Uncharted 2: Among Thieves [Review, PS3]

When I bought my PS3 last June, finally entering the next-gen console club, I was somewhat hesitant. I've never been that into games, so what if this turned out to be a waste of money? I guess now I don't have to worry.

Naughty Dog (makers of Crash Bandicoot - and you can sort of tell) did everything they possibly could to make Uncharted 2 is an absolutely addictive game. A heart-pumping mix of platform gaming, free running, adventure, fantasy, puzzle and third-person shooting makes for a long and interesting story filled with turns that proves never to be boring.

The mechanics of Among Thieves border on brilliant. If I was to write another review for Assassin's Creed (2), in which I will of course tell you everything that is wrong with the game, I would probably conclude with "See Uncharted 2 for how it is done." If one was to play without stalling, or looking for treasure, the main character (Drake) would move quickly and smoothly along the sublime scenes in the game. If you slow down you can periodically leap from one obstacle to the next like Indiana Jones' gymnast cousin. You would have to slow down at some point, as some of the puzzles do catch you out if you aren't observant - I died so many times because I was too busy admiring the scenery that I didn't realise I jumping into a flat wall with nothing to hold on to.

As I've already touched on the scenery, the graphics in Uncharted 2 are beautiful. The levels that take place in  Nepal leads you from the war-stricken streets up to the rooftops with a backdrop so fantastic that you want to leap off the building just to see if you can land on one of the others. Other spectacular views include the mountains of Tibet and the mythical Shambala. The visuals also strut their stuff in levels where Drake must jump from car to car, runs on the roof of a train or solve puzzles from great heights.

The cut-scenes and general plot of the game is also something the developers should be proud of. From the very beginning I was hooked to the story and intrigued by the character I was playing as. As the game advanced I was met with plot-twist after plot-twist that added to what went from a fairly simple treasure hunting storyline to a deep and historical narrative that wasn't too complicated yet was clearly well thought out and researched. As well as this the characters all had their backstories and their clear cut purposes, meaning aside from the faceless goons you kill on a level-by-level basis no one leaves you cold.

A very fun part of the game is the combat in all its forms. Some people like third-person shooting and some don't, but in this game it is so simple I don't think anyone can complain. On top of this the fist fighting dynamics are neat and enjoyable, stealth kills are crazy fun, and environmental kills such as pulling one of the bad guys over the ledge you are hanging from or pushing another one off a cliff makes you smile (in a sort of sick way).

As well as all of these features you have things to do once you've completed the game. The online multiplayer is unique and so much fun you'll waste hours and hours on it at a time. The game also allows you to replay the story with some in-game hacks, such as unlimited ammo, one-hit kills, and the most fun, a No Gravity setting which sends each enemy you kill floating into the air. You can also get a fat version of Drake, which is a gift that keeps on giving: seeing a fat guy jump from wall to wall.

Overall, this game is a must buy for anyone with a PS3. I cannot recommend it enough. My personal favourite game since I first bought the console.