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[Crazypanda_85]

Awesome! I'm saving this and might post it in my classroom

On a sidenote: I loved U2 but was clearly aware of it's flaws. Any game that tries to do anything on a grand scale will have problems. (only because someone brought this up) I like Zelda as well but those titles have issues as well (pacing, dungeons that are too long or require you to do the same thing over and over... and over again, lack of explanation or direction from time to time, etc,.). At the end of the day, that's why it's awesome thing that we have so many different games available to us. Some games really click with people while some people find them abysmal. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Anteater]

Example - running away from bad guys over rooftops in UC3. Turn the wrong way, Jump the wrong way - Insta fail. My input is holding the stick forward like sonic... With some occasional adjustments depending on camera orientation.

I'll never get the love. It's great, and deserves sequels - but I fail to see how it can be considered GOTY or GOTG. But hey, opinions.

But this thread is about UC2

Corridor chase sequences are generally garbage.

 

[NBtoaster]

The shooting is superb. Combined with the stealth and traversal it has some of the finest TPS mechanics of the generation. In 2009 it was unmatched.

 

[zoukka]

I think they delivered on the hype for UC2, that is if you're coming from UC1, I thought 1 was a inferior game in comparison (I did not think UC1 was that good of a game, but I enjoyed it enough), but UC2 did improve on a lot of aspects, it's not perfect, but it's why people were hyped about UC3 because people expect ND to improve the game more (even bigger levels and better AIs, and better stealth mechanics) but they failed to deliver on most of those, and even took a step back in several ways.

I know people that doesn't like UC2 but I think interms of basic gameplay mechanics like gunplay, control and polishness, it's one of the better games this gen in comparison to other TPSes, and not to mention it provided a pretty good package and a good mix of gameplay, cinematics and challenges.

Yeah UC2 is a definite improvement over the first game. But at the same time it still is so far from actually good TPS games that it's obvious how the production values/exclusivity boosted the scores to wazoo. Not like it's some exception to the overhyped AAA games rule.

The shooting is superb. Combined with the stealth and traversal it has some of the finest TPS mechanics of the generation. In 2009 it was unmatched.

The shooting is behind even games like Dead Space and Lost Planet, not to mention Resident Evil 5 or 4. The platforming might as well been full QTE sections.

 

[goldenpp72]

I think they delivered on the hype for UC2, that is if you're coming from UC1, I thought 1 was a inferior game in comparison (I did not think UC1 was that good of a game, but I enjoyed it enough), but UC2 did improve on a lot of aspects, it's not perfect, but it's why people were hyped about UC3 because people expect ND to improve the game more (even bigger levels and better AIs, and better stealth mechanics) but they failed to deliver on most of those, and even took a step back in several ways.

I know people that doesn't like UC2 but I think interms of basic gameplay mechanics like gunplay, control and polishness, it's one of the better games this gen in comparison to other TPSes, and not to mention it provided a pretty good package and a good mix of gameplay, cinematics and challenges.

Uncharted 1 was basically a poor game with once again good visuals, it felt like a new developers first project that turned out decent. I was quite surprised it came out of Naughty Dog because of how polished/fun the Crash and to some extent, the Jak series were. Uncharted 2 was a really nice balance of good set pieces/designs/graphics, and had a better balance in gameplay. The problem is, these games rely on mechanics that simply won't age well. The auto platforming/set pieces/etc exist in order to visually impress and stimulate on that level, so much like marrying a pretty girl who has a bad personality, eventually it's going to wear off.

Gameplay wise, UC2 is a competent shooter at best, but it has very basic mechanics as well as the disconnect of enemies taking a billion shots and lazy ass designs in general. Plenty of games this generation absolutely trump uncharted in terms of gun play and design, including Vanquish, Max payne 3, Gears of war, Lost planet, RE5, Dead Space, hell even the later Mass effect games have equal or better shooting mechanics than the UC series.

