While those aspects of the game are exceptional, Uncharted 2’s greatest strength is in its characterisation. Thanks to the superlative human animation – most notably its incredibly natural facial animation and the humourous, engaging dialogue Drake shares with his AI-controlled companions – the characters come to life;  and it’s hard not to feel attached to them.

It’s not perfect though – You may, like I was, be slightly underwhelmed by the game’s first two, almost claustrophobic levels – but once you get to the third the game’s areas open up a little, and you’d have to be bull-headedly unyielding not to be astonished. I also found that the game got a little combat-heavy towards the end of the game. Minor issues that don’t detract from the game whatsoever.

New in Uncharted is multiplayer, which Naughty Dog have taken great steps to ensure doesn’t feel tacked-on. Included are both co-operative and competitive modes of play – all of which take place in variations of locations from the single player game. Competitive multiplayer allows for objective based as well as standard deathmatch fare. Playing in any of the modes allows the player to earn cash, weapon upgrades and perks, and levelling up brings with it a sense of accomplishment that’ll ensure the longevity of the multiplayer aspect.

Uncharted 2 presents a synergy not often seen in video games; the combined effect of all of its parts is greater than the sum of their individual effects. Everything from the breathtaking visuals, to the absorbing gameplay  and most importantly its well crafted story work co-operatively to bring you a defining gaming experience.

If you have a Playstation 3, then Uncharted 2 belongs in your collection – it’s a game every PS3 owner should have. If you don’t, then just know that you’re missing out on one of this generation’s best. I’ve never considered a single game worth buying a console for – but Uncharted 2 may just be the game to break that resolution.

Scoring

Gameplay: 9.0
Plays like the beautiful love child of Tomb Raider and Gears of War.

Presentation: 9.5
Best looking game available on any platform right now, including PC.

Sound: 9.5
Incredible. professional voice work helps drive the finely crafted story.

Value: 9.5
Roughly 11 hours for the single-player game, disregarding collectibles and trophies.Your multiplayer mileage may vary.

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Overall: 9.5 – Buy this game.