5/5 ★ – RawMetal's review of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

System: PlayStation 3 Started: May 29, 2014 Ended: May 31, 2014 Flashback Review I was ready to sit down and return to the Uncharted franchise after playing the first entry, Drake's Fortune, years ago, and that was 2010. I still remember the hype when Uncharted 2: Among Thieves came out, and it was easily considered the "best video game of all time." Over Exaggerated, honestly, but it got me curious enough to play it. I thought it was a fun game after finishing it, but Among Thieves did not leave me a huge impression as the best game from video gaming enthusiasts. The story felt more like a Hollywood action blockbuster movie. It's no surprise that Naughty Dog wanted to continue this franchise and become the next generation Tomb Raider. The plot, at least, was more engaging than the first game. Instead of searching for El Dorado, this time we were chasing the Cintamani Stone and the spiritual kingdom of Shambala. The game also introduced new characters like Chloe Frazer, alongside familiar faces. Uncharted 2 stands out with its memorable level designs, making it the most iconic in the series for many fans. The prologue level became well-known, especially after being showcased in the game's second trailer. The game boasted larger game set pieces, reminiscent of Nathan running from a giant truck in an alleyway that reminded me of Sonic Adventure 2. The gameplay has been improved over the original; climbing feels more intuitive, and that weird bullet-magnetism for the shooting gameplay is gone. The early 2010s marked the rise of cinematic-quality video games, with extended cutscenes often surpassing actual gameplay in length. Naughty Dog continued to use this trend and continued it onward to this day, including The Last of Us and the recent God of War games. Cinematic games for me are mixed as long as I don't grab a popcorn for long cutscenes instead of actually playing the game. Playing this on higher difficulty is crazy, especially when you are at Shambala during the end of the game. What makes the challenge even worse is its checkpoint system, which can be a tad unfair and you have to do a long segment all over again. Especially the Final Battle. At least the puzzles were not overly difficult. While not the best game of all time, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves certainly surpassed its predecessor with cinematic graphics, gameplay, and story, addressing the shortcomings of Drake's Fortune in shooting, climbing, and that infamous Motorboat Ruins level. It's an enjoyable experience, and it's still regarded as the best in the series. Even though I still haven't had the chance to play the third and fourth games, I'll get to those as time will tell.