Despite the fact that I’ve got way to much to do lately, I decided to pick up a copy of Uncharted 2. I heard somewhere that it is one of a new generation of games that really takes full advantage of everything that the PS3 is capable of. Also, I heard that it is really great plot and story wise, so I picked up a copy. I should point out before I begin, that I’m only about halfway through the game at this point and in some ways this was a dumb purchase for me. I’m really not a fan of “cinematic” games. I think its a sign that games are still looking for their place as an art-form that they aspire to be like films. This seems analogous to early films aspiring to their theatre roots by essentially being filmed plays. Many other real reviewers have pointed this out before me (even Yahtzee in his last review), but I’ll go a step further and make a prediction. I predict that this phase is going to stick around until graphics hit a photo-realistic ceiling. I think after that happens creativity of the interactions, which to me is the real heart of a great game, will start to take more focus.
However, back to Uncharted 2, initially when I started playing I was a bit scared. The game reminded me a lot of Metal Gear Solid 4. I know a lot of people love Metal Gear Solid 4 and it was reviewed very well by lots of people. A lot of people like oysters and putting pink sweaters on their dogs too. A lot of people are fucking stupid. I could not finish MGS4, not because of skill but rather desire. Was it a beautiful game: yes. Were there parts that were fun to play: sure. However the “cinematic” part of the game killed it for me. Hideo Kojima is a fucking talented guy I have no doubt, but the writing and plot are awful. The worst part however is how they are injected into the game. I think “injected” is the right word, because sitting through the cut scenes was like being tortured with some kind of experimental drug. Luckily for me Uncharted 2 didn’t suffer these problems, well not much.
Uncharted 2 is beautiful, jaw dropping in many places. It does so while rarely shoving it in your face too. It’s got to be one of the best looking games I’ve ever played. On the playability front things are pretty good as well. The physics of the game are pretty fucking incredible. There is a sequence that takes place on a moving train that I think will stand out in my mind as a gaming experience for quite some time. On a personal note, and I can’t fault the developers here, I always have issues with console shooters. I was raised on FPS titles for the PC and mice are just way more responsive. Trying to play a shooter with a gamepad or joystick is akin to having sex while wearing 5 condoms, feel and responsiveness are diminished to the point where you wonder what the point is. This seems to annoy me far less in Uncharted 2 than in most similar titles, say MGS4 for example. The difficultly curve is mostly good. There are some definite hiccups I’ve encountered so far, sequences that are stupidly easy and others that are stupidly hard for no real reason, though maybe it is just me. The cut scenes are ok, and sadly get a lot of points from me for not being as bad as they are in many games. The game really revolves around its cinematic portions. I believe I heard Adam Sessler say the game was like being in a Indiana Jones movie. I think this is accurate. The game does a great job of this too, I just always find myself wanting some other kind of interaction from a crazy large budget game like this. If I wanted to watch a movie, I’d watch a fucking movie. When I play a game I want to not only have a rich visual, playable experience, but one with options for me as a player. The industry isn’t quite there for this yet. I think this is a very good game, and unlike MGS4 I’ll probably finish it. On the other hand it screams out “I wish I was a movie”, which for me is a downer.
So in summation, I don’t think its a perfect 5 star (whatever that means) game, but I think its pretty good. The cinematic portion of the game that usually annoys the shit out of me is executed well enough to shut up even a snob like myself.
