• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

So I just finished Uncharted 2......thats it?

Hype is relevant when its happening. When you hear "11/10!" nearly 3 years later, it can't live up to the hype. It was "epic" (which is ironically an overused word and silly now, 3 years later), but so many games copied its style that it can't possibly have the impact it did when it came out.

Basically, its a me too game now. It wasn't when it released.
 
The Uncharted series (and its entire genre for that matter) have not aged well, and it hasn't even been five years yet.

That's a pretty bad sign.
 
I don't understand the people comparing TLOU and Uncharted. Game are completely different to me. TLOU has the best shooting mechanics from any TPS this gen
 
Graphically it doesn't hold up.
Who cares, it's awesome.

The game's art style gets way too much shit, too, in my opinion. Sure all the models have a bad case of triangle-face but for the most part you get what the artists are going for... and the station interiors themselves look great, and have a lot of detail for a game of its era.
I don't understand the people comparing TLOU and Uncharted. Game are completely different to me. TLOU has the best shooting mechanics from any TPS this gen
I wasn't, personally, I was just mentioning it 'cause Uncharted 2 was the last thing I played by ND.
 
I don't consider that the same kind of thing as Uncharted. You're not nearly as manoeuvrable and the combat has a slower, more methodical pace.

You dont need a carbon copy example to realise the diference in gameplay polish.

They are both set-piece, rollercoaster rides but Resident Evil 4 performes MUCH better on what it sets out to do than Uncharted 2.
 
You dont need a carbon copy example to realise the diference in gameplay polish.

They are both set-piece, rollercoaster rides but Resident Evil 4 performes MUCH better on what it sets out to do than Uncharted 2.

both games are amazing and brilliant
 
Has there ever been a game that was praised at release and not hated by GAF a few years later?
I think this is just a perception problem caused by a vocal minority. People who dislike the game are more likely to chime in on a thread like this one. The people who enjoyed the game don't really feel much obligation to respond, because theirs is the majority opinion anyway, so why defend it?

It can create the perception that "GAF," in aggregate, dislikes the game in question, when that's probably far from true.
 
It is, bit I thought the level design in 1 did a better job of hiding it.

2 and 3's levels might as well have been funnels.

Also no, the gunplay was still sub par, and Drake was still ice skating a missing basic jumps through 3 games. Do no, they didn't really fix anything except the melee combat.

The only "open" areas are the arenas the shootouts take place in. You'll be hunkering down behind cover in specific places so it's not like the combat is at all dynamic/interesting. Enemies rush in in waves right off the bat each time the player enters an arena. The player actually has more options in 2 where they can in some places use stealth up until they get spotted.

UC2's enemy hit-reactions are better, so are the enemy placement, level design and pacing. No two shootouts are the exact same like they are in UC1. I get that people don't notice/care about those things, but they are improvements that go a long way in making the shooting enjoyable since this is a linear shooter series.

That's not mention the gameplay doesn't stop during a lot of those set-pieces. If you can't even acknowledge how well-done the tank-chase section was from a gameplay perspective, then I don't know what else to say.
 
The Uncharted series is a greatly overrated series, in that it does absolutely nothing to make it stand out of the shadows of other third person shooters outside of glamorous set-pieces, overused writing tropes in terms of the story and character development, and in reality only really exists as eye candy to show off the PS3 and what ND's engine can do.

It's not a bad game. Just overrated. Out of the series, 2 would have to be the lowest point. I recommend just playing the first and third one.
 
I love all those thread : I just finished *game*, is good ... but ... meh
*listen to me!*

anyway, U2 is awesome, from any perspective point. The level design is superb, the characters memorable and everything is very well done.
 
I don't understand the people comparing TLOU and Uncharted. Game are completely different to me. TLOU has the best shooting mechanics from any TPS this gen

I love TLOU, but there's no way in hell it has the best shooting mechanics.

I'm guessing the only other TPS you played was this, so I can't blame you for thinking that:
Quantum-Theory.jpg
 
You dont need a carbon copy example to realise the diference in gameplay polish.

They are both set-piece, rollercoaster rides but Resident Evil 4 performes MUCH better on what it sets out to do than Uncharted 2.
I agree Resi 4 is better - than most games - but I'd never play it to get the same feeling that I get from Uncharted.
 
I love TLOU, but there's no way in hell it has the best shooting mechanics.

I'm guessing the only other TPS you played was this, so I can't blame you for thinking that:
Quantum-Theory.jpg
I have to agree with him. No other TPS makes every bullet feel so valuable and so powerful. The Last of Us has amazing TPS mechanics, and my favourite of the gen as well.
 
