'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves' a cinematic experience

Naughty Dog's new game is the pick of the litter.

By Bryan Edelman

Published Oct. 20, 2009

Archaeology and violence go together like dolphins and astrophysics: Why not? Indiana Jones should have killed more people. Oh yes, I said it.

I mean, it would've made for grimmer movies, but his sense of humor would have evened it out. Creating a comparable character with so much depth and likable shininess would be more than difficult, but lo and behold Nathan Drake has been a pleasant surprise since his 2007 debut.

"Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" filled the need for intense platforming, non-stop action, deep characters and beautiful visuals. And just when you thought you had it all figured out, the game pulled an M. Night Shyamalan (what a twist!).

In the first "Uncharted," we got a feel for the treasure hunting happenings of a freelance archaeologist.

Most importantly, the PS3-exclusive will always be a more exciting alternative to Indy's latest big screen excursion (I blame Shia LeBeouf for everything). Even in video game form, I'd take Drake over any Wii waggle whip nonsense any day.

"Uncharted 2" is better than its predecessor and builds onto its trademark blockbuster production values and seamless storytelling. It has some control snafus when dealing with differentiating between taking cover and hanging from a ledge, but it's not enough to deter from an experience that has been meticulously crafted.

Like the first "Uncharted," hard-as-nails gunfights are the norm. Be prepared to hunker down and lay the smackdown on some generic bad guy flunkies with high-powered weaponry.

To put it simply, it's the best movie you'll ever play.

Of course, if you ever get bored of the main story, there's always an online multiplayer experience that feels original and actually doesn't feel like a cheap afterthought. Instead, the online components of this epic take third person shooting to new limits.

In virtually lag-free death match and co-op modes, the characters become more Mario than man as they perform Drake's exaggerated leaps and climbs.

It can lead to some interesting showdowns that keep you on your toes. Nothing beats picking off unsuspecting foes as they pass you hanging on the edge of a snowy cliff.

If you own a Playstation 3, this is the action epic you've been waiting for to show off the power of your black box and it'll almost always leave you wanting more. It's easily in the running for game of the year.

I would love to say "Uncharted 2" is a great game, but it's more like an addictive, visceral experience that should almost be required to be played in a movie theatre. In fact, that's exactly what Sony has been testing in the weeks leading up to Drake's newest romp.

Honestly, I've never been so excited to see wounded protagonists and water animations in a video game and it's enough to motivate me to love theatre cushions. I don't know if that speaks more of the awesomeness of "Uncharted 2" or about how exciting my life is.