Game review: Uncharted 2: Among Theives - Playstation 3

Some people wrote the game off as a Tomb Raider clone or ‘Lara Croft lite’, but ultimately it was an exceptional game.

Starring lovable rogue Nathan Drake, and an ensemble of other characters, the game gave the Playstation 3 a much needed kick in the market and quickly established itself as the must-have title on the system.

That was just the tip of the iceberg, as Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is an altogether more epic experience.

For those unacquainted with the first game, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a linear action-based game where you control the character of Nathan Drake.

Set roughly 2 years after the first game, it all begins in Tibet, with Nathan Drake waking up on a train. As the events unfold it is revealed the train is hanging off a snowy mountain cliff, and our hero Nate has to take it upon himself to climb the train and get back on to level ground.

In contrast to the first game, the opening of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is dramatic and epic. Setting up the game nicely, the opening is actually midway in the actual story - as Nate collapses and has a flashback, detailing how the messy situation all began.

The flashback scene shows Nate talking with Harry Flynn and his partner Chloe Frazer, treasure hunters who are trying to convince him to help them with their latest chase. As it turns out, they are after an ancient lamp which may hold a clue to Marco Polo's long-lost fleet, a fact that peaks Nate's interest and leads to him accepting their offer.

From here the game gets going and soon enough and, much like its predecessor, you are running around, treasure hunting, shooting the bad guys and throwing grenades and one liners in equal measure.

The developers, Naughty Dog, have clearly spent some time refining the Uncharted experience. The gunplay mechanic are smooth and the melee attacks have been enhanced to make you anticipate your opponents moves.

Whereas Drake’s Fortune focused mainly on gun fights and Tomb Raider-esque puzzles, Among Thieves includes elements of espionage. There are levels where you have to sneak around and quietly take out guards. The level in Istanbul is all about timing and positioning, and if done wrong, you have to start again. Luckily, the section is so well designed and so addictive that you don't actually mind restarting.

The game is mostly viewed in the 3rd person, giving the proceedings the same sort of look and feel as a Gears of War or a later Resident Evil title - albeit a more colourful and less gritty one.

Nathan relies on cover quite a bit - be it hiding from villains or just to protect himself from the gunfire from the never ending onslaught of nameless goons.

At times the camera doesn't work as well as it should with the cover mechanic, and you may find yourself having to re-adjust you view. However, this problem is so slight that it doesn't detract from the overall fun.

The various weapons that you acquire through out the adventure also bring a bit of variety in the game – with each weapon serving a purpose.  Oddly enough, one of the most reliable weapons is the standard pistol.

The viewpoint changes during set pieces that are spread out through the game. For example, during one sequence Nathan runs towards the camera with a car chasing him. The change of angle gives the game a nice cinematic feel which adds to the drama, and also gives the designers an opportunity to show their creative flare.

The platform elements of the game are fluid and well paced. They walk a very fine balance of being not too easy and just the right level of entertaining, as Drake will rarely jump in the wrong direction and fall to his death.

Should things prove a little complicated, the developers have included a hint system that will point you in the right direction.

The combination of the action, platform and puzzle mechanics make the single player campaign one of the most enjoyable games on the Playstation 3. Not once does the game get boring or repetitive.

The graphics are as expected - solid, vibrant and nicely rendered. The game was designed on a revamped and optimised version of the original Naughty Dog Game engine, and having made full use of the 25gb available on the blu-ray disc, the artwork and level design is jaw dropping. Settings from Istanbul, the coast of Borneo and all the way up Kathmandu practically look photo realistic.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a visual labour of love, with every section of the game featuring the finest of details that all help to create the atmosphere and setting of the environment. Birds will fly in your wake and flags flap about in the wind.

The cutscenes are among the best I have ever seen. They are all animated superbly, with some very convincing body language and facial expressions.

Audibly the game also excels, especially with the voice acting. Not once do any of the characters sound forced and their performances flow along nicely. This matter is also helped by the fact that several key characters from the first game are back, with the voice actors slipping back into their vocal shoes nicely.

Played through a digital amplifier the sound is presented in DTS, further adding to the realism. If a character is behind you that's where you will hear them if they are talking to you. The same goes for all the other in-game sounds - gun fire, explosions, the odd attack helicopter or two.

When early word hinted that Uncharted 2 would be darker than its predecessor I was worried that the series would lose part of it charm. As fate would have it, it is more fun, more enjoyable and more entertaining than Drakes Fortune.

No game is perfect, and Uncharted 2 does have it flaws.  However what Uncharted 2 does, it does extremely well.  With a strong single player campaign, in which its only flaw is that it finishes, and an addictive multiplayer mode, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a must have if you own a Playstation 3. It is a monumental achievement that has set a benchmark for the gaming industry.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is not only possible contender for game of the year, it is a contender for game of the decade.

Verdict: 9.5 out of 10

The Good

- Great single player campaign
- Good variety of gameplay mechanics
- Great multiplayer features

The Bad

- The single player campaign ends
- Problems with the cover controls