Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a simply stunning game. It's a cinematic adventure that has you hooked from start to finish. The dynamic cutscenes mean the non-stop action flows seamlessly from one breathtaking set-piece to the next, and the script, acting, and characters are some of the best Gamestyle have encountered. We defy anyone not to enjoy their time spent as Nathan Drake.
The story takes place after the events of Drake's Fortune, and after one of the most impressive starts to a videogame in recent memory, Drake is persuaded to help find a missing fleet of ships that belonged to the famed explorer, Marco Polo. The quest to find the ships (or more importantly, the cargo that they were carrying) takes Drake to Istanbul, Nepal, Borneo, and Tibet. He meets new characters, including the seductive Chloe Frazer and sadistic war criminal Zoran Lazarevic, and is reunited with some familiar ones (his partner in crime, Sully, and love interest, Elena Fisher). From creeping around a museum during a heist, to fighting crazed yetis in the Himalayas, the story is over-the-top fun that will put a smile on your face. There may be the inevitable evil antagonist hell-bent on world domination, double-crossing friends, and love triangles, but the plot feels fresh and never gets dull.
It's the set-pieces that really sets Among Thieves apart from other action games. It's been reported that the game uses around 60% more of the PS3's Cell processor than Drake's Fortune did, and the results are clear. Not only are the environments almost photo-realistic, but the onscreen action is taken to another level. Escaping from a collapsing building will always be a fond memory for Gamestyle, but also climbing up a derailed train that's hanging precariously from a cliff, being hunted by a tank in a Tibetan village, and jumping from car to car in a high-speed pursuit. It's a level of blockbusting action that Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay would be proud of.
Gameplay remains fairly untouched from the first game, although there are minor improvements, most notably the removal of the awkward motion-controlled grenade system. The action is broken down into two areas; gunfights and puzzle-solving. Both are handled extremely well, and whether Drake is scaling buildings or gunning down mercenaries, the gameplay is smooth and intuitive. There's a good balance between the two, and although you can't really describe the game as "slow-paced", the tomb-raiding puzzles offer a welcome respite from the inevitable stand-off that will ensue. It may be formulaic at times, but the changes in scenery and location help keep interest throughout.
There are multiple ways to overcome your foe, be it with stealth or an all out assault, and Gamestyle believes that this element of the game has been improved from the last. Disappointingly, although the enemies have change from guerrilla warriors to mercenary soldiers, they still move in predictable waves. Advancing through gunfights becomes a methodical process of taking cover, taking out each wave of predictable, yet increasingly deadly AI enemies, and moving up to the next object to hide behind. Gamestyle found this frustrating in Drake's Fortune, but it's certainly less of an issue in Among Thieves. You can try and take out guards unseen, or even avoid conflict altogether in certain situations. You don't seem to run out of ammo as quickly, and although this may make the game slightly easier than its predecessor, it definitely makes it more enjoyable.
The story will take about 10 hours to play through, but will have you hooked throughout. Once again you can hunt down treasures scattered in the areas you visit, and you will need more than one play through to collect them all. Gamestyle are fairly confident that a chance to replay the game will be welcomed by most players, and there are several difficulty levels to suit. In addition to this is a highly entertaining multiplayer mode. With a variety of both competitive and co-operative options, including an in-depth levelling up and customisation system, it has the potential to occupy you longer than the main game. The addition of Twitter support is a great feature, and allows friends to be aware of when you are online, and how well you're doing.
Gamestyle recommends Uncharted 2: Among Thieves to all PS3 owners, and would even go so far as to advise people to get the console just to play the game. It's truly an adventure from start to finish, and something that every gamer should experience. It sets the bar for action and storytelling, and although there are a couple of low-points with regard to predictable AI, it's by far the most entertaining game Gamestyle have played all year.