Obviously, opinion is a thing, however, i'd bet money that if you gave these games to someone 10 years from now and said, which is more fun, 8 out of 10 times UC will come last or very close. Does that mean people who say UC is good are wrong? Not really, just that there is now this divide where we have to try and determine, is this person saying its a good GAME or a good experience? Uncharted is a fully fine experience, but if you stripped it of all the presentation/set piece/etc elements, and made it look like Too Human, the game would have almost no fans in my mind. This mentality in design is exactly what ruined Dead Space 3, they focused on set piece and visual umph trying to capitalize on this trend, and butchered much of what made the games very solid.

It's honestly a lot like people who would say GTA4 is better than the prior games, it stripped out the fun mechanics in return for its Oscar worthy story (lol), which of course garnered it a million great reviews, but at least the gaming community caught on that the game part itself was inferior and thus, a disappointment.

 

[kitch9]

Oooh, OP, you so edgy.

 

[N2NOther]

Naughty Dog don't make fun games. They never have. Their thing is tech, and making the console look good. In exchange they are well reviewed.

Weird, I had more fun playing Uncharted 2 than any other game this generation. Also, my gf hates video games and she loves playing the Uncharted games and Left 4 Dead 2.

In short, these games are fun for gamers and nongamers.

 

[goldenpp72]

Weird, I had more fun playing Uncharted 2 than any other game this generation. Also, my gf hates video games and she loves playing the Uncharted games and Left 4 Dead 2.

In short, these games are fun for gamers and nongamers.

It's also not fair to say ND was never about gameplay, the Crash Bandicoot series was not only very challenging but very well designed. Crash Team Racing is the epitome of cart racing games with some of the most mind boggling challenges that are both fair and fun. The Jak series began a trend of less fun games with more visual flair but were still quite good. It wasn't until Uncharted came where their focus was really more on tech/set pieces rather than the core mechanics.

On the flip side, if you think UC beats out the above mentioned shooters mechanically, well, I can't even begin to imagine how that opinion is possible, like saying Transformers 2 has a better story than The Dark knight for block buster movies.

 

[Magic Mushroom]

As far as gameplay goes, I disagree. I feel that due to the map design, the mobility you're afforded, and the enemy AI, fights feel extremely dynamic. Enemies are always trying to outflank you so you need to stay mobile, unlike most cover shooters where you can just pop up from behind a wall every few seconds.

That being said, the later section of the game is terrible, as is the final boss.

All of this. The gunplay is excellent. Open combat spaces with lots of verticality allows for very dynamic combat that far surpasses that of traditional cover shooters. I didn't even play it as a cover shooter. It's why I dig the MP as well, the mechanics are great fun. Also like how the setpieces still allow total control (the train ride for example can be tackled in different ways, you can jump out of the windows and cling to the side, climb on top of the cars or just stay inside and the jumping from exploding car to car setpiece would've been a QTE in lesser games). And enemies aren't bullet sponges if you go for headshots, grenade kills, stealth kills and power weapons.

Completed it multiple times and on the hardest difficulty and for me it's the most complete TPS of this gen (TLoU isn't really a shooter), and along with Vanquish easily the best.

 

[zoukka]

Also, my gf hates video games and she loves playing the Uncharted games

Yep.

 

[LeeRoyBrown]

Completely agree with the OP. The praise the Uncharted series gets is almost entirely from the presentation, story, and set pieces. The core gameplay is nothing above average, and in some cases, below average.

I'm not very far into The Last of Us, but it seems like a very similar story: excellent presentation, average gameplay. There does seem to be more variety though, which is good.

Completely disagree with this, Uncharted 1 is the only game on the system I have a Platinum on, finished it 6 times. I traded in the Orange Box to get an exchange for Uncharted 1 after 3 days because believe it or not I didn't like Half Life 2 at all or Team Fortress 2, Portal 1 was amazing.

Loved Uncharted 2, never got bored at any stage.

The Last of Us is one of the best games I have played in years.

 

[lantus]

Absolutely awesome game, loved every bit of it! I would say its my favorite game this gen, but I think The Last of Us has taken that spot now.

 

[Anteater]

Yeah UC2 is a definite improvement over the first game. But at the same time it still is so far from actually good TPS games that it's obvious how the production values/exclusivity boosted the scores to wazoo. Not like it's some exception to the overhyped AAA games rule.