Uncharted 2 is awesome, until you get back to the train crash scene. It's all downhill from there.

Despite popular opinion I think 3 is the more complete and compelling experience.
 
That was back in 2009 and after experiencing what Uncharted brought to the table. I personally feel it expanded and went beyond expectations. The combat, yes it felt a little repetitive. But it was one thing over and over again. Fist or guns? I couldn't see them changing too much except weapons.

The locations were amazing to look at and so were the cutscenes. Those puzzles weren't that challenging. But if they were too challenging wouldn't we'd all say they were too hard? I mean that can go both ways easily.

Back in 2009 it was another breathe of fresh air for next gen gamers. Fable couldn't do that it and that was code named Project Ego. It put an Indiana Jones-like adventure on the PS3.

That boss fight felt more like it was playing on the plot. Whatever lore they always talk about, there is always a bit of magic. And I think they played it real well. Depending on which difficulty you put it on.

Quantum Theory was one game that I wanted to be good. Same with Hunted. But I didn't buy either because I heard they were complete trash.
 
Games like Uncharted, with pretty bland game mechanics, really need to add something to make themselves worthwhile. A game like Batman Arkham Asylum also has a pretty bland basic system, but it makes it fun by giving you a steady stream of new gadgets to try, new ways to attack bad guys, new places to go on the same map, modifications to the map, etc.

I like the first Uncharted best for this reason, I think. The different parts of the game felt different, whereas in Uncharted 2 and 3, I was using the same kinds of weapons and facing the same kind of enemies and platforming all the way through, only with a different set dressing.

I think The Last of Us is a big step in the right direction for ND. The shooting is no better that Uncharted, but it's not the focus anymore. They added a bunch of different, advanced layers of strategy to the basic system, and it makes all the difference. I just wish ND makes a game with the added depth of TLOU and the light-hearted fun of Uncharted.
 
DRAAAAAAAKE, you think you can hurt me?

BOSS Whatshisname: "DRAAAAAAKE, I'M GOING TO DRINK THIS BLUE TREE SAP TO BECOME INVENCIBLE HAHAHA!!!"

Drake: " YEAH WELL I'M GOING TO SHOOT THESE BULGES FILLED WITH INVENCIBILITY-ENABLING TREE SAP BECAUSE SOMEHOW THESE EXPLOSIONS HURT YOU EVEN THOUGH BULLETS OR EVEN THE PREVIOUS HUGE ONE THAT KILLED YOUR CREW DIDNT LOL!!1!"
 
You endlessly (ENDLESSLYYYYYYYYYYY omg make it stop) shootbang thousands of dumb goons with crappy gunplay , have some autoplatforming in between and that is pretty much the entire interactive part of the game.
I didn't like it either and had to force myself through the second half.

It's not a good shooter and not a good platformer, but hey Naughty gods 11/10 goty.
 
Before I get ravaged by ND-GAF let me put this thread title into context. Uncharted 2 is one of the best reviewed, most reveared games this gen, and oftenly mentioned as a title that represents gaming at its finest.
It was NeoGAF's GOTY, many peoples GOTG and won perfect scores all over the place. Its a sacred cow and with that title I had certain expectations before I started playing.

This is the game I played:
The production values on this game are through the fucking roof. I was floored by what they could pull off from PS3 hardware and the voice-work, animation and sound design are really a testament to how well Naughty Dog can reproduce the movie-like feel out of their titles without making us cringe at janky animations or failed attempts at emotions we see in so many other "Hollywood" games.
As far as story, characters and setpiece variety, I have absolutely no complaints. Good shit all around. These guys clearly put a TON of effort in making the presentation of this game look like a million dollars.

BUT....the game beneath all that graphical tour de force is...not all that fun?
I mean, it does absolutely nothing above average in terms of gunplay, enemy AI, level design, gameplay mechanics, puzzle design, platforming controls...or basically anything gameplay related really.
Enemies are bullet sponges that come in waves that have to be endured (due to weak and wonky shooting) more than dealt with, with any kind of enjoyment. Jumping and grabbing on stuff is just there as shooting gallery breaks, and are a chore to go through because they require no skill and more often than not make you fall to your death due to the frankly shitty combination of loose controls and the automated grabbing mechanics that even ND didnt have too much faith in, considering how you "respawn" in the spot after every failed jump. The brain-dead puzzles that are clearly meant to be "solved" as quickly as possible just to throw you to the next set-piece, and the level/layout design that is shockingly simple once you see past the ultra detailed rooms and corridors.

