I originally purchased the PS3 for Blu Rays but then I slowly realized the Video Game Gems the PS3 had to offer. It started with Little Big Planet and evolved to Metal Gear Solid 4. One Gem I had my eyes on from the very start was Uncharted. After finally getting to play the game it became clear that the sequel would be one the PS3s biggest Gems. How does the sequel hold up to the original, does Uncharted 2 make push the PS3 to the Max?

Gameplay

The first game was plague with some control problems that made it just a tad frustrating to play, the sequel takes all those bad control elements and refines into a fine piece of game making. If you’ve never played any of the Uncharted series it’s a 3rd Person Shooter/Exploring game. What stands out in the game is the level designs. Most levels consist of a simple path to follow but if you look hard enough you’ll locate secret areas. This adds a huge replay value and a large exploration value that isn’t found in most games. The Level design doesn’t just stop there, some of the puzzles were really well put together. They weren’t the most difficult thing to perform, but at the same time they weren’t pushing a box to a switch. It was something along the lines of being difficult enough to give you challenge, but not so difficult that you die and have to do it over and over. During some of the Puzzles you would need a hint, that’s where Drake’s Journal comes into play. You hit the select button and it shows you everything you need to know about the puzzle, what made it really fun was the extra notes and humor that was in the journal. The Combat was also fixed, in the first title there were large amounts of gun battles that weren’t really diverse. Essentially getting old very fast. In Uncharted 2 you are given a variety of combat situations all being fun. Part of the combat aside from shooting was the Stealth and Hand to Hand both which were given some extra care. Stealth worked with a single button and the baddy would just have to be near you to activate. As an example a guard is walking close to you and your behind a pillar. Click the button at the right time you can grab the guard and slam him into the pillar. If done correctly nobody will be alerted to your presence. The Hand to Hand was also given the simplified approach, controls worked with one button to strike and one to dodge. If the baddie is going to strike hit the dodge button and hit strike afterwards. Usually this will knock out your opponent and make you look really cool doing it. What really stood out the most about the game was the storytelling and environments. The Story was really solid and very exciting making you look forward to what happens next. As for the environments they were all really well put together and had various elements that always kept you on your toes.

Graphics

I’ve been hearing that Naughty Dog really pushed the PS3 Engine and let me tell you it shows. The Graphics are fantastic, this is one of the best looking games I’ve played hands down. The thing that really stood out about the Graphics is that it never slowed things down. Everything could be happening in the game and it wouldn’t show signs of being overworked. I was also impressed with the character models and acting that was done. Each character seemed to be very unique and cutscenes were a pleasure to watch. The scenes also never took anything away from the game. The Scenes were largely a setup to what cool thing you would do next. The Lighting was also very impressive, there was a variety of areas that you get to be in and they all looked solid. All containing a very unique way of lighting and doing the environments. Essentially it didn’t just seem like you were in the same jungle twice.

Sound

I can’t say how impressed I was with the Voice Acting in this game. It reminded me of the first time of playing Prince of Persia the Sands of Time. There were various moments in the game where I would actually be laughing at something Drake would say. Something that I was really impressed was how the one liners weren’t overused. It seems in games now a days that the one liner is replayed over and over like a skipping record. I found Drake did repeat himself once or twice but it wasn’t very frequent it became more of something to look forward to. All the characters were very well acted and all had a very unique quality about them. Often times I would feel like I was watching a Movie. The Surround Sound was also top notch, giving the game environments the extra bump of realism. From various environment sfx like birds to people walking around, the sound really shined in this game.

Overall

A stunning work in Gaming. This is one of those Gems that makes me realize that there is more to this PS3 then just Blu Rays. It also makes me wish that more developers would push the PS3 to it’s max. If your looking for a fun game with hours of entertainment this certainly is up your alley. There is a large replay value to the game and a large multiplayer aspect.