Yea I agree with that

Gameplay wise, UC2 is a competent shooter at best, but it has very basic mechanics as well as the disconnect of enemies taking a billion shots and lazy ass designs in general. Plenty of games this generation absolutely trump uncharted in terms of gun play and design, including Vanquish, Max payne 3, Gears of war, Lost planet, RE5, Dead Space, hell even the later Mass effect games have equal or better shooting mechanics than the UC series.

Vanquish and MP3 wasn't out during the time of UC2 though, I thought the gunplay was competent enough, but I think drake's good mobility and controls make up for the rest of it, it's one of the less clunky TPSes this gen outside of Vanquish (never really gave Lost Planet a fair try).

Uncharted is a fully fine experience, but if you stripped it of all the presentation/set piece/etc elements, and made it look like Too Human, the game would have almost no fans in my mind. This mentality in design is exactly what ruined Dead Space 3, they focused on set piece and visual umph trying to capitalize on this trend, and butchered much of what made the games very solid.

It's honestly a lot like people who would say GTA4 is better than the prior games, it stripped out the fun mechanics in return for its Oscar worthy story (lol), which of course garnered it a million great reviews, but at least the gaming community caught on that the game part itself was inferior and thus, a disappointment.

I still liked playing UC2 without the set pieces stuff though (they are just fillers/transition inbetween gunfights), a lot of the game was corridor stuff, but there are some clever level design here and there (beginning of the monastery, the trainwreck map for example, and you move around a lot in some of the maps with the blue dudes), but the setpieces/cinematic stuff ruined some portions of Mass Effect 3.

As for people putting gameplay in a lower priority, I think people just have different taste, like I enjoyed ICO even though some people seem to hate the combat, it was simple enough to not bother me.

I do see where you're coming from because I think god of war games took the same approach, but I didn't like that game at all, lol.

 

[To Far Away Times]

Uncharted is very much the Donkey Kong Country 1-3 of its time. It looks fancy but it's focus on visuals over gameplay gets tired quickly and it won't be remembered as fondly as the games it imitates.

 

[zoukka]

Uncharted is very much the Donkey Kong Country 1-3 of its time. It looks fancy but it's focus on visuals over gameplay gets tired quickly and it won't be remembered as fondly as the games it imitates.

That's an insult to the DK series. Especially 2 and 3.

 

[NBtoaster]

The shooting is behind even games like Dead Space and Lost Planet, not to mention Resident Evil 5 or 4. The platforming might as well been full QTE sections.

You are nowhere as manouverable in those games. Being able to hang of any ledge and shoot, or pull someone down, or have use stealth kills adds a lot.

 

[Toxi]

Uncharted is very much the Donkey Kong Country 1-3 of its time. It looks fancy but it's focus on visuals over gameplay gets tired quickly and it won't be remembered as fondly as the games it imitates.

Donkey Kong Country 2 is still fairly fun, but 1 is too basic and 3 already starts to introduce the problems Rare would face with its 3D platformers.

The level design in Uncharted 2 is fantastic. Absolutely amazing. That was the highlight of the game for me.

What is so good about Uncharted 2's level design?

This isn't a rhetorical question. I honestly want you (Or anyone else) to describe what you enjoy about Uncharted 2's level layout. I've heard the train level mentioned multiple times, but what makes it a good level specifically?

 

[CosmicGroinPull]

Uncharted is very much the Donkey Kong Country 1-3 of its time. It looks fancy but it's focus on visuals over gameplay gets tired quickly and it won't be remembered as fondly as the games it imitates.

This is the first time I've heard of such criticism against Uncharted. What games did it imitate and then pile fancy visual polish on top of in order to garner such critical acclaim? Pong?

 

[zoukka]

You are nowhere as manouverable in those games. Being able to hang of any ledge and shoot, or pull someone down, or have use stealth kills adds a lot.

I agree, when you can use those maneuvers they are a lot of fun (especially when you pull a fool down and Drake casually goes "that's right"). But it's the extreme minority of encounters where you need those maneuvers. Most often the best tactic is to sit tight and pop headshots which is painful with UC controls and enemy movement.

With TloU ND finally made a competent TPS game. It's still far off from RE4 and the like, but now the killing is actually challenging and rewarding.

