Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2015) Video Game Review

Title: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

Release date: 2015.
Console (player on): PlayStation 5.
Console (also available on): PlayStation 3 & 4.

Mode(s): Single-Player.
Genre(s): Action, Adventure.
Developer: Bluepoint Games.
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment.

Director(s): Bruce Straley & Amy Hennig.
Designer(s): Richard Lemarchand & Neil Druckmann.
Programmer(s): Pål-Kristian Engstad, Travis McIntosh & DAN LIEBGOLD.
Artist(s): Eric Pangilinan & Robh Ruppel.
Writer(s): Amy Hennig, Neil Druckmann & Josh Scherr.
Composer(s): Greg Edmonson.
Voice Actor(s): Nolan North, Emily Rose, Claudia Black, Richard McGonagle, Steve Valentine, Graham McTavish, and many more!

My Overall Rating:

---

Following the critical and commercial success of the first game, developer Naughty Dog went back to the drawing boards and quickly began production and development of a sequel that will eventually become one of their greatest triumphs in the video game industry. Convinced by their direction and the potential of their franchise, they set their eyes on delivering an innovative sequel where barriers would be broken down and uncharted territory will be explored with their now-established characters and world. Setting the bar higher than ever, the ambitious creative leap embraced with this sequel gave the world one of the greatest games ever developed that redefines immersion through a blockbuster action-packed adventure game unlike anything achieved before.

What is Uncharted 2: Among Thieves about? Set two years after the hunt for El Dorado, Nathan Drake is tracked down by his ex-acquaintance Harry Flynn and Flynn’s current romantic partner Chloe Frazer to unveil a new venture: track down and steal a Mongolian oil lamp that might contain undiscovered information on Marco Polo’s failed 1292 excursion from China. As Drake accepts the request and revels at the discovery they are about to make, he finds himself dragged into a treacherous race against time, with the life of his friends and himself on the line, to find the Cintamani Stone and the secret entrance to Shambhala while a militia led by war criminal Zoran Lazarević wreaks havoc in search for this powerful and mysterious item.

Ever wondered what it would be like to be in control of a protagonist in a blockbuster action-adventure movie à la Indiana Jones? This is it. In an unprecedented display of cinematic story-telling, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves masterfully blends together action, mystery, intrigue, comedy, and more action to further dive into this beautiful world of treasure hunters, thieves, and mercenaries. Thrilling, riveting, and emotionally engaging, the story splendidly paces itself to capture a never-seizing plot-twist-filled adventure that fully embraces its historical mythology to absorb the players in a stunning world where anything is possible as long as you believe in it. Once more nailing the incredible characterization and chemistry between these characters thanks to a flawless script and talented voice acting, the adventure turns into a journey that welcomes players to a world that twistedly feels like home despite all the bullets flying, infrastructures crumbling, and blood flowing down streets.

The gameplay mechanics behind this sequel brilliantly builds upon the already-introduced functionalities from the original game. Once again controlling Nathan Drake throughout each chapter, you are invited to either take care of enemies through stealth takedowns and silenced weapons or run in guns blazing, picking up whatever weaponry is left around or dropped by enemies you kill. The cover system allows you to strategically maneuver across the map, even allowing you to utilize blind-fire for targets within range. The story also magnificently interweaves clever puzzles that are often solved by utilizing Drake’s personal notes in his handy journal. If you thought handling waves of mercenaries would require good concentration, expect these puzzles to keep you intellectually stimulated and somehow still fully entertained.

The sequel also exceeds expectations and pushes all the technological limits to achieve this visually-stunning accomplishment. Vibrant, detailed, and lively, it is indeed impressive what they were able to achieve on the Playstation 3. Even with this remastered edition, although the multiplayer element was left behind, the significant visual upgrade on its predecessor is apparent and makes for a truly appealing and engaging experience. Add in the fact that developer Naughty Dog utilized motion capture to better convey the realism behind these characters and their interactions, the game simply demonstrates the unparalleled potential of a franchise where the people behind the project give it their all, heart and soul, to create a masterpiece. And even today, Greg Edmonson’s music reaches deep into my own being, waking up every little nostalgic fiber as I remember with detail how this game showed me the wonders achieved by video games.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Remastered (2015) is an ironclad action-adventure video game masterpiece that sends Nathan Drake into the realm of thieves and war criminals in search of the Cintomani Stone and Shambhala.

---

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Remastered (2015) is out on the PlayStation 4 and available on the Playstation 5 since October 9th 2015.

---

Have you played this game?

Will you? What do you think about it?

Share your thoughts with me!

---

INSTAGRAM – GOODREADS – Letterboxd – TWITTER – OUTLOOK