Nathan Drake is a modern day Indiana Jones
There is a short list of games on the Playstation 3 that make me wish I had the console, and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is at the top of it. So the first thing I did after borrowing this PS3 was to go out to Blockbuster to rent the game. Alas, my local Blockbuster didn’t have it, so I ended up driving 20 minutes (and waiting 20 minutes in line) to the closest store that had it in stock. After playing through the game, I can see why it was the Game of the Year 2009 for many media outlets. Uncharted 2 stands as a supreme example of why it sucks for consumers that the console wars exist.
Indiana Jones Without the Whip
Uncharted 2 stands head and shoulders above other games as a cinematic experience. The game plays like you are living out a movie, and a very specific type of movie: Indiana Jones-type adventuring. I never played the Tomb Raider series, so maybe Lara Croft had some of that too, but Nathan Drake, the game’s protagonist, goes on a wild 12-15 hour ride, and it is a flat out blast to tag along.
The game opens in media res at the scene of a huge train accident. After pulling off a Jurassic Park II-like escape out of a falling train car, Drake flashes back to what got him into that mess, and the story begins. It’s a typical adventure story: dashing adventurer seeks lost treasure, double crosses occur, love triangles bloom, ancient ruins are discovered, crazy bad guy makes play for unlimited power, etc. etc. There is even the requisite Nazi appearance. If I wasn’t paying attention, I would have mistaken Nathan Drake for Harrison Ford.
Although the story feels familiar, the execution is amazing. Uncharted 2 features some of the best set pieces I can remember, rivaling even those of the Modern Warfare series. I think what sets Uncharted 2′s set pieces apart is the way cut scenes and gameplay are spliced together so smoothly. It feels like a movie that you have control over. Add to this the fact that the game is designed so well that you almost always know where to go or what to do, even when entire buildings are crashing down around you, and you have an amazing experience. Uncharted 2 was as enjoyable to watch as it was to play, and in its best moments, you’re barely aware that you are even controlling the game. It truly crosses into Zen gaming at times.
A Few Well Executed Tricks
Unfortuately, Uncharted 2 did start feeling like a bit of a drag at the end, which might have been a function of my blowing through it in 4 days, but I think it is more the result of repetitive gameplay. Don’t get me wrong – the gameplay is excellent, and the game does a good job of mixing up platforming, action, and stealth sections. The problem is, by the end, these sections – especially platforming, started feeling very repetitive. I found myself just wanting to grind through so I could see what happened in the story.
For example, you spend the majority of your time traveling with companions. There are literally 10 or more ladders that you can’t reach on your own, and every time you need to boost your companion up the ladder, or vice-versa. I don’t know, it just seemed like weak gameplay design. I was sick of seeing half lowered ladders by the end of the game. Was that really necessary? Also, after playing Assassin’s Creed 2, Uncharted 2′s climbing sections just couldn’t hold up. That’s probably unfair, but it is what it is.
I also had a major problem with the “stealth” sections. Maybe I’m not that good at it, although I’d like to think I have passable stealth skills, at least on the normal section. But during the second half of the game, the stealth sections just seemed to be there to whittle down your competition before someone notices you and you get into a firefight. I would have much rather Solid Snaked my way through those sections, but it seems like you are expected to open fire at some point (I assume this because of the dialogue that ensues during the firefight – it seems very scripted). Another annoying thing about the fighting sequences is that enemies take an exorbitant number of bullets. How many times can I shoot someone’s hat off without actually HITTING THEIR FACE AND KILLING THEM!?
Again, the gameplay is generally excellent, but I just felt that the game was maybe 2 or 3 hours too long. I didn’t get sick of the repetition until the end. I also think I noticed it because the game is so excellent that I found myself holding it to higher standards. There is an absolutely thrilling sequence in the middle of the game, and I kept waiting for another one in the back half of the story that never came. Probably a case of too high expectations.
Characters You Care About
One of the reasons why I was trying to rush from cutscene to cutscene is because the characters in the game, with the notable exception of the archvillain, are captivating. If Indiana Jones wasn’t an inspiration for Nathan Drake I’d be shocked. He has a great blend of bravado, humor, and kindness that make for a protagonist you can really root for. Elena and Chloe, his female companions, serve as great foils to one another. I found myself wishing there was more of a chance to explore these characters intricacies more in depth. This is not a fault of the game – rather, it is a testament to how well the characters were presented.
It helps that the game is beautiful as well. The character models are incredibly expressive (although everyone’s eyes look glassed over for some reason), and the environments are even more impressive. The game also has an amazing soundtrack that intensifies and mellows out at the right times. I often left the title screen on in the background when I was done playing just to enjoy the music.
Final Thoughts
I loved Uncharted 2. Unfortunately, as I’ve mentioned, I loved it more about 2/3 of the way through, and a little less by the end. It’s an amazing game, but the last few sections just left a bad taste in my mouth. I wish it had ended earlier, and I wish Naughty Dog, the developer, had come up with a few more tricks. I get it – when you are jumping around in ruins, you often need someone to grab you with one hand and hoist you up. I didn’t need to see that happen 100 times.
Like Indiana Jones, Uncharted 2 is incredibly fun. If any PS3 owner hasn’t tried this out yet, do yourself a favor and pick it up. You will get a great story with lots of fun twists and turns and beautiful graphics and sound. In addition, Uncharted 2 comes with multiplayer options that have been well reviewed. I couldn’t take it out for a spin myself because I couldn’t connect for some reason and had to return the game. The game is worthy of all the accolades it received last year. Check it out!
Final Grade: A-
If you’ve gotten sick of “hoisting” an AI partner up a ladder from Uncharted 2, might want to hold off from playing Resident Evil 5 or Army of Two for a bit. It’s apparently the “in” thing for gaming right now…for better or for worse.