 

[ChronotriggerJM]

Another HUGE reason for me was the impact the game had on the console war. At the time as a member of the Playstation camp, we were just religiously pooped on by every game forum ever (I'm certain even gaf) by the Xbox camp, so then a follow up to a sequel that wasn't THAT high praised (and certainly had technical shortcomings), drops from ND, and it's all of a sudden an un-achievable bar (at the time), it started gathering all the technical eggs in the PS3 basket and just leveraged the Playstation brand a bit.

I think Uncharted 2 at it's very worst in any category of review is going to fall under "not-bad or not-great" but then it's got all the shining points. All in all I don't think U2 did anything wrong, and it did many things correctly.

Also, regarding chest-high walls of Gears of war, Uncharted as a series made cover very natural, I don't remember too many sequences that were just awkwardly placed walls (unlike gears, I swear they're everywhere). It was always blown out houses, gardens, fountains, etc etc etc. I found the landscapes to be very seamless in that aspect, very believable (I'm sure we could cherry pick a few of course).

 

[Stiflers Mom]

Interestingly, I thought that Uncharted 1 is the much better game.

Uncharted 2's production values are just sooo incredible.

And yeah, the boss fight in U2 is terribad.

 

[meta4]

Donkey Kong Country 2 is still fairly fun, but 1 is too basic and 3 already starts to introduce the problems Rare would face with its 3D platformers.

What is so good about Uncharted 2's level design?

This isn't a rhetorical question. I honestly want you (Or anyone else) to describe what you enjoy about Uncharted 2's level layout. I've heard the train level mentioned multiple times, but what makes it a good level specifically?

One of the best levels of this generation. This vid explains why. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT70hNuG-VI

This is however just one among the many exquisitely designed levels of UC2. Other shooters this generation can only wish they had such good level design. Even good shooters like Vanquish have just by the numbers arena shooting level design that nothing stands out. In fact looking back I cant think of one memorable level in the game. I just think of the cool mechanics but not any specific level. What you are left with in such shooters is excellent mechanics but not good level design that backs up its good mechanics. Its the lazy lets put an arena with a few enemies in the same tired scenario again and again. Most of the shooters that gen fell into that trap but not UC2. It's level design beautifully interacts with its mechanics. The billboard hanging shootout is another. If only other shooters like MP3, Vanquish etc backed up their mechanics with good level design like UC2

Also, regarding chest-high walls of Gears of war, Uncharted as a series made cover very natural, I don't remember too many sequences that were just awkwardly placed walls (unlike gears, I swear they're everywhere). It was always blown out houses, gardens, fountains, etc etc etc. I found the landscapes to be very seamless in that aspect, very believable (I'm sure we could cherry pick a few of course).

Yeah. Gears level design in general is pure garbage and more often than not is another generic stop and pop shooter with uninspired levels. It should not be mentioned in the same breadth as UC2. Gears,UC3,UC1,MP3 etc are all one tier below IMO.

 

[Coolbgdog12]

I disagree completely with anything being said about the shooting mechanics being subpar. The freedom I felt when controlling people in this game in SP and in MP was unlike any other game. I couldn't play Gears or w/e for a while because UC2 just felt so liberating. Being able to climb things, hang from different areas and shoot, throw grenades as far as I wanted and have quick smooth aiming was very fun. I logged hundreds of hours into MP alone.

Of course when you break the game down piece to piece it looks average but that's not how the game is presented. i'm playing the game in it's whole state, not in some alpha build where I'm presented before a generic soldier and some barren level with sandbags.

 

[Silky]

Were you just trolling about Gears? Other than the chainsaw, the newer ones have a few dedicated melee weapons.

The hand-to-hand melee in TLoU can get clunky, but tie a shiv to a baseball bat, or find the axe, and things get much more interesting. After the first few chapters you have enough ammo and items that you rarely need to get into a hand-to-hand brawl -- if anyone is so unfortunate to get up to you they get rewarded with an axe to the face. Also, running and timing the melee blow results in less damage to your melee weapon, and has the best animations.

Bayonets =/= Melee Weapons. I can only think of the Locust Mauler as a dedicated melee weapon.

