- Uncharted 2’s opening train sequence is still a spectacle to behold.
- Fourteen years later, the intro has rarely been rivaled by other games.
- The Uncharted trilogy deserves a remaster that Naughty Dog has shied away from.
While some games are quick to disappear into obscurity, others leave a lasting legacy. The latter was the case for Naughty Dog’s Uncharted franchise, which came into its own with the second entry 14 years ago.
The entire series is filled with remarkable sequences, but one specific segment from Uncharted 2: Among Thieves stands out the most. The opening sequence involving Nathan Drake climbing a wrecked train still holds its place as one of the best video game moments.
Why it matters: The action-adventure franchise inspired by the original Tomb Raider series has embedded its place in the hearts of the fans. Its sequences involving perilous adventure, brilliant action, and cutscenes all come together to form a spectacle that never gets old.
Strong First Impression
The opening picks up with Nathan Drake waking up in a crashed train, having suffered major life-threatening injuries. However, it gets worse for our hero when the train suddenly drops off from a cliff, beginning the remarkable sequence.
You have to climb the train by grabbing onto different objects for your dear life. All this happens while the train is slowly crumbling into pieces, but we all know Nate would make it out, don’t we?
The sense of scale captured in this intro sequence was in a league of its own 14 years ago. Through dynamic camera angles and cinematic transitions back and forth between cutscenes and gameplay, Naughty Dog nearly made our hearts stop.
Such a blend of cinematic and real-time gameplay was simply unheard of back then. The climb was both exhilarating and petrifying, culminating in one of the best action set pieces this IP has ever delivered.
As Nathan Drake fights for survival, the game transitions to a cutscene introducing Chloe Frazer and Harry Flynn, setting the stage for the IP’s hallmark treasure hunts. These cuts help invoke more curiosity, immediately capturing the player’s attention beyond the thrill of an intense action sequence.
Perhaps the most impressive part of the sequence was the fact that it masked a parkour tutorial behind the intense set piece.
Uncharted 2 Was A Genre Defining Experience
Barring the opening sequence, Uncharted 2 was a turning point for the series. Where the first game lacked a definite identity, Naughty Dog confidently pushed the series toward mainstream success with this release.
Nathan Drake’s stories only became more memorable from here, and each set piece set a higher bar with more over-the-top action. Many believe Uncharted 2 is still the best game in the series, and we find it hard to disagree.
The Trilogy Deserves A Remaster
The Uncharted trilogy has already been remastered but for the PlayStation 4. You can play it on PS5 through backward compatibility, but no native version with elements like ray-tracing exists today.
Also, the Legacy of Thieves Collection launched on PC, but the original trilogy is missing on the platform. Therefore, a huge audience is still missing out, especially considering that PC is the biggest gaming market.
While Sony and Naughty Dog have shown no intentions of reviving the series, we find it a huge missed opportunity. Fans have already shown that there is plenty of demand for more Uncharted, and we also share a similar opinion.
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