Uncharted 2 Among Thieves Review

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune was one of the few high points of the PlayStation 3 back in 2007. Created by Naughty Dog, it was the first game to really push the PlayStation 3 to it's limits. Not only was playing it great, but just watching the the game progress with it's amazing visuals and Hollywood quality acting was as if you were watching a movie that was gunning for an Oscar award.

Now it's long awaited sequel is here and our protagonist Nathan Drake is back on a brand new, exciting, and crazy adventure that follows Marco Polo. Just like any other video game sequel, one has to ask - is it better then the first? The answer in short is - hell yes. The game is everything that the first was but bigger and better. Naughty Dog has certainly brought their A game to the table and the result is a fantastic and amazing game that sets a new bar of excellence not just above the rest on the PlayStation 3 but for most video games. That's a very tall order. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves does what Uncharted did but better in every possible way. The plot, gameplay, graphics, audio, and acting are all absolutely amazing. Additionally there is multiplayer as well! This may possibly be a review on the Game of the Year.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves plot is completely new and doesn't have a whole lot to do with the first game. If anything, it has to do with Drake's past before the first game. At first, the game opens up with a familiar scene from the announcement trailer, where Drake is on a wrecked train that is dangling off the side of a snowy cliff. From here, Drake has several flashbacks that span over about 10-12 chapters that shows how exactly he got into the train wreck situation. It begins with two old friends approach him after his events from the first game which has Drake living life pretty well. They have a client who wants a specific treasure that is located in a famous museum in Istanbul. The plan is to sneak in and steal the treasure, which happens to be an old oil lamp. Drake dismisses it at first because its just an old inexpensive lamp, but there is more behind the request. The lamp is related to the adventure of Marco Polo where he lost an entire fleet of ships loaded with treasure of an emperor, and somehow this lamp can help find it. Drake immediately jumps on board with the plan and thus the 2nd adventure begins.



The plot takes you, Drake, and company to several foreign and exotic locations around the world. Like the last game, the plot goes through several major plot twists that keep you guessing on whats going to happen next. This is supported by the amazing talents of the voice actors and writers that bring this 'magic' to the entire game. Sometimes you wonder if you're watching a movie or playing a video game. Some people may actually take that as a bad thing, looking back at Metal Gear Solid 4 which disappointed some in that it was basically a really long movie with tiny little gameplay portions in between. That isn't the case here as the plot is embedded in the gameplay itself. While you progress through a level, so does the plot whereas Metal Gear Solid 4 had you play through a big stage and then sit through long, dialogue intensive cutscenes. Cutscenes in Uncharted 2 are peppered across chapters and they are relatively short so you're always moving at a steady pace with gameplay.

Most of the best dialogue and acting that carries the plot and the whole experience even further is while you're actually playing the game. Compared to the first Uncharted where Drake mainly was alone for the majority of the game and only sometimes teaming up with old-time friend Sully or the news reporter Elena, in Uncharted 2 - Drake is accompanied by a large and varied crew. You'll play alongside AI controlled characters that will have conversations or make witty comments while you progress even in the middle of a heated gun fight. Sometimes, you'll be laughing hysterically while you get pumped full of lead from an enemy shotgun because of a partner's or even Drake's own comment on the situation.



Although there is a lot going for the plot, it isn't 100% perfect. There are some inconsistencies here and there that will sometimes make you stop and wonder why the developers went where they did with the plot. The transitions from one foreign location to another around the world is great but sometimes it happens a little too fast. One moment you'll be in the museum in Istanbul and the next swamps and forests of Borneo. It all happens usually in one quick cutscene that will leave you wondering where you are all of a sudden. There are also some questions you'll probably be asking about the plot in the beginning of the game that won't be answered until the end of the game, like what exactly is the main villain after for example. These do not take a whole lot from the experience enough to say it kills the whole game, but certainly keeps the plot from being close to perfect.

