This game is an excellent example of "quality over quantity". This game may not have multiple modes or may not focus on other components, such as multiplayer, but the one thing it does (campaign) it does it superbly. The campaign is excellent and the storyline and gameplay keeps you absolutely hooked. Add to that, the excellent graphics that this game offers. Do yourself a favor, if you own a PS3, you must purchase Uncharted: Drake's Fortune!
I'm just joining the chorus to say that this game is really good. I'm not much into the genre of kill-everything, shoot-everything type games, but this game had me intrigued from the beginning and then it started getting even better. Although there certainly is a lot of shooting, killing, and throw-down, there's also a lot of suspense, beautiful graphics, great acting, and an interesting story-line.
It was actually the Shambhala related story-line that intrigued me. Shambhala is a mythical kingdom that comes from the Kalachakra tantra cycle of teachings in Tibetan Buddhism. It is the origin of the term "Shangri La" (a mispronunciation of Shambhala). As someone very interested in the Kalachakra tantra, I was wondering what this storyline would be about. How amazing that the main character, Drake, is after the Cintamani stone (Wishfulfilling Jem -- familiar to all Buddhists) on a chase that takes him to the mythical/mystical kingdom of Shambhala. There is even a point where Drake finds himself in a Tibetan village, and everyone is speaking Tibetan. (Perfect, real Tibetan -- a language I've studied!) At various places, a giant statue of Vajrakilaya, a phurbu (ritual dagger), dorjee (vajra) and various other Tibetan-related artefacts and references come into play. So, that's an added bonus if you're familiar with all this. If not, at least it's of some educational value for people who may not know much about Tibet and its endangered culture. So props to the designers for doing their homework.
But, of course, what keeps one's interest are the hair-raising chases, near-misses, and the excellent storyline involving two lovely ladies and some really remarkable graphics and acting. What more could you want? The game has my heart pacing most of the time I'm playing at it. Probably good for me, for cardiac health, but maybe not advisable if you have a weak heart!
