Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Review (PS3)

As a sequel Uncharted 2: Among Thieves does everything it’s supposed to: build on some great gameplay and story ideas in the original while making everything generally better. Uncharted 2 presents one of the most generally entertaining games exclusive to PS3. Everything that worked in Uncharted is still here; building on the smooth and badass treasure hunter angle that Indiana Jones perfected, Uncharted 2 is one of the most cinematic games I’ve ever played without having to sit through days, weeks and lifetimes of cut scenes (I’m frowning at you Metal Gear Solid 4).

In the age of cross platformers there are very few games that are exclusive to any given console, let alone those that could be considered that ‘killer app’ that makes it necessary or worthwhile to own a system just to get a chance at playing. I had heard good things about the first Uncharted, but it wasn’t quite on my list of must own games. After finishing Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, it became obvious that this is an assassin game, a killer app hiding in the shadows.

Sure I’m not the first critic to lavish praise on the game, and I definitely won’t be the last, but it’s difficult to impart just how good this game is. Combining some good puzzling with third person shooting and a good enough story is enough for most games these days and isn’t something that can earn high marks on it’s own, but where this game really kills it is in the directing. Direction of games is something that can get overlooked in the game play, but the camera angles in this game and the camera movement is beautiful in and out of cut scenes. Uncharted 2 blurs the line between cut scene and game play in a gorgeous display.

The visual polish is really what pushes the game over the edge, but in order to get there it builds a foundation with a solid story and gameplay. Picking up off of the last Uncharted, Drake is now relaxing somewhere on an Island, by himself, until approached by Harry Flynn and Chole Frazer to pull off a heist in Istanbul. The target is a lamp that was owned by Marco Polo, supposedly to lead the way to his 13 missing ships. A classic mix of fiction and history to set off the adventure story. Add in some good voice acting onto the good dialogue and solid story and you’ve got a winner just from the written and acting side.

Overall the game is more than fun, more than entertaining, it makes you feel more adventurous while playing it. All of the newly added sneaking and cornering make for a more entertaining game that leaves you with options in how to fully play the game. Such a brilliantly creative game in so many ways makes this killer app truly worthwhile, winning my heart as Game of the Year in 2009 despite all of the great competition.