• Overall score 96%
• Fun Factor 9.2
• Visuals 9.7
• Story/Concept 9.4
• Sound 9.5
• Longevity 8.5
• Originality 9.3

User score74%

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0100%

• Publisher: SCEA
• Developer: Naughty Dog
• Platform: PS3
• Release date: 2009-10-16
• Genre: Action Adventure
• Buy now

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Uncharted 2 is an incredible game. It combines a compelling and excellently executed story with interesting puzzles, solid action, and unbelievably high production values.

Many who have played the game have called it cinematic, and it truly is. In this regard, Uncharted 2 is unmatched. From start to finish, it screams “Hollywood summer blockbuster” with its memorable characters, exciting locations and jaw dropping scenery.

The game opens with our injured hero, Nathan Drake, hanging from a train cart which is dangling precariously over the edge of a snow covered cliff-face. The first twenty minutes are tense, with players having to climb the dangling wreck. Massive plummeting boulders, complete with shards of ice, as well as falling bits of train wreckage make the ascent an edge-of-your-seat affair. Of course this set-piece climaxes with the train dislodging entirely, and Drake having to make a short vertical sprint followed by a desperate dive through the air to only just make it onto terra firma.

This early set-piece in many ways characterizes much of what Uncharted 2, and Nathan Drake, are all about. Drake is not the bold and brawny hero archetype, he is the unwilling, self-depreciating adventurer. Players spend much of their time avoiding massively overpowered opponents, such as a tank, armored trucks, and “Demon yetis” or scrambling across collapsing bridges or passageways.

The first two chapters serve as an extended tutorial, teaching the player how to jump, climb, roll, hide, swing, duck, shoot and fight. Players are taught how to manipulate cover and stealth, an important and highly enjoyable aspect of the game. Of course gun fighting and hand-to-hand combat are just as important, and equally enjoyable, as is the puzzle solving and exploration component of the game.

The varied nature of the gameplay in combination with the excellently executed character and story development is what makes Uncharted 2 so special. Players are never asked to repeat objectives, or do anything they have already done for that matter. The constantly evolving narrative continually changes things up, and is key to the success of Uncharted 2, allowing players to spend hours at a time playing the game without getting bored, or tired of performing generic and similar tasks.

Part of the dynamic flow which makes Uncharted so difficult to put down, is the constant variation in setting. Players will visit tropical jungles, snow covered mountains, decrepit third world cities and ancient ruins.
Not only are the basic objectives and scenery constantly evolving, but so is the gameplay on a very basic level. The first chapter has an injured Drake stumbling though snowy terrain, trying to figure out where he is. There is very little combat in this chapter, and the emphasis is on basic exploration. The next chapter has Drake robbing a museum, a task which involves lots of climbing, roof-top-leaping and of course stealthy assassinations. In contrast, this mission is followed by the game’s first combat heavy mission, which has Drake blasting his way through a tropical jungle, employing a Gears of War type cover mechanic.

And so the progression continues, never disappointing, and always keeping gamers interested. Even within the mission types described here, there is loads of variation, with most chapters tasking players with some sort of objective that has not been done in the game before.

Combined with the dynamic gameplay progression is a constantly moving story arch. Automated cut-scenes kick in frequently at select checkpoints, and unlike some games, they are never boring. The characters come to life, largely thanks to an excellently penned script, outstanding voice work and brilliant facial animations. Drake is the star of the show, and players are likely to laugh out loud more than a few times at his sarcastic, good-natured and self mocking humor.

The dialogue is not limited to the cut-scenes, and Drake is accompanied by one of a few characters through most chapters. Apart from helping take care of the bad-guys, these characters supply valuable puzzle solving clues. Furthermore, players can expect to be entertained by the constant exchanges which take place between Drake and the supporting ensemble throughout the various missions.

Uncharted 2 is the best looking PS3 game released to date, and is a strong contender for the most visually impressive game to be released on any platform, ever. First impressions do not do the game justice, but as players progress through the game, taking in the breathtakingly rendered scenery and character animations, it becomes clear that Uncharted 2 puts other current generation games to shame.

The textures are incredibly rich, and the level of detail is unmatched. Players will also become accustomed to the impressive lighting and motion blur effects, all of which are rendered at constant frame rates with no noticeable lag throughout the game. At some points, it is difficult to believe that Uncharted 2 is running on a current generation console.

The top-class visuals are backed by an amazing sound track which comprises a brilliant classical score with the aforementioned top-notch dialogue. From epic adventure themed compositions, to sparsely conducted moody overtones, the music serves the game perfectly.

It took us just over 12 hours to complete Uncharted 2 on medium difficulty. Apart from being stuck for a short period of time on one puzzle in particular, the pacing was great. Players are kept moving, and while the game is challenging, it is never frustratingly difficult. Players can go back and replay chapters, and of course there is the option to scour each level for the various hidden treasures – an addition which should satisfy OCD gamers.

There is also a great online multiplayer component which promises to offer gamers countless extra hours of gametime. When we played, there was limited user activity, but we can expect more South African gamers online as the game cements itself in retail.

Uncharted 2 innovates in a number of ways. While many of these are subtle, and the skeptics will be quick to point out the mixture between Tomb Raider style platforming and Gears of War style gunplay, the manner which these, and other, components have been seamlessly combined is unique. Furthermore, Naughty Dog has taken the storytelling and cinematic drive to a new level, innovating in countless ways which make the game feel like something brand new.

Conclusion

Uncharted 2 currently maintains a Metacritic score of 96. It has received dozens of perfect scores, and the lowest score it has received is 9/10. As of now it is the most well received PS3 exclusive to date. According to Metacritic, it is also the best game released on any platform this year.

Our experience with the game has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. The only downside to playing Uncharted 2 is that once you are done, most other games will feel cheap and shallow.

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