The gameplay of Uncharted 2 is basically the same as the first game but with improvements. Spanning close to 10-12 hours long, it's typical 3rd person gameplay with mix genres of platforming, puzzles, and shooting. Platforming and the puzzles are exactly the same as the first game. The combat on the other hand has 2 big differences. Compared to the first game, the second combines platforming and gun fights a lot more. Many times you'll find yourself having to climb terrain while avoiding being shot. Among Thieves also likes to toss in chase scenes where you'll need to run away from enemy while tackling obstacles in order to survive. Several of these are really big highlights of the game that not only is great fun, but really are visually impressive due to the combination of amazing camera work and graphic detail. More on that later though.

The other difference is that the melee combat has been expanded to include stealth-styled combat. This means that you can quietly approach an enemy from behind and take him out without alarming the other enemies in the area. The best part about the stealth is that Naughty Dog has made it so that several large gun fights don't have to be completed head on rambo-style unlike the previous game. Stealth combat isn't unnatural either. It is setup pretty well. While some enemies are in positions that are obviously meant to be stealth killed, all enemies can if you sneak up on them properly. You can choose to take down most, if not all enemies, not only without firing a single shot of your own but also not being shot at either. This can make for a great challenge for those who want a little more variety in their game because its more of a choice rather then being forced with the exception of one part.



Most guns from the previous game make an appearance except you get even more to choose from. There are about 16-17 weapons in total. Of the them, you can only carry 2 at a time - a main weapon and a sub weapon which is a pistol or a mac 10 sub machine gun. One other addition is the riot shield which Drake (or the enemy) can use.

There are other tiny little changes in combat. One example is blind firing now has a large cross-hair which can be used to approximate your shots. The first game did not have this and it could be difficult to judge where Drake was even pointing his gun at. You can also pick up explosive barrels and toss them for strategic kills. For the most part, nothing is ground breaking in Uncharted 2's gameplay. But that is the beauty of it! Uncharted 2 is the perfect example of how a game doesn't need to have original and out-of-this-world gameplay mechanics to be good. The combination of the genres of shooter, platformer, and puzzle is why Among Thieves does not become tedious or boring after awhile.

Enemies are more colorful then the last game. There are several variations of enemies and not everyone looks exactly the same either. You've got regular grunts, armored grunts, heavily armored grunts, and giant mutant grunts that totes a gatling gun. There are others that will only use a specific weapon as well like a shotgun guy who likes to rush your position or an RPG shooter. There is a riot shield grunt that will appear every once in awhile and is the only way to obtain a riot shield for yourself. Other enemies you'll encounter are armed guards, helicopters, and.... Well there are 3 or 4 other ones but I'm not going to spoil them for you. These enemies are all controlled by relatively good AI that duck-n-cover when necessary, lob grenades when they feel it necessary, and can sometimes outsmart you a lot. Although there are sometimes a quirky or stuck enemy here and there, don't screw around with Naughty Dog's AI otherwise you'll be kissing the dirt shortly for sure.



The only problem with the combat in Uncharted 2 is that most of it is linear and completely straight forward. There is very little to no 'different routes' in the game you can take. The only part that has a somewhat second, optional path is the train section where you can either go through the train cars or go across the roof tops for a short section of the stage. Sometimes there are parts where the direction you can go is not completely obvious so you'll end up going in the wrong direction or hit a dead. One example of this is a long-stage long boss fight against one of those enemies I said I wasn't going to mention, where you have to obtain several rockets to shoot. If you end up going the wrong way, its most likely instant death.

