Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – Review

Only on PS3, The way it should be.

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Consoles: Playstation 3
Aus Release: 15/10/2009
Rating: 9/10


Let me just flat out say it; Uncharted 2 is a true sequel to Uncharted, better than it in every way, and one of the best games I've ever played. The game begins In Media Res* with Nathan Drake climbing out of a rapidly falling train. Why the train is falling, or more importantly, how Drake got shot, we don’t know. But it doesn't matter; the opening adds weight and tension to the story; rarely in a game do we see our infallible hero so hurt, or feel his struggles so tangibly. As the level wears on and Drake wears out, he faints and the story skips back to it’s chronological beginnings, setting the tone for what’s to come.

The story of the game revolves around finding a lost treasure of Marco Polo. Drake’s adventures begin in Istanbul (not Constantinople) where he and his two friends, Harry Flynn and Chloe Frazer, have planned to break into a museum, and steal a Mongolian oil lamp which may lead to the location of Polo’s lost treasures. As a departure from the last game, the first level features the characters performing non-lethal take downs and using tranquillizer guns against the museum guards. I say departure because the first Uncharted featured no section where the player could attack enemies non-lethally, or even avoid combat altogether.

That said, the game is filled with action, countering and complimenting the puzzles and storyline, which is much stronger than the last game as it features more time with our heroes, and offers darker forms of them in other characters. Old favourites such as Victor Sullivan and Elena Fisher return, more bad-ass then ever (seriously; few games have such competent AI controlled backup), and it’s great to see them interacting with Drake in more depth. The game spans several continents, taking players from Istanbul, to Borneo, Tibet, and eventually the lost city of Shembala, or Shangrila. Seeing the characters differing reactions, such as Drake and Elena’s mutual wanderlust, to Sully’s never ending search for gold (and women, preferably golden women) added to the value of the story.

Nathan’s journal, which is used in game to decipher clues and as a plot point, offers key insights into Drake’s mind, his relationship with other characters, and adds more flavour to the game with its often humorous drawings and captions.

Visually, the game is still as stunning now then it was; being one of the most colourful and bright looking games I’ve ever had the privilege to play. Unlike the first game, I never noticed any moments where sprites, or other kinds of 2-d graphics were used as filler. Moreover, the textures have received a noticeable overhaul from the last game, this is especially evident in the character models, particularly the faces of returning characters. Sure, there were some (very slight) clipping issues at the corners or edges of things, but overall the game was well textured, with finely constructed environments and locales which added to the immersion.

One of my favourite sequences in the game. In this level all Drake does is walk through a Tibetan village, and players may interact with the villagers (and their Yaks) if they wish, in some funny, and sweet ways. And it’s so very colourful, recalling the art direction of earlier Naughty Dog games.

All the good from the last game returns, but is ever so much better, with better dialogue  better story, a slightly improved score, an updated control scheme and more. Best of all, Uncharted 2 has easily one of the greatest set pieces of any game, the train ride. This train ride, which crashes into the beginning of the game, spans 2 very long levels, multiple environments (a jungle, a tunnel, and an ice level, the staples of any good game), and includes some seriously aggressive combat with some seriously impressive weapons at Drakes disposal. The most awe-inspiring moment? Fighting off an attack helicopter with an AA-Gun. (A sequence so awesome that I cannot find any images of it!!!)


While it does have some slip ups, such as a credibility stretching and anti-fun final boss, Uncharted 2 is very close to being the ultimate game, and a clear case of why an out of ten star rating just doesn't quite add up; the game is worth so much more than a nine, worth so much more than the last Uncharted, and is easily one of the best adventures anyone could ever lose themselves in.

It certainly was for me.

*In the middle of things, for all you non film buffs, Latin speakers, or non tropers out there.

Originally written for and published on Comikkazee.