On Uncharted 2
My passion for videogames has remained constant over time, but a measure of skepticism has governed my approach to new and upcoming titles since the fall of 2007. We had two AAA titles in Assassin's Creed and Hellgate: London, games with every apparent advantage only to dessicate under unprecedented pre-release coverage and financial pressure. While AC does more things right and should be lauded for its technical progression and the premise of its concepts, neither game really inspires trust between the studio and the player.
Uncharted 2 reaffirms my faith in developers.
It wasn't the first to do it - that goes to Bioware and Mass Effect, thankfully released soon after AC and HG:L - but it's the most recent, and it does so with power and distinction.
The game is a paella of HOLY SHIT moments thick with substance. Alone and bleeding out in the worst of a snowstorm, armed only with a handgun, Nate cries out a challenge to an oncoming platoon of elite soldiers. He simultaneously has the courage to welcome armed killers and the humanity to let some of his misery slip through and color the taunt.
This is just one of many thrilling obstacles that make the game brilliant.
Worried? Don't be. If you're any kind of gamer, you should be able to see all the game has to offer. Naughty Dog teaches the requisite skills with both organic tutorials and visual/audio cues so you're more or less prepared for the next challenge. You might need a few minutes to get through certain platforming elements, to compare Nate's notes with the current puzzle, or to reload some gunfights, but you're always given the resources to do what you need to do. Just listen, keep your eyes open, and use what's available.
Gunplay is much the same as the first, but for some reason I felt more lethal this time around. Maybe I'm just used to the flow of combat now, maybe I'm better about changing weapons as they become available, but even with the riot shields and blast armor and pistol shotguns (yeah) I was generally in control of the field. And yes, for those who played Uncharted 1 and wonder if Those Annoying Enemies return in some fashion, you can take them this time. Seriously, I hated them as much as you did in U1, but the ones in U2 come in pretty late and I never felt like they were overpowered. It bears repeating - you're given the tools to take out the bad guys. Just keep moving, prioritize the big ones and clean up the chaff afterwards.
Melee mechanics are a little different. Your only frontal combo involves mashing square; all you have to do otherwise is use triangle to counter at the right times, and the game teaches you when to do this. The result is a more cinematic and ultimately fun way to punch dudes in the face.
One new addition to combat is the intuitive and visceral stealth system. Mostly you'll be shooting the bad guys while they attempt to do the same, but sometimes you can get your ninja on. You have takedowns while standing, hiding behind cover, and hanging from ledges. The first stealth challenge is probably the hardest - I think I spent 30 minutes on it because I was doing it wrong - so once you grasp the mechanics from that encounter, you'll be ready for the rest. Stealth isn't some shoehorned gimmick here; it's a viable tool that rewards patience and planning.
I could exalt the technical assets of the game - and I will, because they're amazing. Once you load up a new game, you will rarely see another loading screen until you turn off the system and resume later as they're streamed behind the gameplay. Not only is the framerate satin, the textures refined and the environments wondrous, the art direction and color selection unite the beautiful and practical. Handholds are both pretty obvious and just pretty - or dirty, when appropriate. Uncharted 2 is right up there with Metal Gear Solid 4 when it comes to utilization of the PS3, and I think its pacing puts it on top. You're given the chance to catch your breath and savor the view.
Half-Life 2 was the first game I recall to advertise digital actors and come through on the promise. I was pretty much drinking the kool-aid when I was talking with the fellow inmates just off the tram. Uncharted 2 gives me that feeling all over again, as this is unquestionably the best use of voice actors and mocap in cutscenes and in gameplay to date. Everyone does a terrific job, but Nolan North in particular should be commended for his attention to detail and evident ease of playing the role of Nate. His ad libs, like the pained taunt mentioned above, enrich and enliven the character. Listen to him as you score headshots, snap necks, and line up targets through the scope of a sniper rifle; the remarks will probably echo your own thoughts at the time.
What's more, the script is pretty much perfect - we're not talking high literature here, but that wasn't Naughty Dog's intent. The writing is 100% appropriate to the tone of the story and it puts the actors in a place where they can excel. You know that commercial where homeboy's girlfriend thinks Uncharted 2 is an action movie? It's pretty accurate, as you're in a story of ambition, exploration, humor, betrayal, and loss.
Greg Edmonson returns for the soundtrack, and he really is the man for this. He not only gets the game, he brings his experience with world music and uncommon instrumentation to stir, shock, and sadden. Greg isn't some pretentious putz who uses African percussion because they're the latest thing, or because his musical library is the size of an actual library. He's a master who knows when to lead and when to highlight.
Once you're done with the single player game, you have multiplayer still waiting. Both coop and competitive are excellent, using the core game mechanics with solid netcode for an entertaining online experience. The best description I've seen so far is that of a fun-oriented Gears of War.
I'm saving the nags for last. They're minor, but you should know about them. The most pervasive was the friendly AI. Your partners usually have your back, but sometimes they inexplicably enter your field of fire or hug too close to your cover. Sure, you can manage, but it's like a single weed in a hundred acre field of daisies - all the more visible when surrounded by quality. Additionally, there are a few tough moments in the game. I never felt like a challenge was unsurmountable, but being prepared for some unforgiving fights and platforming would be wise.
This upcoming holiday season has seen more delays and rescheduled releases than any other. The prevailing theory is upon the juggernaut of Modern Warfare 2; it's a highly anticipated, multiplatform sequel to this generation's best shooter, and price hike or no, it may even outsell Grand Theft Auto 4. That said, I think Uncharted 2 will fight for Game of the Year as stubbornly as its protagonist, and if nothing else has already claimed the prize of best PS3 game to date.