The easiest way to describe Uncharted 2: Among Thieves for PS3 is as a combination of the action of Gears of War, the climbing and puzzle-solving of Tomb Raider, and the storyline and characters of Indiana Jones. Now these are all pretty great things on their own, but in fact that explanation sells Uncharted 2 a little short. In most respects, it’s actually better than the things that inspired it.

Uncharted 2 is one of the most action-packed games I’ve ever played. I don’t want to spoil many of the surprises, but the very first level of the game features protagonist Nathan Drake falling out of a train that is dangling from a frozen cliffside. He catches a railing on the caboose, and from there you take control, beginning the long climb up the side of the train, dodging falling debris. Over the course of the game there are so many more incredible set pieces like this, made more impressive by some of the best graphics in gaming history. The images are so sharp and the animations so fluid, sometimes it can even be a hindrance, distracting you from what you’re supposed to be doing. The shooting, of which there is quite a bit, is very similar to Gears of War, except you’re a lot faster and more maneuverable, which makes it easier (and more fun) to attempt melee attacks.

The climbing sections of the game aren’t that dissimilar from Tomb Raider, but are made more compelling thanks to the high-quality graphics once again. Also, Nathan Drake (the protagonist) is much more of a human being than Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft, and his lack of grace (and frequent tumbles) make him more endearing. Another similarity to Tomb Raider is the presence of dozens upon dozens of collectable “treasures,” but unlike Tomb Raider’s generic sparkly baubles, every single treasure in Uncharted 2 has a unique look and name, and resemble what you’d actually see in a museum case, making the collect-a-thon a more interesting endeavor.

Though perhaps Uncharted 2’s story doesn’t break any new ground in the adventure genre, it’s very well-done compared to a lot of similar games. Where it really shines is in the characters, and the actors portraying them. There probably is no game on the market that features better acting than Uncharted 2. How did the crew at Naughty Dog get these performances, and can they be hired to supervise voice acting in every other game please? I don’t want to give away any story details, but seriously, you may want to consider clipping your socks to the bottom of your pant legs (or your leg hair if you play video games pantsless) lest they be blown off.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is neck-and-neck with Batman: Arkham Asylum for best game of the year so far. If you have access to a PS3 then you should make playing it your highest priority.