Unofficial Tex Murphy

Since there have been some discussion about other (non Tex Murphy) games here which we think TM fans would enjoy, I would like to put a plug in here for Uncharted: Among Thieves.

Let me start by saying that, as a die-hard Tex Murphy fan, I am totally addicted to Uncharted and have played it though, from beginning to end, at least ten times, just like I used to replay the Tex Murphy games.

Most of you know that I'm not an action-game, shooter type person. I can't even get past the first shooter scene in Mean Streets. But there are a lot of gun fights in Uncharted and I've gotten to enjoy them so much that I've even played the game on Crushing mode. So if I can do it... You can make very good use of cover in this game, and blind-fire, stealth attack, and even climb the side of a building and pull a bad guy out a window or over a ledge. Boy, that's fun! Let me also add that the controls, fluid of motion, camera control and gameplay is so smooth and intuitive, it is a joy just to play in itself.

Now I would like to tell you a little about this game and why I think it would appeal to Tex fans on many levels.

Heavy spoiler alert!!
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In many ways, Uncharted has a story line somewhat similar to what we expect in a Tex Murphy game. It starts off with what seems to be a routine case (or heist, in this case). Then, it soon develops into something bigger and by the time we reach the end it has evolved into a 'Save the World from a tyraniacal villan'-type mission. Sound familiar?

This game also has an incredible amount of scope. We start out in Istanbul, performing a heist at a museum and end up in a Turkish prison. Then we're off to the jungles of Borneo and ancient burial sites. On to a war-torn city in Nepal, exploring temples and solving puzzles to open hidden secret pathways and treasures. Then we go mountaineering in Tibet, and explore other ancient temples there, a Tibetan village, and a creepy old monestary. Finally, we even go to the legendary city of Shambala (Shangri la).

And then there are the characters. They are absolutely amazing and you will fall in love with them just like the TM characters. Even though they are computer generated, one of the things the production team did was to record the voice at the same time as the green screen motion capture. This process gives all the subtle motions and body language in perfect sync with the dialog, resulting in unbelievably realistic, natural, living characters. Very natural and clever dialog with great acting.

And the characters themselves? They are wonderful. Drake is almost as lovable as our favorite hero Tex Murphy. The main female characters are to die for. There is Elana, a journalist who is described once by Chloe as the white bread, picket-fence type, but who has so much heart, strength of character, and moral compass, you can't help falling in love with her. And then Chloe, a sexy, femme-fetale whom you're not always sure whose side she's on, but she is one hell of an amazing woman. These ladies REALLY add a lot to the game. They aren't just pretty background. You don't play Elana or Chloe in the single-player game, but you can be them in the multiplayer co-op missions.

The multi-player is another really amazing part of this game. But that would require a whole 'nother thread.

Anyway, DrPaul gives this game the highest possible rating. I hope you PS3 people will check it out.

I own the game and I love it! A friend who is not into games at all actually recommended it to me and I enjoyed every minute off it. I 100% agree with the Doc's review, it truly is a gem of a game that lends some creative adventure-like touches to an otherwise action-packed game. Think Indiana Jones meets Tomb Raider meets Tex Murphy (for the humor and story).

-Cub. =o)

Yeah, Uncharted 2 got #2 in my top 5 games last year. Spectacular from start to finish (especially since i really did not like the first game at all).

Actually i've been getting an itch to play through it again recently, that and Arkham Asylum. (maybe i just want to have complete game saves again after my PS3 got wiped) ^^

I have both Unchartered games and the sequel is unbelievably better than the sequel, as perfect as I felt the first one was. The sequel took the things that made the predecessor great and made them better. I felt that the first Unchartered game needed some fine tuning in the control and move combination department, this was significantly better on the sequel. Both games are graphically the best while the gameplay and plots come the closest that almost any game in history has to capturing the feel of a movie. Yes, better than a lot of Interactive Movies!

The only thing I didn't like about Uncharted 2 was the train sequence. That train was laughably long. I would love to see the locomotive pulling it!

-Fred

But come on, Fred, the far fetched elements of that sequence are what made it so good. If you're going to pick on that you may as well erase the mining car sequence in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and put something more logical in its place. Personally, what makes Uncharted so good is the replication of over the top, Michael Bay style action-adventure film antics without you making you feel as though you want to throw your controller at the screen.

I can suspend my disbelief for the mining cart sequence. I can't really do the same for a train with infinite length. If I could've only seen the locomotive in the far distance near the end I would've handled it, but even right when the train sequence ends, after traversing god knows how many cars, boxcars, platforms with tanks on them and so on, you still only see a loooong line of traincars in front of you.

I don't ask for much, but some semblance of realism would've been great!

Don't get me wrong, I had fun with the game, believe you me. I'm just nitpicking here.

It's just a big nit to pick. Or something.

-Fred

I just wanted to announce that only a few moments ago I got my Platinum trophy for Uncharted 2. I'm so proud of my self. It's my first platinum! Believe you me, it wasn't easy for game system amature like me. Any of you guys who've played it through got some fun stories or tips to tell about it?