I'm actually avoiding using my weapons unless I really need to, only really capitalizing on melee weapon buffs and working with the Bow and Arrow. I wish that, with the workbench you could upgrade melee weapons a bit more than just a simple craft. Like If i could just go through the rest of the game with a spiked baseball bat or something, I'd be contempt.

But a shiv to the neck and a speedwagon skedaddle usually works 75% of the time. ( ._.)

 

[ryanthelion123]

Completely agree with everything you said. Bought the game day 1 because of raving reviews. Still haven't finished it about 75% there. Very boring game. The set pieces didn't do anything for me. You move one grand place to the next but none of the locations feel real or unique. I felt like the grand environments were just pretty lights to distract you from that you in fact are doing nothing.
The platforming is a joke because of its repetitiveness and simplicity. The gunplay is dull and just relies on point and shoot. Story is overly and unnecessarily complicated.

The only thing going for it was graphics. I remember being very frustrated with the praise this game received. It has a nice coat of paint, but has the depth of an rc car.

Luckily, Naughty Dog redeemed themselves with The Last of Us.

 

[Nakiro]

Uncharted is one of my favourite series out there, I loved all of the games.
I played though first one about 6-8 times in total because there was nothing like it at the moment.
Boss fights haven't bothered me at all.

They are certainly not for everyone, but for me they were everything I had hoped they would be.

 

[goldenpp72]

Yea I agree with that



Vanquish and MP3 wasn't out during the time of UC2 though, I thought the gunplay was competent enough, but I think drake's good mobility and controls make up for the rest of it, it's one of the less clunky TPSes this gen outside of Vanquish (never really gave Lost Planet a fair try).



I still liked playing UC2 without the set pieces stuff though (they are just fillers/transition inbetween gunfights), a lot of the game was corridor stuff, but there are some clever level design here and there (beginning of the monastery, the trainwreck map for example, and you move around a lot in some of the maps with the blue dudes), but the setpieces/cinematic stuff ruined some portions of Mass Effect 3.

As for people putting gameplay in a lower priority, I think people just have different taste, like I enjoyed ICO even though some people seem to hate the combat, it was simple enough to not bother me.

I do see where you're coming from because I think god of war games took the same approach, but I didn't like that game at all, lol.

I absolutely despise the God of War series, but I adore Ninja Gaiden, Bayonetta and Devil May Cry (even the new reboot is good). So yeah it's definitely someting I feel Sonys big IP focus on, and it's something that crept into Halo 4s intro level and really pissed me off there as well. I'm just not a fan of poor mechanics in favor of visual flair, a game where every single kill or action FEELS wonderful is a game that will be timeless to me. That sensation of shooting someone in RE4 and having their arms jerk, knees collapse, the way the guns feel and the impact they have, the laser sight, etc, everything was so perfectly honed to make that one kill feel wonderful. It makes every kill satisfying and it's something RE6 ruined, another game destroyed by this trend of form over function.

I honestly think people who applaud Uncharted combat should go back and play some Lost planet 1, another game that has hollow feeling shooting like UC, but the movement options and overall game design absolutely trump the supposed freedom the UC games allow, I consider LP a B level shooter in terms of the depth and quality, but honestly it's still more fun and actually has real platforming in it.

 

[Noid]

Opinions are opinions and they will always differ. What I can't stand is people saying "it's not a good game". Because for me, and a lot of other people, it's one of the best games of the generation. If YOU don't like it, fine, uncharted 2 is not for everyone. But don't act like it's an objectively bad game, because it's not.

 

[Sendou]

I was surprised how bad of a game Uncharted 2 was after hearing all the praise it gets here. I was planning on taking on the Trilogy since I now have the third part thanks to PS Plus but I'm not sure I want to get back to the series. Golden Abyss was cool though.

Now I'm little afraid to try Last of Us yet another Naughty Dog game that GAF (and everyone!) loves. I think I'm going to be brave still.

 

[goldenpp72]

Opinions are opinions and they will always differ. What I can't stand is people saying "it's not a good game". Because for me, and a lot of other people, it's one of the best games of the generation. If YOU don't like it, fine, uncharted 2 is not for everyone. But don't act like it's an objectively bad game, because it's not.

