'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves' raises the bar

Forget the E3 trailer and the four-month media blitz. Forget the media speculation and "half-tuck" jokes. From the instant "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves" hands you your first task - guiding a wounded Nathan Drake up a toppled train car suspended over a snowy cliff - it's overwhelmingly clear that Naughty Dog intend to stake their flag at the top of the action game heap. And with "Uncharted 2," they've taken that mountain all to themselves.

Before you notice the little much-needed control tweaks, you will probably notice just how darn pretty "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves" is to look at. The game uses just about every newfangled rendering technique in the book, and washes it all in a bold, rich aesthetic that dazzles and pops at every turn.

But for all of its lush textures and uncannily lifelike character models, the real beauty of "Uncharted 2" is found in the small details so lovingly scattered throughout its 12-hour campaign. It is in the hint of a smile curling your nemesis' lip the first time Drake meets him face to face; the arrangement of candles in the corner of a Nepalese temple; the twinkling interplay of light in an icy cave.

But none of that would matter if the game's wonderful cast were not around to give it flavor. Nathan Drake is easily one of the most lovable and genuine game protagonists in years, and the ensemble cast, all voiced with top-notch talent, backs him up commendably. The script has significantly improved from the first game as well, with characters' relationships tying in and bouncing off each other in perfect tempo with the on-screen action. They are more than just a group of loudmouthed stereotypes who loosely string together a noisy sequence of set pieces and firefights. They are believable, well-written characters, and you will want to play to discover what happens to them, even when the gameplay lulls.

But rest assured, that does not happen often. "Uncharted 2" may not try to redefine the action genre, but it does push its boundaries, squeezing as much adrenaline as possible into every moment while keeping the central experience familiar to the player. The set pieces in this game are huge, plentiful and unforgettable. You will escape from a building while it collapses around you, evade fire from (and eventually take down) a helicopter while hanging from the side of a speeding train, and dispatch a hired militia's convoy, leaping from car to car to do so.

The action works beautifully not only because it is spectacular or well-integrated, but because Naughty Dog remembers to keep Drake, a believably ordinary guy, at the center of it all. I liked "Uncharted 2" the most not when I felt badass for taking out a helicopter with an RPG, but when I felt grateful for escaping the last scrape with my spine intact. That is the magic of the "Uncharted" franchise - its easy ability to deliver top-notch, blockbuster thrills with a warm gooey center.

Still, the thrills do slow down a bit in the second act, making the whole adventure feel a little off-balance, but it is nothing that seriously mars the game, and would not be a problem at all if the first half were not so brilliant. Make no mistake, "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves" has raised the bar not only for its franchise, but for the entire game industry. Do not miss it.