RATING:


Naughty Dog, the company behind “Crash Bandicoot” and “Jak & Daxter” has always been known for delivering fun, high-quality titles. This tradition continues with its new game
“Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.” The game takes any problems the first one had and fixes them entirely, creating what truly is a perfect game.

The “Uncharted” series is the “Indiana Jones” of video games that “Tomb Raider” always strived to be, delivering an exciting adventure filled with fun characters and witty dialogue that will keep players constantly enthralled.

In “Uncharted 2,” Nathan Drake is on a new quest to find the Cintamani Stone located in the mythical kingdom of “Shambhala.” It becomes a race to the finish when Drake finds out that Serbian war criminal Zoran Lazarevic is also looking for the Cintamani stone, which as it turns out, may hold an incredible power for its wielder. New and old faces show up to help or hurt Drake as he makes his way through numerous visually stunning locales trying to track down the path to Shambhala.

The gameplay in “Uncharted 2” is very similar to the first game; players will spend time climbing and exploring, solving ancient puzzles, getting into harrowing gunfights and sneaking around, stealthily taking out foes. Unlike the original “Uncharted,” “Among Thieves” features a far greater balance between platforming and shooting segments while also constantly creating new situations that combine the two elements in clever ways. Along with this, the game introduces a wider variety of armored enemies, creating a tougher, but fun challenge. While only useful in some situations, the new stealth aspect in the game is a great new addition to the gameplay that pushes players to use their brains rather than brawn.

Platforming segments also do a great job of making players think. Unlike the first game, it requires a much keener eye to figure out what should be climbed on to get to the next destination; something which is openly welcomed as it gives players an opportunity to take in the amazing, scenic environments the game has to offer.

“Uncharted 2” truly pushes the Playstation 3 hardware to the limit when it comes to visuals. It also helps that Naughty Dog used the PS3’s power to create a cinematic feel for the entire game that will constantly keep players engaged and on the edge of their seats. In fact, the game is so cinematic that it may be difficult at times to tell between a cut scene and gameplay segments.

With added online co-operative and competitive modes, players will be enthralled with “Uncharted 2” long after the fantastic single-player story ends. “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” is a game so great that all PS3 owners should add it to their collection.

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