One of the lesser known launch titles for the PS3 when it first came out was Uncharted: Drakes Fortune (which can now be picked up as a platinum title for a very reasonable price!). The game was one of the most visually stunning to grace a next generation console. Naughty Dog, the developers have given a master class in how to take a much loved original and improve it tenfold.
For those familiar, or unfamiliar, with the character of Drake – imagine an Indiana Jones type character in a modern world. Nathan Drake is once again sucked into a race for a legendary mystical treasure called the Chintimani stone which is said to give superhuman power to anyone who has it.
Anyway, onto the game itself! The gameplay is phenomenally smooth. The levels are huge in both length and in the sense of different places to go. The game covers every type of terrain you can think of; war torn cities, aztec caves, Nepalese villages and snow covered mountains. Each of these environments is presented beautifully, even down to the footprints that Drake leaves in the snow as he walks around the level (which are neatly covered over as more snow falls). This game contains the most amazing graphics I’ve ever seen on a computer game. Walking around in the game and suddenly seeing a view which would rival some summer holidays I’ve been on is a real treat and worth the cost of the game alone.
Drake uses the traditional shoot & cover method for combat as in the first game. This is a great technique which makes combat a little easier for gamers who may not be very familiar with this kind of game. If you hide behind the same wall or statue too long the enemies actually pick up on this and begin to flank you or throw grenades to force you into the open. There is a huge variety of weapons to choose from which are split into the hand-held guns or the larger assault rifles/shotguns as well as a grenade launcher and a rocket launcher!
There is also a real variety of enemies in the game. In the previous instalment, you took on mostly pirates whereas this time, Drake faces much more formidable opponents who are fully armed with armoured suits or riot shields. Some of which you’ll end up using most of your ammo on! Some of the firefights can get very out of control which really adds to the atmosphere of the game. Trying to dodge snipers laser aims while also avoiding fire from a tank as well as taking out enemies with a pistol can get very hectic!
The story is gripping, just as it was in the first game, there are twists turns and of course romance! The cutscenes are better than what you’d see in some animated movies. At times some people may feel that there may be a few too many of these cutscenes but that would be being picky. The detail all the way down to the characters expressions is just amazing. All the original characters return, even the amusing Sully is back but there are also a few new characters and a couple of bad guys who you really believe in. It’s also only fair to point out how excellent the voice acting is in this game, everything just works – even the parts where you’re in action and Drake will grunt as he jumps from a ledge – it’s all been put into the game very carefully.
One of the nicest aspects of the first game was that it wasn’t purely a shoot ‘em up game. It required you to complete puzzles and go exploring. The sequel does provide some of these puzzles but to be honest they aren’t anywhere near as testing as the first game. They are very easy to solve and don’t really push you which is a bit of a shame as they were an integral part of the original.
The longetivity of this game is fantastic. It’s not a game that you’ll easily finish in a week. Depending on the difficulty setting you’ll definitely get your moneys worth from the game. There are so many chapters of the story, every time you think you’re approaching the end there is more & more to come.
For the first time there is now a multiplayer element to this game. I was a little dissapointed that there wasn’t a co-operative based mission but essentially this is death-match against the world! The environments are all fantastically designed with plenty of hideaways and vantage points. The multiplayer section adds a little more to the game but only if you are a fan of the whole deathmatch type situation. It’s more of an added bonus than anything else.
I’ve read in a couple of places that Uncharted 2 is the best console game ever. I have to disagree, this game has completely blasted its predecessor out of the water but to be the best game ever, it would need to have done something which changed the way people look at gaming. I remember getting an N64 a few years ago and playing Super Mario 64, which was the first fully 3D free roaming game. That kind of groundbreaking progress is becoming more difficult as technology becomes more complex.
Overall, this is without a shadow of a doubt, the best presented game on the PS3. It looks immaculate and at times feels like you’re playing a movie. If you haven’t played the original then make sure you do, and then go buy this game – you won’t regret either purchase. The game provides a bit of everything and has an immense amount of depth & story to the point where you’ll feel for the characters. The developers, Naughty Dog have put so much attention to detail into this game that their next instalment, whether it be another Uncharted game or not should receive a lot of attention.
VideogameUK verdict: 9/10
