Why Uncharted 2 is the best game of this generation.
By William Countiss
So if you’ve read the title of this article you already know my feelings on Uncharted 2. It’s brilliant. It’s a combination of several different game types mixed with an engrossing story, incredible graphics, natural well-written dialog and an unmatched amount of overall polish. I’ve been playing games since I was about 7 years old (I’m 31 now), and I can say unequivocally that Uncharted 2 is the best action adventure game that I’ve ever played. So what makes this game the pinnacle of all games? What makes this the Star Wars or Lord of the Rings and perhaps more suitably the Indiana Jones of the action adventure games world?
Perfect Controls
If you aren’t yet familiar with Uncharted 2, it is a third person action adventure game. It has at times been labeled Dude-Raider for its obvious similarity to Lara Croft’s adventures. But I have to be completely honest with you here, Uncharted 2 makes Tomb Raider look and feel pretty bland. The controls in Uncharted 2 are simply perfect. Aiming transitions the camera to an over the shoulder view that really puts the player inside the environment. The cover system is now much more fluid than in the original game. It feels more like Gears of War now which in my mind has a masterfully executed cover system. The new stealth mechanics don’t feel tacked on and you are always given the option to approach a situation in multiple ways, which allows for a level of strategy not available in the first outing. The climbing, leaping and swinging mechanic is so smooth and so well integrated, you’ll wonder why no other game has been able to successfully blend these elements in the past.
Perfect Camera
Now I don’t know who they are paying to build the camera system over at Naughty Dog, but he really should get a raise. The camera dynamically seems to give you the best possible view of the action each and every time. When Drake climbs down a ladder and into the mouth of an ancient temple the camera zooms in closer so that we the viewer feel as though we’re following our hero with a steady-cam. In another instance we’re put in a situation where Drake has to desperately run away from enemies. For this scene Drake runs toward us as if to leap out of our television screens. During climbing sequences the camera artfully pans or zooms to give us the best view of where we are while also subtly revealing where we have to go next.
Well Written Dialog
This is perhaps the first game that I’ve played where I felt the magic of bringing on board a professional movie script writer. The game dialog never feels forced. Compare this to Killzone 2, Gears of War and just about every Resident Evil game ever created and the difference becomes immediately apparent. This is first class voice acting matched with believable dialog that conveys sarcasm, comedy, jealousy, fear, anger and basically the gamut of human emotions. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Metal Gear Solid 4, but the story and character dialog was so heavy handed and long-winded in comparison to what Uncharted 2 has in store for you.
Engrossing Story
Perhaps the best part about Uncharted 2 is the plot. The story flows naturally with the pacing of the action. You’ll realize here that most games have a decent story but with terrible dialog and voice actors. Uncharted 2 sets the standard for natural dialog that truly enhances the overall story.
Incredible Graphics
You simply cannot ignore what a brilliant job Naughty Dog has done with upgrading the graphics in Uncharted 2. If you were ever skeptical of the power the cell processor offers, then prepare to become a believer. The environments feature rich texturing and there isn’t one poorly rendered wall, floor or ceiling. Every object, statue or enormous set piece has a mind shattering amount of detail and beautiful dynamic shadows add dimension. What’s more, the draw distance pushes the limits on what I thought was possible for this generation. The breath-taking vistas in Uncharted 2 will set the standard for ambiance in games for years to come. But it doesn’t end there, the environments react to Nate’s every move. Floors and ceilings cave, buildings crash down as the objects in the room slide across the floor and lights swing from the ceiling. When a helicopter is near, plants and trees blow wildly due to the wind current. It’s in these subtleties that Uncharted 2 stand above every other game I’ve ever played. Since we’re talking about animation we have to mention that Nate and his friends and enemies are animated exquisitely. He’ll stumble down steps while running quickly, cover his face when near an open fire and struggle to lift himself up from a ledge. The supporting cast and enemies also animate beautifully as they dive for cover, roll away from supressing fire and duck or cower with a real sense of self preservation. The lip-synching although not as good as Heavenly Sword, is still excellent.
If you own a PS3 buy this game, if you don’t, it’s worth owning the system just for Uncharted 2. If you consider yourself a gamer than you need to play this.
