Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Review
- Posted October 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 EDT by Adam Dolge
- 11,228 views
- 65 Comments
Review Score
- PSU Review Score
- 10.0
- Avg. user review score:
- 9.7
Summary
With Among Thieves, Naughty Dog has shattered the proverbial bar it created with the 2007 original. This is quite possibly the best game to have graced the PS3, and without a doubt one of the greatest titles ever conceived.
We like
- The stunning visuals that draw you into the complex and engrossing story
- The strategic, fast-paced combat and superb multiplayer component
- The breathtaking experience that is created by a marriage of stellar gameplay, beautiful graphics, and exciting action
We dislike
- The occasional hiccup with the controls
- Having to wait for Uncharted 3!
See PSU's review on Metacritic & GameRankings
With the release of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Naughty Dog has created an epic game that rivals the storytelling of Hollywood’s finest feature films, with seamless gameplay that sets a new benchmark for future releases. The stunning graphics and fluent cut-scenes deliver the ultimate visual presentation, while the tight action, puzzle, and navigation mechanics ultimately cement Among Thieves as one of the greatest titles to grace any current generation platform to date. The world comes alive right from the opening sequence through the numerous chapters that take you from snowy cliff-side towns, dilapidated cities, and onboard speeding trains; the action is intense, yet manageable; and the story is strong enough to keep you on the edge of your seat through the entire single-player campaign. Without hesitation, Among Thieves has solidified its spot high atop the best games this year, and quite possibly one of the best games of all time.
Among Thieves has already received unanimous praise among reviewers and gamers alike, so it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that we love this game and have great admiration for Naughty Dog and the team that created this enormous spectacle. We gave Among Thieves a perfect score not because every aspect of the game was spot-on, but because the overall experience felt so far ahead of virtually anything else we've played this year that we were willing to forgive its minor flaws. After spending many hours playing through the single and multiplayer modes, we were left with our jaws dropped and our eyes open wide. Ironically enough, it’s the fact that Among Thieves proved such an enjoyable experience that it ultimately left us feeling slightly frustrated at the prospect of having to wait until the inevitable sequel turns up—still, there’s no doubt that the game will keep us busy for a long, long time.
Nathan Drake first strolled onto the PlayStation 3 with the release of 2007’s Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. This arrogant treasure hunter could do just about everything—he could solve complex puzzles, scale across rooftops, climb stone walls, take down a small army of foes single-handily, stealthily dispatch lone goons, and of course, charm the pants off of the opposite sex. In Among Thieves, everything we loved about the original game was back, but tweaked just enough to make the controls tighter, the story deeper, the world bigger, the scenery more lush, and the action faster and more intense. While many sequels seem to rest on the laurels of what the original game did right, without beefing up new elements, Among Thieves has the ideal balance of familiar gameplay with a healthy coat of polish.
Since many (if not all) of you have played the game, the multiplayer demo, or the original, we won’t get too technical with the actual gameplay mechanics. The basic duck and cover combat strategy returns in the sequel, along with numerous puzzles required to pass various obstacles, and vast environments for Drake to traverse. Among Thieves takes all of these core elements and ultimately makes them tighter and easier to use.
Combat in Among Thieves comes in different forms; it can be a fast-paced gun battle or a strategic affair where you use the game’s settings to your advantage—hiding behind partially blown up walls, high on rooftops, or clinging to the side of a building. The duck and cover mechanic usually works great, but it’s not without its problems. Occasionally you’ll get stuck covering behind the wrong side of an object, or carelessly jumping to your death as you try to climb down a ladder. Despite the mild frustration, these minor issues do little to hinder the overall experience.
The game picks up about a year or so after Drake’s Fortune. Without giving too much away, the basic story once again follows Nate, who this time around is searching for the remnants of Marco Polo’s expedition in search of Shangri La and the elusive Cintamani Stone. The game opens (sort of) with a British guy named Flynn, who, with the help of the seductive Chloe, tries to convince Drake to track down an old oil lamp from a Turkish museum. This lamp is believed to hold secrets to Polo’s lost expedition. Through a series of very unfortunate betrayals, Drake is set off to ... (continued on next page)
Comments
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VintageElise |
VintageElise- 11:19am BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 1
IMO PSU will become alot better once you start doing video reviews.
Good review all the same though.
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netherdragon |
netherdragon- 11:32am BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 3
Chose my game of this month to be borderlands so this will have to wait till christmas, I really want it now though :P
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higgos22
- 11:32am BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 4
@1 that's a great idea
and Yeh this game i expected it would rank highly
I wonder if that would be considered as an actual review on like the uncharted 2 or metacritic sites?
Anyways it is definetly fun
and At bad points Play Uncharted 2 until Uncharted 3 ;)
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lordAlucard |
Sympozium_666- 11:47am BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 6
easily predictable, the game looks soo good I don't know whether to go for Uncharted 2 or Borderlands?
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AmorBavian |
AmorBavian- 12:09pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 9
A great game no doubt but I would not give it a top score as PSU and many others. PSU is right on many of the coments but some of the issues in the game are a big enough minus which should not make it a perfect score.
