If you own a PS3, you essentially must own Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
If Super Smash Bros Brawl is the Wii's highlight, and Halo 3 is Xbox 360's, then Uncharted 2 is the perfect choice for the PS3's must own game. It's that rare sparkle of a plethora of game choices that Uncharted 2 delivers that makes it so amazing.
The story (with as LITTLE spoilers as possible) is that you play as Nathan Drake, a treasure hunter who is incredibly acrobatic. Your mission, in the beginning, is to find a lamp that is buried deep within very ancient temples, and your sexy, but strange partner Chloe comes along, as well as Drake's friend, Flynn. But first, you must find your way up to the top of a mountain by leaping and climbing on a train car that is hanging by a pipe or two, and not only that, you are shot in the side of the chest with nobody to help you. WOW.
The controls for Uncharted 2 are spot on, once you get accustomed to them. Drake doesn't just move and stop on a dime, he behaves like a normal human would behave in that particular situation, only far more athletic. You move Drake around, shoot, do combat, sneak attacks, jump, run, reload, toss grenades, and aim down. Standard stuff, but it is done very, very well here. All of the levels are designed so that you don't feel as if you have a linear path, but it is in the end.
The graphics are gorgeous, but not just because it's a pretty game (which it is) but because of the way everything is presented, you can never say you died from a cheap shot, or can't recognize where to go because everything looks the same. Not one level is identical, not one enemy, nor the bullet smoke, can't be seen. You will need to explore sometimes to figure out where you're going, but that's the whole fun of it, isn't it? To walk, run, and act like an explorer in dangerous situations, which this game used all of its imagination on, as Drake will probably have died countless times in those situations.
Secrets in Uncharted 2, called Treasures, are scattered all around each level of the game, and there are 100 in total. It is up to you to decide if you want to find them all, and I highly recommend it. This opens up huge replay value, and keeps you on your toes wondering if you missed one.
Naughty Dog didn't even need to put this in the game to make it fantastic, but there is online play, and it is so much fun, it hurts. While it is disappointing you can't play with a friend sitting beside you online (Uncharted 3 can), it is just more satisfying to play in 3rd person than it is 1st.
If you own a PS3, you probably already own this game, so this review is just something that should encourage the new generation to appreciate some high quality gaming.