Cert: 16+
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action/Adventure
Uncharted Drakes Fortune is, to this day, one of the Playstation 3's seminal releases. Two years on, it still has yet to be bested in terms of visuals, gameplay, and for sheer immersion its unrivalled. Its strongest attribute was that you were playing a part - the main part, no less - in a Hollywood movie, and it's design was executed so well by makers Naughty Dog, you just didn't want the experience to end. Thankfully, now, it hasn't. The sequel we all have been waiting for has finally arrived.
Uncharted 2 has one of the finest first five minutes seen in a videogame. Literally thrown into the action from the off, you will be blown away by how well this looks, so much so your hands will stay off he controller and your arms will stay firmly crossed as you'll think you're still watching the opening cut-scene play-out.
Another key thing worth mentioning, is this time the game is not confined to one island. For example, at the beginning, you'll find yourself in Istanbul at Twilight, having to stealthily retrieve one of Marco Polo's lost treasures. To say any more would spoil it, but needless to say, it's not long before things begin to twist and turn and the adventure truly begins and you're whisked to even more exotic locations around the globe.
The action again consists of gunplay, climbing in some of the most breathtaking places ever seen in a game, and now stealth plays a bigger role, with the player being rewarded for sneaking rather then running through the luscious locales all guns blazing.
The acting is superb, and not only by the voice actors, but the animation is excellent - if you squint you would quite happily believe you were watching a live-action movie.
And then there's the multiplayer. Yep, now you and a number of friends can compete online in various modes such as Capture the Flag and Survival mode. Online could be another game in itself and is so seamlessly integrated and works so well you'd wonder why it wasn't in its predecessor in the first place.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is brilliant. It's everything a videogame should be and then some. It's a Hollywood movie whose actors would put many you'd see down in the local cinema to nowadays to shame; it's an adventure game that expertly blends jaw-dropping scenery, breathless action, intelligent puzzle-solving and genuine humour all into one disc no PS3 owner should be without.
Loved it.
Rent or Buy: Buy
Graphics: 5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Replay Value: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Reviewed By: Simon Rubbathan