The biggest minus are the boss-fights. They are so uninspiring, boring and just generally badly made. Naughty Dog should learn something from God Of War and MGS4 for Uncharted 3 boss-fights. That minus already brings the game to a 9.0.
Another minus is combined between the small flaws in the single player controls and the bad multiplayer experience. The playing experience is interesting enough but I just do not understand how PSU can praise the multiplayer experience that much when the servers are apparantely crap. It usually takes more time to access a game than to play a match (and it is NOT my internet connection). Furthermore, you mostly have to go back to start, to matchmaking, after each match. Why? 'Cause everybody else does! A big minus on that one which has almost made me forget the multiplayer completely (except co-op).
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a_stray_bullet10
- 12:09pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 10
finally PSU got a score dead right :D better than 9.3 ;) haha well done
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ToonAssassin |
ToonAssassin- 12:27pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 13
10/10 for me, took all the great stuff from Drake's Fortune and added heaps more cool stuff on top, it is everything i had hoped for and more, a perfect sequel !
roll on U3 :-)
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chilledbreeze7
- 12:34pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 14
That was good timing, I've literally just finsihed the game not 15 minutes ago. Uncharted 2 definitely has to be game of the year for me and fully deserves PSU's 10 out of 10 rating. It is an absolute Masterpiece of a game! I cannot fault this game in any way, the graphics are stunning, the storyline is very well thought out, the game play is fantastic, you just can't put this game down from start to finish. I'm simply amazed at how long the game is too, just when you think the game might be reaching the end theres another whole new level to play and my god, how stunning is Shambhala when you see it for the first time! If you own a ps3 then you must simply must buy a copy of this game, it is truly epic!
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regissreg |
Zapp- 12:39pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 16
I agree with the Review. I would have gave this game a 10 if it didnt take so many bullets to kill players on Team Deathmatch online. The story mode is unbelievable, one of the best graphics Ive seen so far. I would put this in one of my Best top 10 games ever.
As for Boderlands, its a little to slow for me.
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TETNUS |
TETNUS- 12:54pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 18
This game is awesome but nothing is perfect though this is probably the closest any game has been. The multiplayer is awesome any of you that are having connection problems I feel bad for. I have had very little problems with it. I agree with #9 it isn't a 10. It is close though.
I have enjoyed the boss fights I have had so far but im not done yet. I take my time and have a ton of other games to play. This game is so epic i mean mid chapter its just so amazing that it has to be hard to top it with boss fights. I would say this is one of the best single player experiences ever right up there with Metal Gear. So far this is game of the year for me all the way.
I would give this a 9.9 because what is perffect. That being said if you go back and measure GTA to this standard GTA is an 8 at best.
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Acid-Hippie2007 |
Acid-Hippie2007- 1:11pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 19
I would also give this game a 10, not many games can reach this but this game does it !!
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masonmcglasson
- 1:19pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 20
What hiccup with controls? I have yet to have any problems with the controls. Even behind cover in tight areas (that GameSpot knocked Uncharted 2 down for).
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phil615
- 2:35pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 23
Review is a tad late =P. Great game; single player as well as the multiplayer. In the case of multiplayer I'm speaking with the experience of playing with no friends. With friends and or a clan the game would be bananas. I love the vertical gameplay in multiplayer. Completely worth the price of admission for the single player but do try the multiplayer modes because you might be pleasantly surprised.
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lightseeker62
- 4:07pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 28
offline PERFECT, online, well maps are too small and 10 players just isn't enough. but all and all it's prety good
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daniel_s_02
- 4:39pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 29
@ 9 you're not a professional reviewer for a reason. Whats this make the 26th perfect score now.
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area51employee |
pitofskulls- 4:47pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 31
please tell me that this game supports 1080p?
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Beasley2K |
Beasley2K- 5:06pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 32
@9
Being as boss fights do not make up 10% of the game, I'm afraid I'll have to agree with you reducing a perfect score by 10%. On that basis, 10 flaws would rate a game at 0/10. If a tenth of the game was comprised of fighting bosses, then I'd agree, but taking a whole number away from a perfect score for a flaw that doesn't take up a significant proportion of the game is illogical.
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SolidDrake86
- 5:22pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 33
Imma let you finish, but UNCHARTED 2 IS THE BEST VIDEO GAME OF ALL TIME !!!!
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ultramattness
- 5:24pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 35
one of my favorite games of all time! still havnt finished it yet but hav bin on the edge of me seat all the way! 10/10 well diserved. roll on uncharted 3!
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Beasley2K |
Beasley2K- 5:50pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 36
"...we were left with are jaws dropped ..."
Should be "our"
"...Drake’s Fortune set the bar very high for this generation of console gaming..."
Console gaming?! It set the bar for every game that will ever exist!
"Sure, there are plenty of excellent games out there, and the PS3 is home to many (LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, among others)..."
LOL at every Xbot on the face of this planet.