Do you think UC as a game is a better game than Vanquish, Re4 or Gears of War? I think i would have a much easier time convincing someone as to why these have good to great mechanics over Uncharted. While the opinion card is valid enough, it doesn't take away from the fact UC is lacking in areas it doesn't have to. Enemy reactions to bullets, sponges, AI, loose aiming, horrible close combat mechanics. Obviously, you can't mix Vanquish into UC and have it make sense, but then again, you can't mix in the fact enemies can be shot 50 times and don't react to bullets and have it make sense either. I honestly think if UC employed real platforming and shooting with tighter controls and enemies that die quicker/react to bullets, it would fundamentally improve the perception of the game part to both lovers and haters.

I'm curious if someone thinks these would be bad changes, I suppose it's always interesting to hear the conflicting side. I guess my point is, if someone sits down and tries to say how to improve RE4 mechanically, someone who truly understands the game, you're going to have a really hard time, with UC, even the fans of the series would probably like if a lot of the gameplay was enhanced in ways they can pinpoint.

 

[Always-honest]

I agree. I did think it was one of the better games at THAT time though.
But you have to be okay with large groups of enemies (who can take waaaay too many bullets, but so can you) and puzzle elements.

The game isn't that hard either. It's a nice well done summer blockbuster movie.
Not a Citizen Cane.

 

[meta4]

Do you think UC as a game is a better game than Vanquish, Re4 or Gears of War? I think i would have a much easier time convincing someone as to why these have good to great mechanics over Uncharted. While the opinion card is valid enough, it doesn't take away from the fact UC is lacking in areas it doesn't have to. Enemy reactions to bullets, sponges, AI, loose aiming, horrible close combat mechanics. Obviously, you can't mix Vanquish into UC and have it make sense, but then again, you can't mix in the fact enemies can be shot 50 times and don't react to bullets and have it make sense either. I honestly think if UC employed real platforming and shooting with tighter controls and enemies that die quicker/react to bullets, it would fundamentally improve the perception of the game part to both lovers and haters.

I'm curious if someone thinks these would be bad changes, I suppose it's always interesting to hear the conflicting side. I guess my point is, if someone sits down and tries to say how to improve RE4 mechanically, someone who truly understands the game, you're going to have a really hard time, with UC, even the fans of the series would probably like if a lot of the gameplay was enhanced in ways they can pinpoint.

Gears is a generic stop and pop shooter with uninspired level design. It should not even be compared in the same breadth as UC2. Vanquish is a game with great mechanics but again by the numbers level design. Can you recollect even one single level ( maybe one actually) that was designed exquisitely around its mechanics. It was just one generic arena after arena with brain dead AI without any unique hook to the levels. Honestly the only one in that list that it deserves to be compared to is RE4 and I think both are too exquisitely paced for me to make a decision on which is better. Rest of your post about 50 bullets etc is hyperbole which I dont think anyone would even argue.

 

[goldenpp72]

Gears is a generic stop and pop shooter with uninspired level design. It should not even be compared in the same breadth as UC2. Vanquish is a game with great mechanics but again by the numbers level design. Can you recollect even one single level ( maybe one actually) that was designed exquisitely around its mechanics. It was just one generic arena after arena with brain dead AI without any unique hook to the levels. Honestly the only one in that list that it deserves to be compared to is RE4 and I think both are too exquisitely paced for me to make a decision on which is better..

Gears did not have great level design, but it had fantastic shooting design with a lot of depth to the mechanics. There is a huge curve to learning that games mechanics to the fullest extent, despite what rookies who run around with a shotgun would like you to believe. I played UC2 quite fully as well as the original, and the Gears trilogy. I can see arguing level design for UC2, but what good is level design when the platforming and actual shooting aren't very good?

 

[tzare]

Opinions are opinions and they will always differ. What I can't stand is people saying "it's not a good game". Because for me, and a lot of other people, it's one of the best games of the generation. If YOU don't like it, fine, uncharted 2 is not for everyone. But don't act like it's an objectively bad game, because it's not.

this.

