Naughty Dog's second finest hour (stay tuned), this was where creative genius Neil Druckmann finally took over on lead writing duties and steered the Nathan Drake-fronted ship into Indiana Jones-levels of fan adoration and cult status. With some of the most over-the-top set-pieces in modern game design this side of Call of Duty, the twist in the tale here was that for the most part you were nearly always still in control of Drake the whole time - and he was just as terrified as you were, sliding down ancient crumbling monuments or leaping between jeeps just as the previous one exploded whilst scrabbling to make something work and stay alive. There's something so relatable to Nolan North's portrayal of Drake as this everyman-adventurer whose initial guns-blazing approach belies a killer wit and a genuinely impressive intelligence. With some exemplary voice acting all-round, hints of a love-triangle forming between his former lover and a new fling, as well as the one of the most downright-enjoyable thrills 'n spills blockbuster-capers ever created, Uncharted 2 is gaming's answer to anyone saying they can't contend with film on a level of pure justified spectacle.
