Attention to Detail

The attention to detail that the animators show also helps. A world is not believable and characters are not realistic at all if the little details are ignored for the big ones.

Nathan in UNCHARTED 2: Now with "more experience." (Note his weathered complexion.)

It is there in the way the Tibetan prayer flags flap gently in the wind. It is there in the way the birds take off in the jungle and how differently they fly from the birds you encounter in the snow-covered monastery. It is there in the way the water accurately reflects Nathan Drake’s every movement. And it is there when you see the slight wobble in the tires of Nate’s jeep as he drives through Nepal.

It is also there in the way Nate grunts in pain when he staggers after a bad jump. It is there in the way Elena’s arm, nowhere near as muscled or as powerful as Nate’s, recoils after each shot, leading to a slight grimace in that normally unflustered face. And it is there in the way Nate’s shoulders sag at the beginning of the game, indicating a slightly broken man, and the way they are squared back and strong at the end, as he holds Elena in his arms.

Believability is key. And Naughty Dog has nailed it.

Easy-Peasy

Uncharted 2, for the experienced gamer, is pretty easy on normal mode, and I’m pretty sure that, not only is that intentional, it is important for replayability.

Let’s face it, the average puzzle in this game doesn’t hold a candle to the average Sierra adventure game in terms of difficulty. Nor is its shooting mechanic anywhere near as difficult as Demon Soul’s painful trek through hell. This is because Naughty Dog understands one thing: nobody likes to get frustrated in a game of this type.

This is a story and character driven game, and the last thing the developer wants to see happen is the player getting stuck and giving up in frustration. They’ve hit upon just the right balance between ease and challenge when it comes to getting the most out of the game to deliver the story.

Life Everlasting

Lazarevic chased after the Cintamani Stone because of the promise of power and, more importantly, immortality. Drake chased Lazarevic in order to save the world, not giving a whit about immortality whatsoever.

But in giving us a game with an expertly crafted story told with incredibly life-like characters, Naughty Dog also gave us an experience that is so deep and fulfilling that only the truly jaded cannot help but want to live through it again and again.

Like a classic movie or book, UNCHARTED 2 is a masterpiece that both stands up to repeated experiences all the while teaching us something new about itself each time through.

It stands as a champion for the Linear Game, showing us that ten hours spent in well crafted company can indeed trump two hundred hours of wandering around doing nothing.

I’ve played through the game six times now. Each time I pick up the controller and hit start, each time I see Nate Drake fall through the train and almost plunge to certain death, each time I hear the immortal line “I’m sweating like a hooker in church”… I feel like I’ve come home again.

Congratulations, Nathan Drake. You’ve fond your Cintamani Stone. Enjoy your immortality.

What are your thoughts on UNCHARTED 2’s replayability? Let us know in the comments below!