Uncharted 2: Among Thieves -- Initial Impression.

I'm a little late with this initial impression. I've been messing with the game for the past two days. I'm roughly around level ten in the campaign and I've spent a few hours each night in the online mode. It was probably best I didn't post an initial impression straight away as the game's online aspect had thoroughly pissed me off with just how shitty it was. Especially considering review after review praised the so-called addictive multiplayer. I will say that the co-op aspect offers some basic fun. And basic is the word for it. There just isn't much there. You and two other players progress through waves of enemies, and that's about it. The enemies come pouring out of nowhere half the time. It's all incredibly mindless and simplistic. The versus modes come off far worse though. Just bad design choices all around. Especially in a system that gives a true advantage to players with higher levels over those just starting out. Nothing about versus feels right. I've found it to be goddamned awful. Although in all honesty, half of that just might be how awful the online experience is on the PlayStation 3 from a system standpoint alone. Thankfully we're not buying Uncharted 2 for its multiplayer, right? The campaign of Uncharted 2 lets me know there are a few improvements over the original Uncharted. The graphics look better. Not so much in just the natural improvements that come with a sequel to a game within the same console generation. The graphics are better, but they've improved the aesthetics in subtle ways that make a major difference for me. Gone are the overly shiny wet rocks and the like that looked severely unnatural in the original. They've greatly improved the visuals for me by merely exercising some restraint. I can say from the time I've spent with the game thus far that the story and characters and voice acting are all on the same level or better than the original. And those are at the heart of what made Uncharted the good game it is. The game initially comes off as witty and charming. The character banter is smart and a pleasure to listen to. We'll have to see if they can maintain it. I get the feeling they can. We'll also have to see if the game crosses the line of going too far with the one impossible situation after another aspect. They're really laying that on thick. And we'll have to see if I can wrap this one up before Borderlands.