Well, chalk this one up for another GOTY award. In fact, this is probably one of the greatest games I've ever played, and is right up there with Call of Duty in terms of cinematic scope (although it does so with finesse rather than mind-melting explosions). Not that explosions and building collapses are scarce, but they're experienced in a much more engaging and edge-of-your-seat fashion than anything that's been created up to this point. In fact, this is one of the things that make this game so memorable and addicting: you're always just on the verge of dying, yet somehow the game manages to guide you through the chaos in an inexplicably effective way, which makes for some incredible sequences. Even when the game slows down, the set pieces, environments and scripted events remain genius.
Gameplay-wise, it's like a mix of Gears of War shooting (with better controls and more polish) and Tomb Raider/Prince of Persia-esque platforming (with better controls and more originality). The graphics, while not as impressive in context as were Gears of War or Crysis when they came out, are still absolutely legendary. Environments are lush and vividly detailed, and despite the game taking place almost exclusively in Borneo and in Nepal, every chapter manages to feel fresh and newly fascinating.
The story and script are surprisingly excellent, actually keeping you interested in what is happening and how the characters feel. The banter between Nate and his partners is witty and reminded me a lot of the 2008 Prince of Persia game, except better executed (characters quip context-sensitive lines that often make you smile, or in some cases match exactly what you are thinking at the time, e.g. "OH SHIT!"). The voice acting is among the best I've ever heard in a game (I'm talking movie-quality stuff here).
Now for the downside. The second half of the game is hard. Like, die-4-to-5-times-at-certain-parts hard. Turning the difficulty down to Easy would've probably solved it, but while I eventually managed to figure out a way to get through, dying so often ended up somewhat breaking the near-death mechanic that the game had been pulling off so masterfully since the beginning of the game. Easing up a little on the one-shot-kills and crazy rampaging villains might've been better, though in context it does somewhat make sense. It's a small problem, though, as the game ends up being just as fun by trading in some immersion for some challenge.
This is a game every person who calls him or herself a gamer cannot allow themselves to miss. You must play it. Period.
In a sentence:
Jaw-dropping visuals, incredible set pieces, mechanics, controls, polish, writing, voice acting and general design add up to the best game of 2009 and one of the greatest games of all time.