I'm surprised I haven'y heard from SSSOLWAY yet. I can't wait to see in what way he can even possibly attempt to criticise PlayStation on this article. Unless he's staying well away as he knows it's impossible to insult Uncharted and still be taken seriously... maybe he knows that even Uncharted is out of an Xbox fanboy's league... Whatever he decides to do, I'm eager to see how such a feeble minded person is able to confront this. He'll probably try to bump the score by giving it a 0. Pathetic.
This is the moment where every Xbox fanboy commits suicide.
I'm gonna save this URL so that I can easily dispose of any Xbot by simply sending them the link whenever they decide to foolishly bring up the console war again.
(With regards to #32, I meant disagree, but, as I'm sure everyone's aware, the hyperlink that PSU has the cheek to call an edit button is severely broken.)
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Shau - Kenshin |
Phantom-Rebirth- 6:36pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 37
Hey man look, when Major Nelson of land 360 says he has to go to the store and buy ... BUY the game ... its time to call good, good and great, GREAT. This game though ... surpasses epic... it has become COURAGOUS!!!!
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6toes
- 7:14pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 38
I can't even play the multiplayer (satellite internet ) and I still agree with the 10.
@9
Yeah, the boss fights leave a bit to be desired but I really never thought of Uncharted as being about the boss fights. The first game had similarly basic boss fights. The real enjoyment in these games comes from the journey to the boss fight. Though some MGS-esque boss fights would surely be welcome.
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Ellezzdee |
Ellezzdee- 7:25pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 39
@1 great idea, PSU should do video reviews. sure, these long written articles may go more in depth then videos can, but you cant really get a good feelabout a game by just reading about it, you gotta see it in action.
good review though anyways.
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Stickemup
- 7:31pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 41
This is the first PS3 exclusive (or any other hyped game from this generation, I'M LOOKING AT YOU GTA4) to actually make me feel 100% satisfied, and I'm only 90% through it, and haven't even touched co-op or multiplayer.
LBP was charming, but didn't really do it for me. Building levels was waaaay too time consuming, no downloading of levels, jumping physics sucked etc.
KZ2 was great as well, but didn't have enough "WOW" moments, and when it ended, I just felt it could have blown me away more if they chose better bosses and situations.
MGS4 again, was awesome during the first ACT and then it went downhill from there... Well not completely, ACT 2 was still good, ACT 3 SUCKED, except for the end, ACT4 had it's moments, but felt way too lonely, and ACT 5 was great. Too many cutscenes, and a BIG hiccup in ACT3 ruined it for me. I've loved every MGS game, but I just wanted to play more.
And GTA4, don't even let me get started on that one...
I guess the only one that I really felt satisfied with was INfamous, but it didn't have a GOTY feeling. It just felt like a game that was FUN, and a game that I would always be willing to play as long as the franchise runs. I say it's my third favorite game of the year, behind KZ2 and UNCH2.
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Sub_Zero |
xxGoldenRaiderxx- 7:48pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 43
I think Uncharted 2 and MGS4 are some of the only games I think will be played for years to come. I mean as good as Killzone 2 or more recent, Boarderlands will be played for a little while but will not endure like U2 and MGS4 will. By endure I mean old games people still play like MGS1, Resident Evil 1-3, and Final Fantasy 7.
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pionata |
pionata- 8:22pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 45
I do not agree with the 10 even if the game looks freaking amazing.
My only complaint for the single player is that the puzzle elements are quite shallow and the simple gameplay (no inventory system or upgradable weapons, no feeling of leveling anything).
The multiplayer is like an unfinished beta, lack of maps for coop, gametypes not very interesting and the weapon balance is questionable.
I would give it a 9.5, removing 0.5 for the weak multiplayer.
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Bigdoggy |
Gypscrew- 9:11pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 47
I was hoping PSU would be one that doesn't do the 10/10 unless it's really worthy. i am not saying uncharted is bad, I'm saying that uncharted is extremely awesome but I personally don't see it deserving a 10/10. I do however see this game with a solid 9.5/10 or 9.8/10. If the game didn't have the occasional hiccup in the controls, then it would deserve a 10/10 :)
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Muzikguy |
Muzikguy- 10:09pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 48
I love this game!!!!! It's so much like a movie! I really understand that commercial where the guy says his girlfriend thought they were watching a movie too. It actually happened to me even before that commercial came out which I thought was funny as h3ll. All the perfect scores are well deserved for this game. PLUS, it doesn't have 10 hours worth of movies in it (MGS4)
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residentevilrocks91 |
videogameman6- 10:17pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 49
There is also something you guys didn't mention. You didn't mention that the AI is somewhat stupid when in stealth situations.
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Muzikguy |
Muzikguy- 10:23pm BST - October 23rd, 2009
- 50
what's with all the control issues? I thought they did much better with the controls this game than the first one. Also, since I didn't read everyone's comments before posting, I like the multiplayer. I like how they made it. @9, are you sure it's not your internet? I don't have a problem getting into games. Sometimes its slower than others but it still works fine. @25 I completely agree with you
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