This is an amazing looking game that rests on a frankly boring, average-at-best gameplay foundation. One that is obviously masked by the superficial polish of everything you look at or listen to, and the ultra-fast-holy-fuck-in-my-face rollercoaster pacing that wont let you think too much about the gamey aspect of it.
Its NOT a bad game. I'm not saying that. Its a simple, linear hollywood set-piece ride with serviceable gameplay. I enjoyed going through it but it completely failed to be any generation or even genre defining masterpiece. Not even close. It was just a 'good' game. A 8/10 game mainly due to top of the line presentation.

Am I wrong in thinking that the production values are kinda blinding people to everything else? I really dont see retrogamers replaying this in the future when its technically dated as a fossil. Not when the formula was already dated at release.
I'm I alone in this? I feel like I'm missing something here :/

NOTE: If it matters, I didnt touch the multiplayer.

PS: The final boss fight was SHIIIIT

2262045-FlameShield.jpg

woodyjeune_250.jpg
 
I love TLOU, but there's no way in hell it has the best shooting mechanics.

I'm guessing the only other TPS you played was this, so I can't blame you for thinking that:
http://www.worldsbestinformation.org/wp-content/uploads/image-import/Quantum-Theory.jpg
It really is at the top though, in giving and receiving bullets actually, love how getting shot can knock back and disorient Joel.
There's no such thing as a universally beloved game. If you don't like it, you don't like it...


I loved it.

Agreed.
 
Love the series, and have all 3, but I always felt they were extremely overrated.
This is true for me as well.

UC2 is actually my least favorite in the series.

"But how could you possibly like UC1 more than UC2 WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU???"

UC1 kind of blew me away more because it did it first. It was one of the very first next gen games I played. UC2 did a lot of things better, but the initial wow factor had already happened. It was just being amplified.

UC3 has the best story in the series, although it did seem kind of rushed. Marlowe's role as a villain is kind of wasted. Talbot made up for that, though.
 
I have to agree with him. No other TPS makes every bullet feel so valuable and so powerful. The Last of Us has amazing TPS mechanics, and my favourite of the gen as well.

Scarce Ammunition and heavy weapon sway doesn't really make TLoU's gameplay better than any other Third Person Shooter. Survival wise? It's fucking stellar.
 
It is a very solid game. There wasn't much reason to own a ps3 until Uncharted 2. Platforming felt right, the gunplay was fun the events happening on screen were just awesome sometimes. Great atmoshere.
 
You endlessly (ENDLESSLYYYYYYYYYYY omg make it stop) shootbang thousands of dumb goons with crappy gunplay , have some autoplatforming in between and that is pretty much the entire interactive part of the game.
I didn't like it either and had to force myself through the second half.

It's not a good shooter and not a good platformer, but hey Naughty gods 11/10 goty.

Yeah but FPS do the same thing. In Halo or COD you basically have the same weapons over and over. You may get an RPG or something but that't it. You do the same thing, rinse and repeat. The only thing that changes are scripted events after you walk a certain length.
 
That just speaks to the benefits of a game being contemporary, but that draw isn't there forever.

Honest question - do you think that old 3D games have the same quality as old 2D in drawing new players in?

I think the reason why old 2D games are still being played today is the lack of new 2D games. Nearly every game developed today is 3D, so older game have more difficulty in standing out.
 
Scarce Ammunition and heavy weapon sway doesn't really make TLoU's gameplay better than any other Third Person Shooter. Survival wise? It's fucking stellar.
It certainly does, its all part of TLOU's gameplay systems. On top of that, the guns feel, look and sound really powerful and the AI in the game is superb (most of the time).
 
I really like UC2 for what it was when I played it. I didn't really care for UC3, because it was just more UC2 with some really good set pieces. TLOU has everything UC2 &3 has plus, I think the combat is way more interesting.
 
You endlessly (ENDLESSLYYYYYYYYYYY omg make it stop) shootbang thousands of dumb goons with crappy gunplay , have some autoplatforming in between and that is pretty much the entire interactive part of the game.
I didn't like it either and had to force myself through the second half.

It's not a good shooter and not a good platformer, but hey Naughty gods 11/10 goty.
You can reduce any game down to that
 
You'd probably have a better idea of why people think it is great if you'd have played it at the time it was released. things have moved on, largely because of Uncharted 2, so what they achieved in UC2 doesn't seem quite as startling. Play TLOU to experience what it was like to play UC2 for the first time.
 
Uncharted really doesn't bring anything to the table gameplay-wise. It's just a solid shooter all around.

I disagree wholeheartedly -- at the time it was released UC2 (not the original) brought a lot to the table, gameplay-wise.