Platforming and puzzles, as said earlier, is relatively unchanged. For platforming, you basically navigate terrain and obstacles in order to progress in the level. A lot of it is pretty obvious with stones, bars, ledges, and such that are easily identifiable as being climbable. Sometimes, a ledge will begin to crumble so you have a limited time to make your next move to the next ledge or you'll end up falling resulting in death. Platforming, again like the previous game, also has the problem of only being able to go in 1 straight direction. For puzzles, they are all simple. They typically require Drake to pull out his notebook where he has notes and pictures written/taped in for reference. The notebook also serves as a humorous art book where Drake writes down comments about the plot or other characters. There are relatively few puzzles and they certainly don't take more then 5 minutes to do. If you get stuck, and this applies for everything in the game like if you don't know where you need to go, a hint button will appear that will help put you in the right direction. Sometimes the hint isn't all that great and helps very little but it'll get you going. A lot of it is self explanatory.

Going back to what I said earlier about Drake not being alone for most of the game, unlike the previous, you'll be accompanied by an AI controlled character. Sometimes up to 4. You'd think immediately that this would end up being a problem, but - they are absolutely fantastic. Compared to a game like Resident Evil 5, Uncharted 2 is extremely amazing with its companion AI. They never get in your way and actually do help you in the middle of a firefight. Many times did I have it where my AI companion take out several enemies and really lessen the burden on me as I attempted to clear an area. A lot of times, you'll actually be platforming with your AI character and they generally do very well in staying clear of your path. You also don't have to worry about the AI being lost or left behind, they'll always keep up with you but it isn't even required for them to be there most of the time with the exception of some lifting parts.



I'll get to multiplayer gameplay toward the end so for now we'll get into visuals. There is only one thing that can be said about visuals. I could go on for several pages about Uncharted 2's visuals. I'm going to spare you the time by restraining myself as best as possible. This may be the best looking console game to date. There - that's it. There isn't any exaggeration to that either. While Gears of War 2 and Killzone looked great on their respective console, Uncharted 2 is so detailed and colorful - it's hard to even compare. There is just so much one can't help but admire in Uncharted 2. Between the breath taking landscapes to the tiny objects that react so realistically if you bump into them - Uncharted 2 is simply a piece of art. A masterpiece of art that should be hung in a museum for all to see. It's a shame something like this is exclusive, because if it were to ever make its way to the PC - we'd have a Crysis killer for sure. The only things that keep it from that is alot of motion blurring and its 720p rendering. I can only begin to dream what the game would look like at a massive resolution of 1920x1200. There is just so much quality in these visuals, its nearly impossible to stop playing and sit to just admire whats occurring in front of you.

The first Uncharted concentrated on water visuals. The first game simply nailed water graphics and physics. Without a doubt I would give Uncharted "the best water visuals" in ANY video game to date. Anything that went into water got wet. And not just a simple water texture pattern but it reacted with clothing and gave it a dripping like drenched look. Water itself reacted so realistically to anything that touched it and would shimmer with light. Although this is all the same in Uncharted 2, the sequel doesn't concentrate on water as much. Uncharted's new award is "best snow visuals" in ANY game to date. Snow moves and reacts to anyone or anything's movement just like water does and it is simply amazing looking. It's perfectly complimented by the fantastic audio that gives you a nice, crisp, loud crunching sound that will make you want to get your snow boots on. As a character progresses in snow, his or her clothes begin to not only get wet but also gather more and more snow on them. The deeper you go into snow, or the more you interact, the more of it appears. If you climb or roll on snow - the characters will get it all over their shirts and pants instead of just the feet. As you walk around and interact less with the snow, it'll slowly melt right in front of you on the screen. Its absolutely fantastic and you'll really admire it when you come across it in the game.

The water and snow physics are not the only things that are amazing. The cutscenes look fantastic, don't get me wrong, but you'll be absolutely captivated by whats in the gameplay. Naughty Dog knows how to manage their graphics. For cutscenes, they up the quality on key objects and the character models' faces. For gameplay, they up the terrain quality and everything else. The animation in the game is so realistic and detailed, I can't begin to imagine the hours put into motion capture. Every gun shot made, every step walked, every jump... jumped, every emotion expressed, and every word spoken is spot on. The camera work is phenomenal in not only the cutscenes but the gameplay as well. You'll find yourself squeezing into tight corners or have a rock/debris falling or something unusual occurring and the camera will instantly follow or capture this event in all of its glory. For example, while scaling a building or cliff, the camera will shift down to show you the life threatening height you're at. I couldn't even pick out 1 specific event where the camera work failed to show me what was happening in the best possible view. Last but not least, almost everything in the game has physics to it. You'll run into pots, pans, boxes, computers, desks, chairs, and a whole bunch more and they'll react very realistically. It's fascinating to just do it on purpose.