Gears did not have great level design, but it had fantastic shooting design with a lot of depth to the mechanics

lol. Gears is a great game, but shooting is nothing especial. it is... shooting, as good or as bad as uncharted's. The same goes for most TPS or FPS

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

I play games to have fun. Uncharted may just be a TPS with climbing mechanics but my god was the ride fucking fun. Unforgettable, great story and probably the only game that gave me an adrenaline rush in certain moments. Game of the generation so far for me, just after demons souls.

 

[meta4]

Gears did not have great level design, but it had fantastic shooting design with a lot of depth to the mechanics. There is a huge curve to learning that games mechanics to the fullest extent, despite what rookies who run around with a shotgun would like you to believe. I played UC2 quite fully as well as the original, and the Gears trilogy. I can see arguing level design for UC2, but what good is level design when the platforming and actual shooting aren't very good?

And UC does not? Play a round of multi on UC with experts and see how far it gets you if you have not mastered its mechanics and depth. Gears gunplay has less mobilty ,freedom and agency. The shooting in UC2 was perfectly finely integrated with its mechanics.What elevates it over every other shooter is its constantly surprising scenarios. The platforming in UC2 is a vehicle for combat. The platforming is a vehicle for shooting. When you jump from one platform to another platform , hang and shoot etc its serving combat. It is a shooter and not Mario. Can you imagine a multiplayer match where there are tons of guys shooting at you and you are required to perfectly line up a jump ala TR? There are plenty of games that have decent shooting mechanics which infact are far superior to gears. Hell Binary Domain, MP3 etc are all leagues beyond. Again what good is it when the level design is just so mundane.

 

[Santar]

The Uncharted series is a prime example of what's wrong with the triple A games today.
So scripted and linear it's basically like wathing a movie, it actually felt like we'd gone back in time sometimes becauee one wrong move during one of those "amazing cinematic" moments and it's game over and try again.
I'm so happy The Last of Us (which I enjoyed) actually moved away from all the scripted sequences and had more actual game with gameplay in it.

 

[Buckethead]

Uncharted 1 > the rest

Uncharted 3 > Uncharted 2

1 is less of a bullshit spectaclefest and 3 doesn't have 2's awful pandering and snooze-enducing love triangle

 

[Sephiroth503]

I play games to have fun. Uncharted may just be a TPS with climbing mechanics but my god was the ride fucking fun. Unforgettable, great story and probably the only game that gave me an adrenaline rush in certain moments. Game of the generation so far for me, just after demons souls.

Agreed. I don't think the sense of accomplishment after finishing what was an absolute roller coaster of a ride has been topped this gen for me.

After finishing it I remember thinking back to just how much stuff I did during the playthrough and some of the encounters like the billboard/lamp-post surrounded by enemies running out of ammo, the train, the truck chase, exploring the ice caves, the sniping on the mountain tops, just incredible.

Only letdown for me was that it had to end.

 

[tzare]

The Uncharted series is a prime example of what's wrong with the triple A games today.
So scripted and linear it's basically like wathing a movie, it actually felt like we'd gone back in time sometimes becauee one wrong move during one of those "amazing cinematic" moments and it's game over and try again.
I'm so happy The Last of Us (which I enjoyed) actually moved away from all the scripted sequences and had more actual game with gameplay in it.

what's wrong with scripted games and being like a movie? i enjoy them and many people do. There are a lot of open world games out there, have fun with them.

 

[Earthpainting]

Yeah UC2 is a definite improvement over the first game. But at the same time it still is so far from actually good TPS games that it's obvious how the production values/exclusivity boosted the scores to wazoo. Not like it's some exception to the overhyped AAA games rule.

Pretty much this.

I think UC made everything great about UC1 better, but aside from removing some of the motion stuff, it didn't really improve on any of its weaknesses. The gunplay felt weak, the encounter design can really drag on at times, the platforming is so automated it might as well not be there, atrocious final battle, an unfortunate amount of (collision) glitches and writing on the level of a Brendan Fraser/Matthew McConaughey action movie. Uncharted 3 is par for the course.

If you want to get the most out of these games, the time to play them was near their release, when they were the most impressive. I fear the next generation of consoles will take away a lot of their appeal.

