It’s no secret that Naughty Dog rolled the dice with the 2007 hit “Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.”
For its first PlayStation 3 release, the developer opted not to take the easy route and simply rely on its popular “Jak and Daxter” franchise. It instead gave gamers an action-adventure title about a pistol-wielding treasure hunter – a sub-genre whose queen, Lara Croft, had already been established for over a decade at that point.
And to add even more roadblocks, the title was also released alongside a number of highly-anticipated holiday games – including competition from its own camp in the form of a new entry in the successful PlayStation franchise “Ratchet & Clank.”
The risk paid off, however. Though, “Uncharted” failed to break any new ground, its fun gameplay, charming characters and high production values won over both gamers and critics alike.
With a little more momentum in its corner, Naughty Dog has unveiled the sequel, “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves,” a title that is not only a top contender for best game of year, but it may very well be the greatest PS3 release so far.
“Among Thieves” wastes no time in throwing the player into peril. The game opens with its wounded protagonist, Nathan Drake, regaining consciousness in a train wreck. As he slowly realizes where he is, Drake is sent flying when his compartment falls and is left dangling from a precarious cliff in the snowy mountains. Clinging to life, you guide Drake to safety, at which point you’re taken back in time to learn how he found himself in such a horrible mess.
As it turns out, hanging off a cliff with a nasty bullet wound in your gut is only the tip of the iceberg.
It’s clear that Naughty Dog really wanted to up the ante with the story mode. Though the platforming elements are about on par with the original – not a bad thing, that’s for sure – the fire fights are even more intense this time around.
The cutscenes have also been ramped up in the sequel. Emphasizing movies in a video game can sometimes be a death sentence – cough, “Metal Gear Solid 4,” cough – but the characters are funny, the voice acting is excellent and the story remains entertaining throughout.
If ever there was a balance between these two elements, “Uncharted 2” has found it.
The increased cinematic feel also leads to some jaw-dropping moments later on, especially when gamers catch up to the opening sequence and finally board the ill-fated train.
If you already own a PS3 that’s hooked up to the Internet, you’ve no doubt dug into the multiplayer demo.
Players have access to a number of modes, including your standard death match and a treasure-twist on capture the flag. The online co-op modes also offer up tons of fun with your buddies.
As you progress in the single-player campaign and multiplayer modes, you earn money that can be spent on online perks, like more ammo capacity and funnier taunts. There’s nothing quite like pointing and laughing at someone after you’ve just shot them repeatedly in the face.
Controls remain tight, only this time you’re not forced to struggle with the annoying SIXAXIS functionality for grenade tosses. However, since you use the circle button to both dive out of the way of fire and lock onto walls, expect the two to be confused fairly often. Though this isn’t the end of the world, it will cost you in death matches.
PS3 fans have good reason to rejoice this holiday season. Even with all the anticipation leading up to its release, “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” exceeds expectations.
WHAM! Rating: |
9.7 out of 10 |
ESRB Rating: |
T (Teen) |
Official Web Site: |
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