Just played through it twice now, and I'm about to send my review to the magazine where I work (in case you're wondering, I'm in the Philippines now, and this is a small local magazine. Around here, games get reviewed 1 month after a game releases). Some thoughts though before I write it up.
1.) I still can't get over how gorgeous the game is. I believe the color scheme is the main factor that's making this game so beautiful. It just appears so lush, colorful, and vibrant. I also don't understand how the developer was able to get all of this out of the PS3 in just a couple of years. The resolution seems unbelievably high (though I know it's just 720p), and the attention to detail (snow tracks and empty clips stay forever, every single texture looks and feels different from the others, even on the same wall) is unlike anything I've ever seen before.
2.) The seamless transition between scripted events (like a ledge giving way, or the train falling) and actual gameplay is nothing short of spectacular. It keeps the gamer involved with the action, with surprise moments that come completely out of nowhere, and avoids the cliche cutscene where the player can put down the controller. Action is made 10x more intense when the bridge you're running on is collapsing everywhere and you need to make snap decisions to avoid dying.
3.) Stealth mode is ok, but it needs a lot of work. The biggest thing is that the enemies don't seem to notice sound at all, so you can basically walk up to any enemy and snap their neck without fear of them finding out (unless of course someone else sees you do it). Also, their field of vision is extremely limited. They don't notice things like your hands creeping out from a ledge, and you can approach them from any angle except directly in front. Aside from that, they normally tend to just stare at one direction permanently. Basically they feel like the guards in MGS1.
4.) Enemy variety has improved vastly from the first Uncharted, and having to fight a tank and a helicopter was very exciting. I still can't shake the feeling, however, that Drake seems to be far too good a shooter for his job description. He's a treasure hunter and not some Navy Seal, but through one playthrough, he kills hundreds of professional soldiers and in the end all he ever takes is one bullet in the stomach. I find that very unsettling, that the enemies are either really stupid or Drake is some kind of superhuman.
5.) The story is impressive, with a lot of twists and turns to keep one guessing. However, a lot of locales aren't explained properly and one would tend to forget "where did I get this thing" because after the level is done, the dialogue never mentions them again. Also, the love triangle thing could've been played much deeper. Aside from that, the ending was very poorly done in my opinion. It was far too short and didn't hint anything towards the future. As always, Nathan Drake is extremely likeable. Even in the midst of a firefight he's still witty and funny with his remarks.
6.) The game (I'm talking about the single-player story mode here), though an extremely moving experience, is just far too short. You get the feeling that you just got a taste of the best chocolate ice cream in the world, but you spend the rest of the day watching someone else eat it through a glass window. The online multiplayer justifies the purchase though.
I'd give it a 9.2/10 (this is a very high score for me). This is the only game thus far that delivers truly cinema-level action and storytelling. Just wish the stealth gameplay was made better, the story made longer, and the game logic better conceived.. *Applause to Naughty Dog*
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