that you realise Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is something truly special. Nathan Drake returns in this stunning sequel to 2007’s Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Fans of the original game will remember it for many reasons; it played just like watching an Indiana Jones film, with thrilling 3rd person gunfights separated by platforming that would make Lara Croft shake in her boots. The game also looked stunning, the best out there for it’s time. Saying that the sequel has a lot to live up to could perhaps be the understatement of the year.



Fortunately Uncharted 2 delivers on the hype and then some. This globe-trotting adventure holds about 10 hours of jaw dropping action as Drake chases after the lost treasure of Marco Polo. Whether you’re sneaking through the streets of war torn Nepal or hanging on for dear life in the Himalayan Mountains, the game never lets up.

The first thing you’ll notice is simply just how good the game looks. And by that, I mean it’s easily the best looking game to grace a console yet, pushing past Gears of War and Killzone 2. The level of detail you’ll find in any one aspect of the game is just incredible, and this goes past the graphics. Voice acting and story are both top notch, as if you expected any less. The game goes along way to pour everything is possibly can into its presentation, there’s not even a single loading screen after you load up you save.

You’ll get your hands on a load of weapons from the original game, but new additions such as the grenade launcher are more than welcome, and when combined with an improved cover system make for some frantic fights. Even better, you can assault the enemy with your bare fists for some grizzly hand-to-hand sequences. There’s a bunch of times the game will throw something else at you, armoured soldiers, helicopters, even tanks, to make it that bit more memorable. Amazing set pieces play host to the battles, a fight on a speeding train being the highlight. The detail and care in the presentation clearly carries over to the gameplay itself. Platforming returns to mix things up, as do some fairly simple puzzles. They might feel more like road blocks than variety at times, but that’s rarely the case.

The biggest addition over last time however is the multiplayer. There’s a heap of deathmatch modes, along with 2 co-op game types. While the vs matches may well tear you away from Call of Duty 4 for a while, it’s the co-op that stands out, survival missions seeing you hold out against waves of enemies with a friend, like Gears of War 2’s horde mode. Then there are missions that take place in areas from the single player campaign. They do more than enough to make sure this is one disc that will stay in your PS3 for a while.

Ultimately, for all the set pieces, graphics, and guns the game throws at you, it’s the little things in Uncharted 2 that will stick with you. Like making it through a tense scrap by the skin of your teeth, or getting that incredibly lucky shot. Make sure you don’t miss this game.