UC2 pulled off some of the most brilliantly-paced combat sequences ever to be in a game; here are a few examples:

1) The tank battle in the village (my personal favorite)
2) The collapsing building
3) The rooftop/helicopter battle
4) The entire train sequence

Other games used grand set-pieces before it, but most were contained experiences where it didn't feel like you were doing all that much as the player (such as an on-rails shooting sequence where you would shoot something with a hundred bullets and then it would explode). Can you think of any games I'm missing?

Sure, you can marginalize their efforts by trying to separate what's "gameplay" from what's "presentation", but frankly I don't see the point of trying to make distinctions from that which is inseparable. Are the platforming mechanics of Super Mario Galaxy of any use without the great levels you traverse? Trying to pull them apart is a pointless exercise.
 
Yeah but FPS do the same thing. In Halo or COD you basically have the same weapons over and over. You may get an RPG or something but that't it. You do the same thing, rinse and repeat. The only thing that changes are scripted events after you walk a certain length.

A good fps has good gunplay and usually good movement mechanics.
Uncharted has neither unfortunately, if it has good gunplay and good hitreactions it could be a much better game, but it doesnt.

You can reduce any game down to that
No you can't.
cs, ut , quake, tribes, rtcw, painkiller, binary domain, max payne etc all have excellent gunplay and feed back and/or hit reactions, which makes the shooting a joy.
When you are forced to labor through wave after wave after wave of enemies (which in uncharted are really uninteresting as well) and the shooting is crappy... then it becomes a chore.
 
It certainly does, its all part of TLOU's gameplay systems. On top of that, the guns feel, look and sound really powerful and the AI in the game is superb (most of the time).

The AI, I really have to praise when it comes to the infected. Those human enemies are just...hoo boy. Talk about awful.

I never said that the shooting mechanics in TLoU were bad ( I actually love it. ), but I just can't put it over the other TPSes I've played.
 
Not surprised you found it underwhelming after years of hearing everyone gush about how great it is. Its very hard for a game to live up to someone's expectations in a situation like that.

Before I got a 360 and only had a PS3 all I heard were people stroking themselves to how awesome Bioshock and Braid were. When they finally came out on PS3 I pretty much had the same reaction you did... "that's it?".

I can tell you this much though.. If I had played those games on 360 when they first came out I probably would have been much more impressed. I have the feeling the same would be true for you had you played Uncharted 2 at launch.
 
If you did not enjoy the train sequence and the cat & mouse sequence the you don't have a soul.


And yes, the final boss battle was shit.
 
Are the platforming mechanics of Super Mario Galaxy of any use without the great levels you traverse?

Ignoring the rest of your posts, I'd say the answer to this is yes. In fact, one of my benchmarks for a great platformer is whether it remains fun to play even when you aren't being directly challenged by obstacles or the level design.
 
Scarce Ammunition and heavy weapon sway doesn't really make TLoU's gameplay better than any other Third Person Shooter. Survival wise? It's fucking stellar.

Exactly. As a survival game the limited resources makes sense.

As a third person shooter I think the lack of resources hurt the game. My favorite part of the last of us was
the stealth ellie section. Her resources were slightly less limited (re-usable knife) and her bow was more powerful.
 
Uncharted really doesn't bring anything to the table gameplay-wise. It's just a solid shooter all around.

You endlessly (ENDLESSLYYYYYYYYYYY omg make it stop) shootbang thousands of dumb goons with crappy gunplay , have some autoplatforming in between and that is pretty much the entire interactive part of the game.
I didn't like it either and had to force myself through the second half.

It's not a good shooter and not a good platformer, but hey Naughty gods 11/10 goty.

squire3.png
 
The AI, I really have to praise when it comes to the infected. Those human enemies are just...hoo boy. Talk about awful.

I never said that the shooting mechanics in TLoU were bad ( I actually love it. ), but I just can't put it over the other TPSes I've played.
The human enemies were superb. Naughty Dog established a perfect balance between what you need from an enemy to use stealth and the pressure they put on you in combat scenarios. They also portray a fantastic realness that brings them to life

I disagree wholeheartedly, going back to other TPS games after the Last of Us just feels clunky and arcadey
 
I personally enjoyed UC2 more than UC3...the gunplay has always been rather weak in the Uncharted Series though (especially in 3, wth happened there?), but that's not what captivated me.

It was the cinematics, the characters, the animation, environments and platforming. It was a great game, and I enjoyed playing it :) Although after playing TLOU, I think it's safe to say I prefer it more than the UC series now.

I can understand that Uncharted isn't a game for everyone though, so each to their own.
 
Top Bottom