Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the PlayStation 3 action-adventure game from developer Naughty Dog and Sony Computer Entertainment. It is the second game in the Uncharted series and is the sequel to the 2007 game Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. The third person shooter title is very highly anticipated by fans and is scheduled to be released in mid-October. In fact, we spoke to the distributors, who said that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is expected to hit retailers on October 16, 2009. When demoed at this year’s E3, the game just floored everyone, winning many awards.
The preview version of the game started off with the game’s trailer, which in itself, was so action packed that it had us just dying to jump in and begin playing the game. This version consisted of just one level, though. What a tease! The Uncharted 2 game demo starts off with a stunningly clear cut-scene in which Nathan is driving a rusted old jeep, when he is chased and knocked over by some people trying to stop him from the quest he has decided to undertake. The game is said to feature many new gameplay mechanics, and the preview build begins with Nathan running away from an advancing truck and shooting at the same time. You must try and shoot out the engine of the truck pursuing you, before it runs you over.
Graphics in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune are just too good. There hasn’t been a game with this sort of graphics on the PS3, ever probably! So clear and bright, that you can take time to notice every little detail in the environment. You really don’t see graphics come alive like this on the PS3, and unlike many other games, the cut scenes are as graphically stunning as the actual game. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves also features really good music which compliments the style and humor of the game completely, coming in just when necessary and picking up at the right moments. One thing that will have you intrigued is the fire, which is very realistically rendered. But fire doesn’t damage Drake. He can stand right in the middle of it…and nothing, no burns are inflicted, no screaming, nothing.
The environments are worthy of praise, with everything in the environment being there for purpose. No part of the environment is merely thrown in fill up the rest. And Drake can scale walls, walk on planks, hang on wires and cling to advertisement signs. The movement mechanic is great to watch, and it seems like he really has to work every muscle in his body to get around environmental obstacles. Another mention is the water in the game, which is extremely clear and brilliantly rendered.
Drake can make his own cover by throwing down objects, flipping over tables to duck down behind them. And making this cover using various, seemingly otherwise useless objects, in the environment is not only taken with a bit of amazement, but it also comes in handy when fighting clusters of enemies. And Drake’s hand-to-hand melee moves are also impressive. Should anyone get too close for a gun battle, just melee the guy to the ground, with a few quick and continuous moves. Drake must traverse his environment using his body strength and his climbing abilities.
The cut scenes are just crammed full of action, and manage to deliver the subtle suggestive humour that always seems to find its place in anything filled with action and stunts, be it a movie, or a video game. The suggestive humour in the game between Nathan and Chloe is really something and delivers more than just an action gaming experience to fans. The strange adrenaline-fueled relationship between the two, is sure to be recognized with some kind of best video game couple award. Maybe.
The preview version of the game ended all too soon and had us really begging for Drake and Chloe to come back for some more action. One level is not enough, we needed more. No matter how many times we play that level over and over, we have to accept the fact that we’ll just have to wait for more than a month to see the game in India.