 

[meta4]

Agreed. I don't think the sense of accomplishment after finishing what was an absolute roller coaster of a ride has been topped this gen for me.

After finishing it I remember thinking back to just how much stuff I did during the playthrough and some of the encounters like the billboard/lamp-post surrounded by enemies running out of ammo, the train, the truck chase, exploring the ice caves, the sniping on the mountain tops, just incredible.

Only letdown for me was that it had to end.

I was so disappointed when it ended as well . But it was one satisfying ending though. I dont think a single game this gen had the exquisite pacing of UC2. I cant think of one game this gen . I guess we will have only one well paced game ever gen. RE4 before and UC2 this gen. Hopefully next gen we will have a few more of such well paced games.

 

[Zemm]

The Uncharted games are just completely average brain dead games. The gunplay is dull and the climbing is laughable. The Last of Us is so much better than that series it's crazy. Will be disappointed if they go back to the Uncharted formula for PS4.

 

[Zutroy]

It is my favourite online MP game ever, so I disagree that the gameplay mechanics are bad.

 

[Eric the Red]

OP's going in way too hard on this imo. There is plenty, gameplay-wise, to enjoy. Just one example is the traversal. I loved the ancient ruin sections especially, where traversal became less automatic, more considered, and almost like puzzles in some areas. Very fun to play.

 

[freezamite]

Context is everything. If you had played this game right when it came out you would've understood.

There is nothing to understand here. The Uncharted series, and I've finished the first two (the second one only because of the hype), haven't brought anything new to videogames besides their presentation.

One can say those things about playing the games on their context to fully appreciate them when those games offer new experiences that get copied by other games afterwards.
For example, super mario 64 wasn't the same in 1997 when it was the first 3d platformer ever made (and still one of the best) than 3 years later with tons and tons of games relying on the same mechanics.

Uncharted has been an hyped product by the casual players that can connect to internet. Casuals because that's the only word that describes someone that plays videogames because "it feels like a hollywood movie wow" and don't give a fuck about gameplay.

Now in a more general scope, I think that this problem that you describe is what happens to Sony first party studios and what in my opinion prevents them from being as decisive as Nintendo's ones.
Since the PS3 it seems that Sony is focused on graphics first, graphics second and graphics third, and I don't blame them, it's a good enough bet. With the new wave of videogamers that was born on the PS1 and that played games to see its CGIs a new market was effectively opened.
This market that doesn't like to play, but it loves to experience some sort of interactive movies and unlike normal casual players they spend a lot in gaming, even more than a normal player would normally do.

And while the costs of those productions always rises and that's a risk, it's also a safer bet to simply go for "better graphics" than to risk with something that may disappoint your fans. And if you have the luck, as an enterprise, to have fans that what only expects from you is graphics, graphics, graphics and GRAPHICS, there is no point on wanting to do something else besides that.

 

[trickyhero]

It's one of those games that are untouchable for replayability, the story gets in the way, and the graphics now look like crap.

 

[NekoFever]

I do really like Uncharted 2 - probably in my top five of this gen - but I can't disagree with a lot of the sentiment in here. Naughty Dog's games are technically wonderful and ahead of pretty much everyone in the fields of writing and performances, but as games? Terribly overrated.

Solid gunplay is something they've failed to master, with loose aiming and bullet sponge enemies. All four of ND's PS3 games go to shit in the last act by introducing enemies that aren't fun to fight (U1:

Spoiler

zombies

; U2:

Spoiler

Lazarevic

; U3:

Spoiler

Ghost Rider

; TLOU:

Spoiler

heavily armed mercs

). Dodgy AI is a common complaint, including that annoying quirk where getting spotted immediately causes every enemy in the area to know exactly where you are. I hated parts of Uncharted 3 because of that last problem.

I've learnt to temper my expectations because the gushing reception, particularly around here, is predictable.

 

[charsace]

Me reading the OP:

Fire works have only just begun TS.

 

[Bomber Bob]

Uncharted is very much the Donkey Kong Country 1-3 of its time. It looks fancy but it's focus on visuals over gameplay gets tired quickly and it won't be remembered as fondly as the games it imitates.

dude WAAAT DKC trilogy is awesome