Review – Uncharted 2 (PS3)

There’s an adage in the film industry that says that a sequel will never be as good as the original. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, with notable sequels such as The Godfather Part II, The Empire Strikes Back, Aliens, and Terminator 2 receiving far more critical acclaim than their predecessors. For those film fanatics that are keeping score, you can now add Uncharted 2: Among Thieves to that exclusive list. What’s that? Uncharted 2 isn’t a movie? Developer Naughty Dog has crafted such a beautiful and cinematic experience for protagonist Nathan Drake’s second adventure that at times it can be difficult to tell.

From the gunfights and precarious climbing scenes to the clever puzzles and comedic interludes, Uncharted 2 has all the makings of a summer blockbuster, and with near-perfect execution in direction and pacing, surpasses many such films that have seen release in recent years. With a story rich with adventure, romance, betrayal, legends, and myths, Nathan Drake even beats Indiana Jones and his quest for that Crystal Skull at his own game – or would that be movie? The lines are far too blurred.

Controlling Nathan has become much easier in Uncharted 2, keeping the level of immersion high throughout the entire experience. Handhold detection has been improved for the climbing scenes, making it easier for players to get to where they want to go, and the cover mechanics have been improved to give players more options when sneaking around or shielding themselves from gunfire. Naughty Dog have also introduced some new stealth mechanics in Uncharted 2, providing Nathan with the option to pursue a more subtle approach when confronted by enemies. When infiltrating an area unseen, players can sneak up on unsuspecting enemies and silently dispatch them with the press of a button. These silent maneuvers are completely contextual, allowing Nathan to pull enemies off of ledges from below, drag them behind cover, or pull them around corners. Dispatching an enemy in such a fashion will always result in that enemy dropping additional or improved weaponry, such as grenades or a better assault rifle, which can be very rewarding. It’s not a revolutionary system, but it adds more depth and variety to a franchise already filled with exciting and cinematic gameplay.

However, while Nathan may have more tools at his disposal, so do his adversaries. Proud to be cast in small but important roles, the enemies in Uncharted 2 have greatly improved over those found in the first game. The artificial intelligence can be rather cunning, using suppressing and flanking strategies to keep players on their toes, and forces players to give more consideration the aforementioned stealth mechanics. The enemy units are also more varied this time around, with the introduction of fully and partially armoured soldiers, soldiers that carry riot shields, and a few other dangerous surprises found in the later scenes. The soldiers with the riot shields are particularly intimidating, as they relentlessly advance on Nathan’s position while others provide suppressing fire. Though once they are defeated, players may equip the riot shield and apply the same pressure to the enemy.

For those that look to get the most bang for their buck, Naughty Dog have included a significant multiplayer component in Uncharted 2. Players can jump online and choose from a multitude of competitive and cooperative modes, each of which features an abundance of Trophies and in-game medals to unlock. The competitive modes support up to ten players, and include Deathmatch, which sees two teams of five, heroes and villains, do battle until one team reaches a specified number of kills, Elimination, a mode similar to Deathmatch but without respawns, Plunder, a traditional Capture the Flag mode, and Chain Reaction, a Capture the Flag variation with multiple flags that must be captured in a specific order. Players earn experience points and cash throughout each match, which they can then use to purchase new skills or multiplayer character skins. The competitive multiplayer is surprisingly deep for a game so focused on delivering a memorable single-player experience.

The cooperative modes are just as deep, and perhaps even more fun when played with a full compliment of three people. Uncharted 2 features three co-op modes: Arena, Gold Rush, and Co-Op. Arena is similar to the Horde mode found in Gears of War 2, pitting players against wave after wave of increasingly difficult enemies. Gold Rush gives players the task of locating a number of randomly placed treasures and artifacts from throughout a level and returning them to a specified rendevouz point, all the while getting assaulted by wave after wave of persistent baddies. Co-Op mode, on the other hand, is the closest players will come to playing the single-player campaign with a friend. It offers an assortment of missions that involve finding a specific treasure or rescuing friendly character that players can complete together. The gameplay in these missions is identical to the single-player campaign, exciting and cinematic, and each takes about thirty or more minutes to complete. With these cooperative and competitive online modes, in addition to the many treasures, Trophies, and in-game medals for players to find and unlock, Uncharted 2 offers significant amount of gameplay, making it a worthwhile purchase at just about any price.

Though as good as the gameplay is, it doesn’t steal the show. The visuals in Uncharted 2 deliver an outstanding performance that will have most picking their jaws up off the floor. From the dense jungles of Borneo to the ruined streets of Nepal, some of the environments crafted by Naughty Dog need to be seen to be believed. The level of detail is almost unparalleled, and the textures, lighting, and draw distance are remarkable. Nepal, when seen from atop one of its highest buildings, is breathtaking, and the jungles of Borneo could make one long for an exotic vacation. Furthermore, the many temples and shrines found throughout the game are works of art, filled with enough cultural and religious symbols, intricate statues, and ancient artistry to make one’s imagination run wild. When exploring each environment, I often found myself stopping to take in every detail as though I was truly travelling abroad.

The characters look remarkable as well, improving in detail over those seen in the original Uncharted, which is no small feat. The textures of their clothing are crisp, giving the impression of real fabrics, and the way in which they get wet or dirty as the characters navigate the environment is amazing to see. The character animations are also incredibly lifelike, especially during the motion-captured cutscenes, and the facial expressions are near-perfect, leaning more toward subtle than exaggerated. Combined with the beautiful environment design, the characters and animations make Uncharted 2 one of the best-looking games to date.

However, as believable as the characters look on screen, it’s the voice talent that truly brings them to life. The original Uncharted benefited from some of the best voice acting in the history of videogames, and with the returning cast growing more comfortable in their roles, as well as the addition of some new, experienced talent, the voice acting found in Uncharted 2 is second to none. The performances sound completely natural, giving the impression that the on-screen characters are actually speaking to each other and not just saying lines, and the delivery and intonation is spot-on. Such performances make it very easy to grow attached to the characters in Uncharted 2, which probably explains my well-documented obsession with Elena Fisher.

The music is also fantastic, with a complete orchestral score to help drive home the cinematic experience, and the sound design is just as good. The music shifts dynamically with the action, treating players to intense tribal beats during combat and keeping them on their toes with atmospheric rhythms while sneaking and climbing. Uncharted 2 also supports full 5.1 surround sound, immersing players into the heart of the action.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a cinematic masterpiece, and one that fully lives up to the hype. In the days following its release, I found myself more often comparing it to movies than videogames when discussing it with friends. The story, the characters, the voice acting, and the music all add up to an incredibly memorable experience, and the multitude of online modes and unlockables will keep players entertained for months even after the credits roll. Uncharted 2 is a thrill ride from tutorial to finish, and makes the recent announcement of the franchise leaping to the silver screen all the more sensible, because it wouldn’t seem out of place as is.