Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

When Uncharted was first released back in 2007 it initially came under fire as a Tomb Raider clone. Critics said based on the trailers that it looked like Lara Croft had a sex change and that it would lack originality.

When the game was actually released however the critics were silenced and the title was critically acclaimed.

A sequel was inevitable and unsurprisingly was met with positivity once again, but why?

Uncharted can be compared to Tomb Raider, they are hugely similiar titles but in this guys opinion Uncharted has far better plots.

Uncharted 2 see's Nathan Drake and familiar faces travel the world in search of Marco Polo' lost fleet. Once again the game is enormous in size, wonderfully written, full of likeable characters, decent puzzles and a wealth of originality.

Ontop of this is flawless voice acting led by Nolan North and the husky goddess Claudia Black.

Uncharted 2 delivers as successfully as the first game and as a whole is near flawless. A fantastic addition to a franchise that is nothing short of phenomenal.

The Good:

Incredible score

Very good voice acting

Perfectly crafted level design

The Bad:

Couple of frustrating moments

Things I Learnt From This Game:

Claudia Black could tell me I have cancer in my butt and I'd still melt

Uncharted 2 has easily been this years most anticipated title for the PS3. Not only because of the mind-blowing presentation Naughty Dog gave the gaming-press during the E3 event, but also because of the games' predecessor with which, despite having it's share of mistakes, they've set a pretty high standard for themselves.

Well, Uncharted 2 blows that standard completely to pieces. The formula used in part 1 has been tweaked & perfected in every aspect of the game-play, characters, plot, visuals, voice-acting, humor and the list just goes on. They have listened to the criticism concerning mistakes made in the first Uncharted & corrected them where needed. (For one, the exploring/platforming/puzzling & gun-play parts are well balanced now.) From the gorgeous, epic graphics & score to the smallest audio & story details, you can just sense the love they've put into making this game..which is not just a game anymore, really. It's more of an interactive movie, and one that can easily compete with a triple-A, Hollywood production; a bit predictable and maybe a little cheesy at times, but pumped full of action. Add to this an addictive online multiplayer and co-op system, and you've got yourself a winner.

The story is about the charismatic treasure hunter, Nathan Drake, whom gets sucked into yet another epic, thrilling quest. This time he sets out to find the lost ships of Marco Polo, after being recruited for a job by an old friend. His quest will take Drake all over the globe, from the wet, suffocating jungles of Borneo, to the icy Himalayan Mountains around Tibet. So you can expect more jaw-dropping views, eerie ancient temple sites, inventive Indiana Jones-style puzzles, bone-dry and cynical humor from the protagonist & some very fun gun-play. I doubt veterans of part 1 need any further details, and as for the rest of you..well, you'll just have to believe me when I say I really can't give away too much about the plot. Trust me, I'm doing you a favor. And just in case you're wondering, you don't necessarily have to play Drake's Fortune before playing Among Thieves, although I highly recommend it.

So, the conclusion is pretty simple and straight-forward; If you are a PS3 owner, go and buy this game today!

Pros:

• Great story and characters
• Simple but effective gameplay
• Great cinematic action set pieces
• A-grade voice acting and animation
• Excellent graphics
• Great level variety / also adding some level elevation also
• Companions are helpful
• Great puzzles

Cons:

• Bullet spongy enemies

Verdict: Near perfect adventure game that improves on the original in all ways possible. One of my favourite games of all time.

10/10

Having played the first Uncharted and enjoying it very much, I was very excited to hear that there was to be a sequel.

After waiting several months for Uncharted 2 to be released I finally bought it. That's right. I went straight out and bought it. I didn't play it safe by renting it first. I knew it was going to be a great game. Hell was I right.

The graphics are the best in a game I have ever seen. There was nothing that I thought was lazily made and designed. It all looked stunning. From the water flooding out of a destroyed laundromat,to the trees gently blowing in the wind, to the birds flying in the sky, to the snow, to the building textures...Uhh its all amazing! Oh and of course the characters.

The characters are the most believable and likable I have ever seen in a game (except of course maybe Metal Gear Solid. But even while playing this game, I began to doubt the greatness of the MGS series). Each character has their own personality and characteristic that makes them ...A PERSON! You really feel for the characters and enjoy them on screen, oh I mean in-game.

The story is engaging and entertaining with thrills, suspense, romance and comedy. There are moments in the game that I actually laugh out loud to because the voice actors deliver their lines so brilliantly.

The gameplay is superb. From shooting over the shoulder, to beating up mercenaries with your fists, to traversing along ledges and cliffs, to leaping from carriage to carriage onboard a train. Okay, there were some moments that were a bit difficult due to game design, but hey, who cares? This game is outstanding.

I could write more, but I can't be bothered, I want to go and play this game again! I highly recommend Uncharted 2 to any PS3 owner. It is a must have.

10/10

I had to give this game a 10. I really enjoyed this game, even more than I enjoyed Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. The nice thing about the new game is that the graphics and cut-scenes are to die for. Also, there is an auto target option which eases your misery of targeting enemies. If you are a fan of adventure and thriller games, this is definitely the game for you. All new characters that will make the story even more interesting and also, the music used is amazing.

Uncharted has done it again, by far, the best PS3 game released in 2009. I am sure it will be very difficult to build a better game, that's why I gave this game a 10 as I cannot even find one negative thing about it.

Excellent job Naughty Dog, you did it again!