! I have spent more time playing this game than all my other games combined!! Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Review
By Paul Everitt
Naughty Dog you are a marvel
Format: PS3
Uncharted became one of the best selling games on PS3 when it was originally released back in 2007. Now we have the sequel, Uncharted 2 which sees the return of Nathan Drake and co for more treasure hunting. Have Naughty Dog managed to build on the success of the original? By Jove yes Uncharted 2 has to be one of the best games to see release this year.
Uncharted 2 sees you once again take control of Nathan Drake who is lured into seeking out another lost artefact by an old friend. Nothing though is as it seems. The story sees you trek all over the globe to destinations like Nepal and the Himalayas. Just like the original, the game sees a combination of platforming, puzzle solving and third person combat mixing together for the adventure of a life time.
When you first load up Uncharted 2 the graphics truly blow you away, this game truly shows what the PS3 is capable of. It is definitely one of the best looking games I have ever had to the joy to play. All backgrounds are beautifully rendered, the attention to detail is mesmerising. All of the characters are modelled wonderfully helping you escape into the games world. The animations of the main characters are so realistic that you do find yourself growing to like some and find others truly menacing. I must also mention the amazing voice acting, it's so emotional and lifelike it does truly feel like you're controlling a real big budget movie, drawing you into the wonderfully written story with plenty of cheeky one liners and gripping dialogue. The level designs are some of the best I have seen in recent years. There's something for everyone with some levels needing stealth as opposed to running and gunning, then there's those which actually make you feel like you're actually there in the thick of the action. Special mention must go to the train level which is just astounding.
The musical score is full of atmosphere and really helps build up the tension at the right moments, again helping you become more immersed into the game world.
The controls are well implemented allowing combat to flow almost seamlessly. Gun play is just as responsive; puzzles have just the right level of difficulty. Some will have you scratching your head but look around the area another time and the solution becomes quite clear.
New to the franchise is the online multiplayer which allows you to play with friends in various scenarios including deathmatch and plunder. The multiplayer is a very welcome addition which gives you plenty of scope for continued play. One of my favourite modes plunder sees you and your team attempting to steal the loot before the other team. The maps once again vary and are well designed. You also get to unlock various items for ranking up and earning money during online play. These include other game characters to play as.
Not forgetting co-op play Naughty Dog has thrown in a co-operative mode allowing you and two friends to play. Taking the roles of Nathan Drake and two of the other hero characters these scenarios involve gun fights whilst aiming to complete the objectives that have been set.
Online is great fun adding a lot of longevity to the game. The main campaign is breathtaking and so much fun; don't be surprised if you play it all the way through again. The whole package is damn near perfect; Nathan Drake is set to become one of the greatest video characters of all time.
This has been one of my favourite games all year to play, Naughty Dog you are a marvel.
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
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Purchase Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. This is the story of Nathan Drake, a fortune-hunter with a shady reputation and an even shadier past. Drake embarks on a journey that will push him to his physical, emotional and intellectual limits to discover the real truth behind the lost fleet of Marco Polo and the legendary Himalayan valley of Shambhala. |
The Old Man's Top 5
# 1: ★★★★★Red Dead Redemption is an open-world, third-person, action-adventure game set at the tail end of the American West West era. Action takes place in the first few years of the twentieth century and revolves around the choices that the protagonist, former outlaw John Marston, is forced to make due to his blemished past. |
# 2: ★★★★★Follow-up game to 2007's critically acclaimed Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the PlayStation 3 exclusive Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a continuation of the adventures of Nathan Drake, a fortune-hunter with a shady reputation and an even shadier past. Chock full of all the action, adventure, cinematic story elements and beautiful graphics that set the first game apart, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves adds deep online multiplayer options, including co-op and competitive campaigns, and a whole new supporting cast of characters. |
# 3: ★★★★★Modern Warfare 2 is a first-person tactical shooter and the sixth entry in the popular Call of Duty series. True to its name and following the lead of its predecessor, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, it places players in modern combat settings, as opposed to the WWII environments of the earlier Call of Duty games. This modern approach brings with it new weapons, action and options. Coupled with a variety of gameplay modes including single player, multiplayer and the co-op Special Ops Mode, it is destined to be one of the most popular games of 2009 and a worthy addition to the Call of Duty series. |
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# 4: ★★★★★Get ready to plunge into the lush and deadly world of the Italian Renaissance, an era of arts, riches and murderous conspiracy. Assassin's Creed II introduces you to Ezio, a new assassin carrying on the deadly lineage of his forebears. Confront an epic tale of power and corruption as you hone your assassin's art, wielding weapons and instruments designed by the legendary Leonardo da Vinci himself in this gripping and deadly sequel. |
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# 5: ★★★★★The third game in the Fallout series, Fallout 3 is a singleplayer action role-playing game (RPG) set in a post-apocalyptic Washington DC. Combining the horrific insanity of the Cold War era theory of mutually assured destruction gone terribly wrong, with the kitschy naivety of American 1950s nuclear propaganda, Fallout 3 will satisfy both players familiar with the popular first two games in its series as well as those coming to the franchise for the first time. |
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