Everyone has a favorite game. Sometimes it's a classic like The Legend of Zelda, or it's something addictive and massive like World of Warcraft or Call of Duty: Black Ops. Well my n3rds, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is MY favorite game ever....or was.
Uncharted 3 begins with our rough-around-the-edges hero Nathan Drake and his long-time companion and mentor Victor "Sully" Sullivan entering a pub in a shady corner of London. Things happen, plans go awry and there ends up being an old-fashioned bar brawl. Now, anyone familiar with Uncharted: Drake's Fortune hand-to-hand mechanics is probably groaning. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was a significant improvement but still wasn't pleasant in some cases. The new hand-to-hand system is a VAST improvement over both. In fact, there are many times in the game that melee is the superior form of combat, not to mention a few hand-to-hand boss battles. This of course is a nice addition to a pretty decent arsenal of weaponry.
Now, another aspect of any modern game is of course the graphics. I can, without a doubt, say that this is the most beautiful game I have ever seen on a console. From sweeping vistas of Cartagena, Colombia to the mystic sands of the Rub' al Khali desert. This game never ceases to amaze in terms of visuals. Over and over my jaw dropped at some new sight and it's incredible realism (Nope! Chuck Testa) and detail. Anyone who picks this game up will never be disappointed in this regard.
Getting to the downside. This game is NOT easy. There were a few places I got stuck for a considerable amount of time. That isn't to say that it's impossible, but it can be a little frustrating at times. If you're not so hot at shooting games I definitely recommend doing the campaign on easy. I promise, you will still get a good feeling of accomplishment upon completion. I almost wish I had started on Easy or Normal, but being the big-time TPS player that I am, I couldn't resist.
The story this time 'round follows the footsteps of Nathan's famous ancestor Sir Francis Drake yet again, and the archaeological exploits of T.E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia). Some familiar faces come back to join Nate in his quest to find what his ancestor was hiding. Namely, Chloe Frazer, Elena Fisher, and most importantly Victor "Sully" Sullivan. Nate's relationship and history with Sully are a huge part of the story dating back 20 years prior to the current events of the game. Also, some new faces are introduced, like the imposing but loyal Charlie Cutter, and the mysterious Sheikh of the desert, Salim.
Per usual with the Uncharted series, the characters are voiced with such aplomb, and the actors are so believable, you feel as if you're watching a movie rather than playing a game. It's truly a cinematic experience, and is a better movie than a lot of movies I've seen. The witty banter continues like always, and Nate's off-the-cuff remarks still rouse a nice chuckle. Hearing is definitely believing.
Overall, this game was simply amazing in every aspect. If it doesn't win Game of the Year like it's predecessors then something is wrong with the gaming world. Granted, there are some heavy contenders to compete with this year (Batman: Arkham City, Battlefield 3, Assassin's Creed: Revelations and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim come to mind) but it definitely is worth a heavy load of praise and then some. I just hope that the folks over at Naughty Dog can continue to provide new gripping stories for this series and the crown jewel of their company: Nathan Drake. For me, this game gets a perfect score.
Gameplay - 10
Graphics - 10
Sound - 10
Story - 10
Replay Value - 10
Multiplayer - 10
Overall - OVER 9000!
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