The above shot was taken from the first "Uncharted" and features a pretty familiar scene: Nathan Drake carefully walking across a log. In the first game this mechanic utilized the Sixaxis motion sensor, tilting the controller to remain on the log. Planks and logs reappear in "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves," but the Sixaxis balancing mechanic is long gone, replaced with simple analog stick controls to keep your balance. The question is, why?
Maybe it has something to do with the Sixaxis not being very accurate or, for that matter, fun? In that first year of the PS3, it seemed like every game need to show off the features of the system. Remember in "Heavenly Sword" when you could aim arrows with the Sixaxis? Strange, right?
Well, "Uncharted 2" has mostly dumped it (you can aim grenades with it, but it's optional and basically pointless, since the analog controls are much better) and "MAG," the upcoming multiplayer shooter, doesn't seem to use it at all.
Could it be a sign that Sony is moving away from its half-hearted motion contoller option to gear up for the more full-featured release in 2010? If so, you can count me thrilled. Just about every instance of Sixaxis use has been more of a nuisance than a boon to the gameplay experience (turning wheels in "Killzone 2" being one of the worse examples), and I think developers are starting to realize that no one really wants the feature. Good riddance, if you ask me.