by ChiefJimbolaya:

©2009 Aaron Klein

Stop right there Shia LeBouf! Before Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg crown Mutt Jones the next action adventure hero, Nathan Drake might have something to say.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves follows in the footsteps of Tomb Raider as much as the films Indiana Jones and National Treasure. Moreover, while he is by far a better action hero than Nicholas Cage, he even borders on being as badass as Harrison Ford in his heyday. Even in the midst of innumerable odds and great danger Drake is light hearted and resourceful.

Drake is a witty, intelligent treasure hunter with a knack for getting into, and out of, trouble. This time he is racing a ruthless Russian warlord with a private army and eye for world domination to find the Cintamani Stone. The stone resides in Shambhala, perhaps better known as Shangri-La, and is described as the “Buddhist Holy Grail,” granting its owner unmatched power.

The journey takes Drake from Turkey to Borneo to Tibet as he tracks down the location of the mythic kingdom by following clues hidden in archeology. The set pieces are dynamic and action packed. In one Drake is bounding between vehicles in a caravan while ducking and returning enemy fire, while another has him fighting on the rooftops of a speeding train.

Scripted events add excitement and surprise, like when a tank comes bursting through a wall while Drake is trying to escape a Tibetan town, or when the rail he just grabbed while climbing a railcar suspended over a cliff breaks way. An epic orchestra soundtrack adds to the tenseness of these moments.

Gameplay consists of cover-based shooting, tomb-raiding puzzles and platforming. Drake is often forced to improvise with the weapons of downed foes, but usually has an option to stealthily dispatch enemies before being detected.

Combat generally works well, although the cover system can be a bit rough when it does not snap to the surface you intended. Drake can only carry two weapons at a time, but this encourages experimentation

Uncharted 2 is one of the most beautiful games ever made. Its detailed environments range from lush tropics, dark temples, forgotten ruins and icy caverns. Each setting is visually distinct from the ones preceding it, ensuring constant visual stimulation and a sense of progress.

Realistic lighting and shadows work to enliven the environment. The tone of the sun’s light is different depending on the setting, harsh in the tropics while soft and muted in the overcast mountains.

If the environments are gorgeous, the character models are even better. Many games suffer from a condition known as the “uncanny valley.” This hypothesis holds that there is a point when a robot or 3D rendering of a human looks so much like the real thing that the little differences, like waxy stares and robotic movements, elicit revulsion instead of compassion.

Some great games have found themselves dangerously close to this “uncanny valley” despite their dedication to realism. Mass Effect and Fallout 3 might be counted among those offenders.

But Uncharted 2 never comes close to the dreaded valley. Nuanced facial animations in cinematic cut scenes accurately convey emotion through subtle movements in muscles under the skin.

Combine that with some of the best voice acting in video game history and you have believable, empathetic characters.

So many games have characters who sound like they are reading their lines off cards; even many with big-name actors voicing characters. Nolan North, veteran voice for dozens of video game characters, does a great job injecting humor and personality into hero Nathan Drake.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is finely polished, well-tuned action adventure game with a story that can compete with anything Hollywood has to offer in the genre. The story does include from some action movie clichés—including double crosses, deathbed confessions and being forced to help your nemesis toward his goals–but does not suffer for it.

Even though Uncharted 2 includes a robust co-op and competitive multiplayer mode, the single-player experience is the star of the show and reason enough to purchase this game.

©2009 Aaron Klein

• Check out Steal It For the 360 on Uncharted 2 . . . would we? – Find out here…

“9.5/10

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