Many improvements have been made since the first game. This time around real actors performed all the actions in this game while delivering the lines, so when playing the game the actions of the virtual characters seem real and believable. Once you begin the game, you never have to load giving you seamless transitions between chapters in the story. Short cut scenes engage during game play and then after a few seconds let you regain control. This may sound annoying but the cut scenes make the game feel more like a movie then a video game.
In most games, the camera is always behind your character giving you a bird's eye view of the area. While playing Uncharted 2, Drake may jump up to grab a ledge and as he goes to pull himself up the camera angle will change. This is constantly happening as you proceed through the game so you never have to worry about failing a stage because the camera angle got messed up and you couldn't see what was going on. The game developers really took the time to make sure the vantage point was always correct so you could focus on enjoying the game experience.
Even more improvements from the first game have been made besides the improved cinematic camera angles. Rather then hiding behind an object and attempting to take out bad guys, there are now a variety of new ways to take out enemies. The hand-to-hand combat sequences end in a cinematic slow-mo shot as Drake punches or kicks the enemy combatant for the last time knocking him out or killing him. Hand-to-hand combat is also an effective way of sneaking up on targets. It is more difficult than shooting enemies with a variety of weapons available, but it's more rewarding. If you perform the maneuver correctly you can take out many of the enemies without alerting the others patrolling the area.
Gun battles are common occurrences
The dialogue in Uncharted 2 is spectacular. Drake's sarcastic humor and banter with various characters throughout the story, including an ex girlfriend who plays the role of his side kick for part of the story, makes the game more enjoyable. The dialogue is real rather then feeling scripted. Each character has a distinct way of talking and interacting with other characters which makes their interactions seem more natural and not some pre-programmed conversation.
The dramatic camera angles add to the intensity of certain situations
This game isn't all about shooting enemies and blowing up stuff. Many parts of the story require you to figure out clues or puzzles in order to advance the story. Climbing objects and scaling walls are common practices in Uncharted 2. Sometimes the game can become frustrating because it's difficult to spot a tiny rock ledge that will allow you to proceed to the next area. Many places only allow you to proceed by one means necessary so it can make things difficult. This challenging aspect does make the game more difficult in some parts but ultimately more enjoyable in the end.
One aspect that remains the same from the first game is the outstanding music score. Greg Edmonson returns to deliver the music score for Uncharted 2 and it does not disappoint. I enjoyed listening to the epic music as I played the game so much I actually decided to buy the soundtrack on iTunes. Uncharted 2 has better music then many movies.
Breathtaking environments add to the realism
It's impossible to talk about Uncharted 2 without mentioning its visuals. You can tell the game developers really went out of their way to design the characters and environments. The game is packed with graphic detail that has nothing to do with whats going on in the story but draws you into the world making you feel like its a real place. This is easily one of the best games I've ever played and that's saying something with the company it shares (Metal Gear Solid 4, Killzone 2, COD: Modern Warfare 2). It's no wonder Uncharted 2: Among Thieves won game of the year in 2010.
Rating: 10 out of 10 (Perfect)
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