Uncharted 2 is a non-stop thrill ride

So I decided to revisit this game after probably 9 years or so of not touching it. While Drake's Fortune (which I played right before) was disappointing and felt very dated and janky, Among Thieves surprised me with how well it stood the test of time.

Never have I played a game with such perfect pacing (only Arkham Asylum comes to mind, which interestingly is from the same year). Every scene transitions into the next with a commendable grace, which never lets up until the credits roll. It was actually really hard to stop playing, like an action packed page turner novel.

Something interesting is constantly happening, and this game might be one of the best defenders of how an aggressively linear approach can actually propel an experience to new heights. The music is amazing, the characters and dialogue sparkle, the cinematography is inspired and the locations are still amazing to look at. Yes, the story is a bit silly, especially compared to the more grounded Uncharted 4, but it's extremely fun if you just roll with it.

I love the series, but to me, Drake's Fortune and Drake's Deception (with it's horrible mishandled plot, disjointed feel and floaty controls) are not even in the same ballpark as Among Thieves and A Thief's End. I really can't decide whether I prefer this game or Uncharted 4, as I think both are pretty much perfect games and excel at what they try to do (which is definitely a bit different for both titles). I think Uncharted 4 might still be the more fulfilling and affecting experience. But if we would see the games as rollercoaster rides, Uncharted 2 would definitely be the most fun.