The hype is right...this game deserves all of the praise it has received, and then some.
Story: 8.5 (The concept is very similar to the original, but with a new mythical treasure to find, and in all honesty, it is fine, but not in any way remarkable to begin with, and then midway throughout the game, things start to change, and it carries well until the end, which makes up a fine and exciting story as a whole.)
Graphics: 10 (Far exceeding it's predecessor, and far exceeding many video games available for the PlayStation 3, the character animations are close to life-like, the areas explored or at times breath-taking, and large amounts of detail in and out.)
Controls: 9.5 (Well improved from the predecessor, yet not entirely without the occasional agitation, but this is quite a rarity, and can very well be ignored and understood.)
Music: 8.5 (Something that you would expect from the "Indiana Jones" films, which definitely fits within the concept of the series.)
Sound: 10 (Voice-work is again top-notch, with the occasional humor, serious tone of action, so-on and so-on, you can't go wrong with the acting, or the sounds of gun-fire, destruction, and environmental effects throughout.)
The story, continuing from an event that happens mid-way in the game, shows the protagonist of the series, Nathan Drake, wounded, and apparently in a dangerous situation...meaning a large damaged train that is hanging on a cliff...and the story sets off from the there and then on. The story is something you'd see in high-action films you'd see in theaters, and it's a certain story that would retain your interest, only to have it grow as you slowly explore further into the depths of what is happening as things progress from one place to another, to one action to another, and the excitement, even overwhelming feelings of curiosity will continuously build in...which is part of what makes this game great.
The game-play is what shines the most in "Uncharted 2". The game spans in mere explorations to destructive shoot-outs to the floor below you likely to crack as you continue to stand on it, literally. The game-play, in a sense, will at times make you feel as if you are in a action-film, and there just happens to be a controller in your hand, but everyone else will just pretend that's an AK-47 in your hands.
In conclusion, this is one of the best games you'll ever play on the PlayStation 3, and perhaps one of the best games you'll every play, period. It's not exactly necessary to play it's predecessor, but that game alone is also worth playing, and I could not recommend playing "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves" any more than at least having a valid excuse to own a PlayStation 3.