Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of those few games that are perfect. Sure no game is ever perfect, but this is as close as you’ll get to that type of term. Naughty Dogs were acclaimed for the Crash Bandicoot series and when they released Uncharted: Drakes Fortune it started something else. After the release of the first game it had high praise, but Naughty Dog announced the Sequel; Uncharted 2; Among Thieves. It was hard to achieve a greater game then the first one. But the developers found how to make the perfect game. Uncharted defines the PS3 and utilizes the PS3 power to almost maximum. It is one of the best games of all time, with one of the most thrilling, heart seeking stories I have ever played. It was hard to find flaws in this game, and I couldn’t find any this time around. Nathan Drake is on the loose again and now its time to conquer his second adventure and its even bigger then you think.
The story starts off in a climax with Nathan Drake waking up shot in a train but there is one problem; you have to escape the train before you fall to your doom since its hanging over the edge. Soon after Nathan Drake passes out and you go back to find out what happens. I admire Drakes humor throughout the game. The game starts off a year or so after the events of the first game. Drake is at it again trying to find Marco Polo’s lost treasure and it turns out to be one big adventure for Drake and his pals.
You meet up with old friends along the way; get betrayed a couple of times, and do all the work while the villains take what you worked your ass off for. Yet they still loose and you come out as the hero you are. The story develops the characters and you feel emotion for Drake as he tries to be the hero for everyone. The story was magnificent and a perfect setup with every moment being paced leveling up to the climax. It was like a book, you started off with the beginning, then rising action, climax, falling action, and then finished with an amazing conclusion. Every time the story progressed it got more and more interesting. It was a perfect story for a video game, and that is hard to do.
Every time the characters interact with each other it felt very realistic and the bad guy was a typical movie guy who had too much greed and thought full of himself. Playing through this game from start to finish felt like a movie, every scene was more and more exciting. Everything and everyone is unpredictable and you have advance in the story to find out how everything is going to unfold. Fantastic cut scenes and acting are perfectly executed in this game.
As for the gameplay they added a new combat system, which allows special sneak attack moves and take down moves which give Drake the more of the stealth approach in some areas. The gun play is just like the first but is a little more polished. Every time you fight a new group of enemies you’ll be scoping out the area to find the best tactical advantage to win the fight to move on. The gameplay is perfectly done and never feels repetitive. It smoothes out throughout the game and keeps it fun and addictive.
The cover system is well done and provides help in those tough situations. Every fight scene doesn’t just feature ground level fighting but multiple layers, levels, and areas so you can use for your advantage while fighting. You can climb during the fights to get better views or get closer to enemies which are very helpful in the game. You have many ways on how to approach a battle even though it is linear it doesn’t make you feel like that at all.
They added a new multiplayer system, with types such a deathmatch and team deathmatch, etc. After playing the single player you might want to check this well polished fun multiplayer which will keep you busy for hours on end. It is very addicting and a lot more fun then you think it would be. There is also a co-op mode which you can play with your friends, its fun to get together with some buddies and play but it is very challenging. This game keeps on getting better and better in any direction you take it from single player to multiplayer it will have you going until Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.
You obtain money for doing certain things in the game, which allows you to unlock special skins to use, concept art, videos, and special items such as on shot kill, slow mo, etc. The voice acting for all the characters are perfectly well done and the facial expressions are outstanding. The sound of the environments are breathtaking, from a snowy blizzard, to the jungle, or to a city, it is all fantastic and feels so real. Every level has its on magnificent detail and everything had its time taken on, the trees, the water, and the snow this time along with ice, it all looks beautiful. The first game had beautiful visuals especially with the water which amazed everyone but now it’s about the snow and ice which Naughty Dog perfected and made it look beautiful and as real as it could get.
Uncharted 2 uses the PS3 power in every sort of way. Everything is noticeable and nothing looks choppy or blocky only beautiful and excellently polished. With the second installment with the game that utilizes everything almost from the PS3 it’s hard to make a better game. But Naughty Dog knows how to do it, with the train scene that was magnificent and shocked and awed all of us. There is no reason why not to get this game. With the third game announced I would recommend this to any gamer who is looking into getting a PS3 or who currently owns one.
Its one of those games that doesn’t come around that often, it amazed me from start to finish, the train scene, the story, graphics, voice acting, everything is simply amazing. This exclusive is one for the ages. It is one of the best games of all time, naughty Dog knows how to deliver again and again. Now what did they say? That the train scene will be nothing in compare for what will happen in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. Well we will see and I guarantee that they will deliver because Naughty Dog is a developer that keeps their promise. Enjoy this game you will be hooked from beginning to end.
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.
Great Review :)
I wouldn't give the Online 10, nor the gameplay. The platforming is great but the shooting mechanics in the franchise have always been dissapointing. Graphics I would bring down but only by a few 0.s, when compared to Crysis on its highest graphical settings it doesn't match. Apart from these points the review seemed fair and if this is your "Perfect" game then that is your opinion of which I shall respect.
I don't think any game is perfect but Uncharted 2 comes damn close. I do believe it's the highest quality game ever made.
I felt the same way except I don't think I would give the online a 10, although I do love the cinema feature
I have to disagree with this review, the online on Uncharted 2 never had much punch, it lacked community when compared to other games and lacked teams to play against competitively on Gamebattles.
Also, I'll add it felt kind of tacked on, mostly as a way to cash in on how everyone tends to float towards games with online thrown in now days.
No game is ever perfect, I would have given it a high 8 or 9 but when games are that good, they usually get a rushed sequel that never live up to the hype. When your at the top, nowhere to go but down.
I also think a lot of the story had been done before and sometimes better. Still a must play game if you have a PS3, but I have to disagree with the "Perfect" score. I don't believe there is such a thing.