Uncharted 2 swept nearly every Game of the Year award in 2009. Personally, I was sceptical that a Western action game could really be that good, but it was. From the opening museum heist in Istanbul, to the final escape from the collapsing ruins of Shangri-La, the game was filled with heart-pounding moments from start to finish. It complemented its breath-taking cinematics with unprecedented interactivity, with some players failing its gameplay segments because they didn't expect to still have control of Drake. Not only was the game gorgeous to look at it, it also had some of the most fluid and satisfying combat in an action game to date.
Uncharted 2 improved on the formula of the first game, and unlike the third game, was paced just right, and didn't jar the player with too many transitions to other parts of the world.
With its superb polish, endearing cast, and unforgettable set pieces, Uncharted 2 is not just emblematic of the seventh generation, it was also a major turning point, when Sony slimmed down the PlayStation 3, cut its price, and released a classic that all gamers could rally around. Naughty Dog started something great, and it resulted in the quintessential action game of the generation.
