Jatech

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a pretty different game to the one I just described but if someone wants to go ahead and make that game, feel free. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, the 2009 sequel to Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is every adventure mystery action treasure hunting movie ever created, combined and stuck in a game with a bunch of gunplay and climbing. Indiana Jones, National Treasure, The Mummy, The Da Vinci Code - it's all here. The plot is straight out of one of these films. You've got a ragtag bunch of heroes, the return of characters from previous instalments and a race for some hidden famous historical treasure with the big bad brutes OR someone the main character used to be partners with (Sean Bean in GoldenEye AND National Treasure I'm looking at you. Seriously what? Sean Bean is a traitor to the main character in two well known movies? At least Boromir wasn't a total shithead). For a video game review, it seems I'm spending more time comparing this game to films than I am to other games. It's because it's not a game plot - it's a movie plot. Fun fact - I haven't played the original Uncharted, but I've seen the whole game on YouTube in a two hour feature film with gameplay only there to negate continuity errors. It's here if you want to watch.

You play as Nathan Drake, voiced by the omnipresent Nolan North, a wise-cracking treasure hunter, using clues from Marco Polo to search for the lost kingdom of Shambhala, or Shangri-La. Nate is a great character, and you can see why he's regarded as the mascot for the PS3. He's 'meant' to be your everyday guy, but he's the video game equivalent - so better than everyone. He's this laid-back, cocky dude who feels very alive when being controlled by the player, making quips and telling companions to hurry up. There was a great moment on a rooftop of a hotel in Nepal where you..ah, I'll just show it. (also cause the game revolves around Marco Polo, omg). Accompanying Nate is mentor Victor "Sully" Sullivan, reporter Elena Fisher (last year's model), and girl from the past Chloe Frazer, whose accent I spent the entire game trying to distinguish between Australian & English and I still have no clue (her voice actor is Aussie, so let's roll with that). You'll go from a museum heist in Turkey to the jungles of Borneo, the ruins of a war torn city in Nepal crumbling around you as helicopters take out the buildings you're desperately trying to find a footing in, and my personal favourite, the icy cliffs and peaks of the Himalayas with Tibetan temples and villages. It's exciting.

The Uncharted series has always put its emphasis on grand set pieces, stunning environments and memorable characters, and Uncharted 2 is no exception, something of which I'll go into more detail further on. A lot of this game is shooting, a lot of it is climbing and a little bit is solving some very basic puzzles. It does seem like the puzzles were a bit of an afterthought with no real meat on their bones; they're more of a staple of the genre than an integral part of the gameplay, but I'm not going to deduct marks from a game for including more stuff, unless it's shitty DLC that ruins the overall game. When you get to one of the few puzzle sections, you hit select and flip through your notebook that you only need in these sections for the answer to pop up and punch you in the face. The notebook is a nice aesthetic touch, but beyond that - why? For Nathan Drake to show off his neat drawing skills, a la Cole Phelps in LA Noire? (although the notebook in that game is pretty integral) OK. FOCUS. UNCHARTED.

 It's the way this somewhat generic shoot/climb gameplay is presented which really pushes Uncharted 2 up. Gameplay should be the thing developers spend a lot of their time perfecting and prioritising, but without visuals, story and atmosphere, we're just pressing buttons to make boring things happen. You'll get Nate to mow down countless Russians, war criminals and fabulously clichéd bad guys in such diverse and dynamic environments and it really makes this game exciting and super engaging. There are enough guns to choose from - pistols, shotguns, sniper rifles, automatic weapons, rocket launchers and grenades - all pretty standard stuff really (but if you want a game about the guns go play Borderlands or Resistance). If you do get too close though, you can man it up and go fisticuffs with some beefy Russians. These sections are pretty fun, and they can come in handy when the enemies get tougher - punching off layers of armour as they try to bash you over the head with a shotgun has a great rhythm and sense of weight. Good times, Nate. The climbing feels fluid and natural as well. Nate is a little flail-y, and this game wins the award for most crumbling surfaces you've just grabbed onto in a game ever probably. But it all just adds to the tension and excitement. There were some issues where Nate didn't go where I wanted him to, and one frustrating section where it wouldn't let me dismount a street sign until I had killed everyone in the area. I mean sure, safety first but come on.

This is a linear game. But linear does not mean bad. There are a very small number of moments when it's a little more movie than game (we can try for the 'cinematic game' angle but that will only get us so far. I mean, it's by no means Heavy Rain). There are enough paths and options within a level to keep the game fresh and not feel closed in. There are some sections that are pretty open and most of the game lets you naturally find the paths for yourself, it's not hand-holdy at all. In terms of story, yes, it's entirely linear, but again, not a problem.

The cutscenes have had special care put into them. They could have been lifted straight from one of these adventure movies. They're not at all boring and there's a great chemistry between these realistic characters. The scenes feel super natural and there's a seamless transition from cutscene to gameplay. The camera just swivels around and suddenly you're playing again and it's beautiful.

 Drake controls very well also, and the animation team did a sublime job of characterising his movement. He'll flail when jumping across gaps, his perfect hair will never be messed up, and his punches have this clumsy lunge to them. (Also Naughty Dog can do wet clothes well).

There are games like Deus Ex and Half-Life that reshape genres and the way people think about games, whilst also dealing with some heavy themes. They're regarded as masterpieces. Then there are games like Uncharted, and I honestly think that these light hearted, popcorn games (cause that's what Uncharted is - it's a popcorn game) have a place in the gaming world. Who wants to watch Citizen Kane and Schindler's List all the time? If we were dealing with things to redefine and shape the industry (which I'm all for) all the time, we wouldn't have games like Uncharted and movies like Armageddon or Die Hard. Uncharted 2 excels at being a high level, visually stunning and engaging production. We don't have to compare every game to each other constantly, we can take them for what they are and appreciate them as a piece of art or interactive entertainment. The team behind this game put so much effort into making this an experience and they did not fail. I mentioned before the sections in the Himalayas. They're breathtaking, they truly are. Just look. And keep in mind this is ONE SECTION of the 7-8 hour long game.

Combine this with memorable and likeable characters and adrenaline-fuelled car chases and gunfights in crumbling ruins, and you're in for a ride. Undercutting the entire game is a memorable, grandiose soundtrack that combines violins and strings from Hollywood blockbusters, to erhus and traditional Asian instruments when you get to these areas. The entire thing is just a flawless production. Even if you're a fan of completely open games with choice coming out its ass like Skyrim, I still think anyone can enjoy this excellent game for what it is. I definitely recommend it.