Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

From the very first step I took in Nathan Drake’s shoes, I knew that Uncharted 2 was going to be a great game. I didn’t know that it would become my favourite game to date though. It is a true masterpiece, building on all the elements that made Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune so popular among gamers. Uncharted 2 improves upon the original’s strengths, such as platforming and atmosphere, while bringing other elements, such as gunplay and replay value, far beyond what was expected.

The first thing that any gamer will notice when they begin playing Among Thieves is just how beautiful the game is. There’s a reason that most gamers consider it to be the most graphically impressive title on a gaming console to date. From the first cut-scene to the last, along with everything in between, the game is graphically phenomenal. The jungles are lush, the city landscapes are inspiring and the snowy peaks are breathtaking. The developers at Naughty Dog have provided gamers with the most graphically astounding console game yet.

The storyline behind Uncharted 2 is solid (if somewhat unoriginal), but it is the way in which it is told that makes it so unforgettable. Players, who take on the role of Nathan Drake again, are provided with backstory and details throughout the game. While cutscenes still provide most of the information, there is still much to learn while you are actually playing. A key part to this is the chemistry between the characters, which is truly engaging.

Whereas Drake’s Fortune had somewhat shoddy gunplay (at times), Among Thieves suffers from that ailment no more. Unlike most action-adventure titles of the past (such as Tomb Raider), the gunplay is as fun and rewarding as the platforming aspect of the title. No longer do gun battles provide a distraction from the fun, they are now central to the game’s appeal.

The control scheme has also been refined this time around. Grenades now have their own button, unlike in the game’s predecessor. The cover system is much improved, which is central to the improvement fire fights in-game. Drake also feels much easier to control and players are more in-touch this time around with his strengths and weaknesses.

One of the biggest complaints levelled against Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was the game’s lack of replay value. While the campaign was very entertaining, it could only be played a small number of times before it became completely predictable and dull. Among Thieves, as a response to this criticism, features a fully-formed online segment. Players can engage in competitive deathmatches and objective-based matches, or co-operate in the Co-Op objective matches or on Co-Op missions. What’s more, the online segment of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of the most enjoyable to date. While it’s not perfect, it is pretty close.

All in all, it is clear why Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is being touted as the “Playstation 3’s killer app”. It is undoubtedly the best game released this year, and quite possibly this generation. It is a must-own for all Playstation 3 console owners, while I’m sure there will be people who purchase the console in order to play this game. Among Thieves has received more than 30 perfect scores from large game reviewers and it can now add another 10/10 to that list. An instant classic from the team at Naughty Dog who seem to do no wrong.

Score:   10/10