Uncharted 2's transition from 1 local to the next may be too quick - but it certainly adds an amazing quality to the game's visuals. Unlike the first game where you were in a tropical rain forest, Among Thieves will bring you to a sewer, a museum, a swamp, a city, a temple, a train, a tiny Tibetan village, an ice cave, a monastery, and finally a mythical/tropical place that will go unnamed. Each and every local is uniquely detailed and have those amazing visual qualities I described above. This is the highlight of Uncharted 2 for me. I felt the previous game needed more variety with its location and Naughty Dog certainly addressed that for me. The most impressive part is the train for me. The transition from a tropical forest, to a long underground tunnel, to ice-capped snowy mountain ranges occurs right in front of you during gameplay without any loading times at all. The train level is simply jaw dropping. While we're on loading times, the game has almost none at all. When you turn the game on, you'll encounter one long loading section but once you begin to play you won't encounter another one unless you die for a brief second or two. The most amazing part is, there is no installation. Most PlayStation 3 games need a required GB or two installation but like Killzone 2, Uncharted 2 does not.



On top of the 10 hours or so gameplay you'll get out of the singleplayer for 1 run through, and yes there is incentive to play through again with trophies (Sony's version of achievements) and collectibles, is the multiplayer mode. One might stare blankly at these words and scratch his or her head, "Clearly, multiplayer was tacked on. Uncharted is purely a singleplayer experience! This is close to blasphemy." To you're surprise, the multiplayer might be the best part of the game for some. It is so addicting and so much fun, you'll be hooked on it for hours straight. There are a plethora of gameplay modes - so many that even I felt like a kid in a candy store and I simply can't choose a single mode to play when I go to do it! You've got standard deathmatch, team deathmatch, elimination, capture the flag , and king of the hill. On top of those are 2 co-op modes: a story mode and a survivor mode. In story, you'll progress through a level from the singleplayer that has been altered a bit to include team work required combat and platforming. In survivor mode, you face hordes of enemies as you fight to survive as long as possible. As you play, you progress in rank. With rank, you unlock more perks (exactly like Call of Duty 4). All of the gameplay you do can be recorded, taken screenshots of, and even edited with machinima-favored tools. Oh, and there is twitter integration with the game so your status can tweet what trophies you obtain, rank you reach, and when you're online.

Is Uncharted 2 a perfect video game? No, not in the least bit. It has its fair share of tiny problems here and there. Is it an amazing gameplay experience that you shouldn't pass up? Hell yes. If you own a PlayStation 3, you HAVE to pick up this game. It's as simple as that. If you don't own a PlayStation 3, here is your reason to get one. I myself wish that this game was multiplatform for both the Xbox 360 and PC so that everyone could experience this amazing game. This game is kind of game that makes it so you don't want to put down the controller. You'll want to continue playing the game at any cost which can be a bad thing because say if you're like me who isn't too careful - you'll decide to not, say, study for an exam and stay up all night to play and get a bad grade and hate Naughty Dog for making such a great game and I'm ranting now..... Basically - it's value is simply unquestionable. I'll go as far as saying that this game is well worth the $60 if not more. That's something that has never came out of my mouth before because I think that the price of video games is so obnoxious considering that most of them are short and not even that great. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a different story all together. Unless Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Left 4 Dead 2, and Assassin's Creed 2 end up being absolutely mind blowing - then I can easily see Uncharted 2 being Game of the Year for 2009.