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#8 Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PS3)

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment — Developer: Naughty Dog

Naughty Dog’s flagship series hits another high note with the third chapter of Nathan Drake’s adventures. The organic storytelling makes this something every gamer owes to themselves to experience. Uncharted 3 delivers the thrill of an Indiana Jones movie and more twists and turns than a ride at Six Flags. Some parts of this game will leave the gamer breathless and pointing at the screen while asking the person next to him, “Did you see that?” As if that weren’t enough, after the credits roll and the brilliant colors fade away, there’s still a fantastic multiplayer game to experience. (more…)

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Title: The Art of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Publisher: Ballistic

Commentary by: Robh Ruppel

Edited by: Daniel Wade

Review by: Archie Easter

Stunning. That single word describes The Art of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves book printed by Ballistic for Naughty Dog. Detailing every facet of one of 2009’s best games, it practically sets the standard for subsequent collections of game art. This is a truly comprehensive book that details everything from character models and textures, to concept paintings, to motion capture and cinematics. Both fans of the game and anyone even remotely interested in the behind-the-scenes of game development should definitely own this book. (more…)

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Title: “Drake’s Fortune Multiplayer Pack” DLC for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Platform: PS3

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developer: Naughty Dog

Review by: Bill Jones

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is an absolutely fantastic game. It’s so good we gave it the #1 spot on our list of Best Games of 2009. So it’s hard not to want more. And given, it impressed more on the side of its fantastic story integration in the single-player campaign, but its multiplayer mode happens to be a lot of fun as well, so as fans we’ll definitely settle for more on the multiplayer side of the game. “Drake’s Fortune Multiplayer Pack” as its name implies brings gamers back to the first title with two new maps inspired by the first game – The Flooded Ruins and The Facility. The former features the focal point of the Customs House, and it’s smart to keep a vertical eye on enemies. The latter is almost symmetrical, working around a U-Boat in The Bunker. It’s fantastic for elimination games. The $5.99 total package also includes six skins based on characters or variations from the first titles, as well as 12 new Trophies. (more…)

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#1 – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)

Publisher: Sony – Developer: Naughty Dog

Our Review

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Should I have given Uncharted 2 a perfect score? Probably. It is something I wrestled with while writing the review and since. I felt that some of the minor problems present in the game were exaggerated due to the core experience being so solid. When a game is as great as Uncharted 2, it’s that much more painful to be pulled out of the experience. Still, there’s no denying that Uncharted 2 is by far the most standout game of the year, and one of the titles that many will cite as a highlight of the decade. For anyone who loves their games driven by an entertaining, integrated story that could only be told in the video game medium, it doesn’t get better than Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Naughty Dog has officially set the bar for the blockbusters of the video game realm, and there is, hands down, no better title deserving of the top spot. –Bill (more…)

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Title: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Platform: PS3

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developer: Naughty Dog

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

Sometimes innovation comes out of nowhere with a striking new idea that blindsides us and changes an industry. But more times than not, innovation is a gradual effort, where no one thing can be cited as the sole instigator of change. But still, in those gradual instances, there is often a point when that change is realized and credited to the epitome of its ideal.

The original Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune marked an early display of PlayStation 3’s power and Naughty Dog’s interest in bringing their skills to a more realistic (visually) gaming experience. Its story played out like an Indiana Jones movie with a good sense of humor, as Nathan Drake, a descendent of Sir Francis Drake, set about on a modern-day quest to find the legendary treasure of El Dorado. Along the way, Drake teamed up and played betrayal games with a dynamic set of characters, with explosive third-person gun-fighting action every step of the way.

But that’s neither here nor there with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. While fans of the first will have a slight edge and get a little bit more out of its sequel, Naughty Dog smartly creates an entirely new story, relying very little on the first, leaving Uncharted 2 accessible to new audiences, while also expanding on the characters people grew to love in the first installment. (more…)

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Two of the year’s biggest games release tomorrow – Naughty Dog’s PlayStation 3 exlusive, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and the lastest from Tim Schafer and Double Fine, Brutal Legend. Just wanted to give readers a heads up that we will have reviews of both posted tomorrow!

Also, we’ll have the next round of our grab-bag contest  to coincide with the reviews tomorrow!

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Uncharted 2 on the big screen, sort of [Events]

By Bill Jones

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The cinematic comparisons with the Uncharted series are well-documented. The original played out like a true action blockbuster of Indiana Jones caliber, mixing gun fighting gameplay with a solid story. And with the sequel, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, looking to build upon that success with its release next week, developer Naughty Dog and publisher Sony Computer Entertainment have made no qualms about playing to that comparison. It’s even in their advertising, in a recent commercial where a guy quips that his girlfriend is making popcorn before he plays because she thinks it’s a movie. (more…)

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