Just a week ago, my best gaming experience on the PS3 was still the first instalment of the adventures of Nathan Drake in Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. That game was ahead of its time both graphically and cinematically, and no game that has been released on the PS3 since has been able to exceed the standards set by Naughty Dog. That is until I got hold of the sequel to Uncharted last week, and I'm happy to report that the sequel has outdone its predecessor in almost every way.
The game experience from the start is a dramatic cliffhanger, both literally and figuratively, as you help Nathan get out of a precarious situation at the edge of an icy mountain. It is one of the best opening scenes to a game I have played, and following that you will find that the game engages you with its wonderfully executed cinematic storytelling right till the end.
When it comes to cinematics, much has been said about what has been done in MGS4. I for one however think that Mr. Kojima had gotten it wrong and there is very much that he has to learn from Naughty Dog in respect of cinematic gaming, as opposed to just creating cinematics cutscenes. The graphics in Uncharted 2 top its predecessor's, making Uncharted 2 the best graphics seen on the PS3 yet. The palette is vibrant and colorful, the lighting effects are some of the best, and most impressively, the animations are unequaled. Couple such beautiful graphics with some of the best voice-acting and scripted dialogue and that's more than half the battle won in cinematics. But Mr. Kojima should pay particular heed to the fact that Uncharted 2 as a cinematic experience goes well beyond graphics and sounds. The way the cinematics are integrated, incorporated and paced with the gameplay makes Uncharted 2 stand out head and shoulders above Kojima's production. Naughty Dog did not at all lose sight of the fact that they were developing a game, and that rightful role of cinematics is to draw the audience deeper into the game.
The plot and storytelling are superb and are as intriguing and exciting as the best that Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider or any other adventure game has to offer. Lost treasures, puzzles and mysteries, creative retelling of history, friendships and betrayals, love and romance, plot twists - they're all there.
The cast of characters in Uncharted 2, expanded from the first instalment, is equally engaging. Uncharted 1 featured some very memorable and believable characters, and the same can be said for the new characters in Uncharted 2. The amazing thing is that Naughty Dog has obviously put in a lot of effort to inject distinct personalities into all their characters rather than just the protagonist.
Like its predecessor, Uncharted is a shooter, an adventure platformer and a stealth game all rolled into one, and manages to excel in all these areas. The fantastic animations help boost the gameplay tremendously as it gives a sense of realism in each and every of Nathan's atheletic feats and makes the execution of his moves all the more exciting. As a shooter, it is right up there with the best of them with a cover system that is fluid and functional. A nice graphical touch I noticed is that when taking aim, the background becomes faded, giving you the sense that you are focusing on your target. Unarmed combat has been improved too, now with the ability to do counter moves against your foes. There is nothing particularly groundbreaking in the basic gameplay mechanics of Uncharted 2 compared to Uncharted 1, but that's hardly a fault since the gameplay in Uncharted 1 was great.
In the final analysis, Uncharted 2 is brilliant primarily in the way it interweaves its incredibly intense gameplay with its remarkably well-paced and absorbing storytelling. The execution of both is excellent and therefore succeeds in delivering a truly interactive cinematic experience that keeps you at the edge of your seat and/ or riveted to your screen, filled with a real sense of adventure. This is something few other games have been able to accomplish.
I would certainly highly recommend this game to all PS3 owners as it is one that has risen well above all others on that console. As it belongs to a genre of games that is more generally appealing to a wider audience, there is little doubt that it will be the game of the year for 2009.
Chris, Joseph, and Josh celebrate Active Quest’s 100th episode by discussing their favorite games of all time.
Nevada Dru from Bits & Pieces revisits Uncharted 2: Among Thieves to see if this legendary game has stood the test of time.
Currently playing Drakes Fortune on crushing, next will be to replay Among Thieves, but I'm sure it still holds up today.
Recently re-platinumed 1-3. Uncharted 2 aged better than I even expected. I enjoyed it more now than I did a decade ago. It’s more polished than 1, tighter than 3 and Yemen in 3 was gorgeous. Shambhala out-prettied Ubar though. 60fps w higher res’ made for a damn good rerun.
Question: When you say Uncharted2 aged better than expected, are you talking about the original PS3 game or the remastered collection on PS4. I ask because I think that a remastered version of the game would look and play better than the original.
I doubt that the original ran at 60 frames, how many years old is the remastered collection anyway.
I need to replay the original trilogy along with the collection, not a fan of the collection trophy of beating levels in a set time and don't think the originals required that for platinum.
@abnor_mal
It’s true that the remasters have upped the resolution and given it 60fps, but the base game is the same. The art design and base textures/physics/ animations are the same yet still look contemporary. More-so than UC1 which isn’t as tight, or UC3 in some cases which I found a bit clunky in close quarters.
UC2 level design was a great evolution in bringing the verticality from the jungle into rural/urban settings while maintaining smooth animation transitions. Drake still moves better than the ginger in Star Wars Jedi. Outdoor areas are better lit.
UC2 also has more action and better pacing imo, which helps when replaying a game 10 years later. Kept me engaged.
You don’t need to time trial for platinum. They stuck the speedrun trophies in a seperate extended dlc category so have no fear.
I thought the originals were good, but not great. I understand that puts me in the minority here. That said, Uncharted 4 was freaking fantastic.
Yeah I understand the hate for 4 prior to playing it I was firmly against it and felt like 3 wrapped things up already but now after playing it I think it was the best in the franchise.
Now I look back at two and I feel like I'm playing an on the rails shooter everything is so tightly scripted including the infamous train scene you simply can't make a mistake
I think Uncharted 2 is a lot like AC2. Both games took the idea and basically improved it in every single way.
Uc2, AC2,Halo2, Soul calibur 2, Killzone 2, Infamous 2 , Dishonored 2 and a few more. The only negative thing I have against uc2, and imo it annoyed me,are the blue apes, uncharted 1 handled the super natural far better.
Cultured Vultures: What's your favourite moment from the Uncharted franchise? Here are 15 that got our blood pumping.
The entire final chapter of The Lost Legacy is the best setpiece in the series and it wasn't even mentioned.
Except what exactly was your gripe with it that made you decide not to go with a higher score(not saying you should since I haven't played it). It would be nice if you could clarify why you wouldn't give it a higher score.
I can't, I mean I can, but it will take some time to save up the money. :/ Nice review though.
NOT A PERFECT 10/10!?!?
microsoft obviously payed this guy off.
:p
Honestly, stop whining about kojimas storytelling, if you don't like it, don't buy it. For the rest of us it is a unique experience that focus's on the story. Nothing wrong with that. Because it excels in just about everything else, and they 'complement' the wonderful story.