Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
The PlayStation 3 highlight of Christmas 2007 was without doubt Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Visually magnificent and with action-packed gameplay balanced just right, the Naughty Dog production introduced a charismatic new hero among a ‘cast’ of ballsy treasure hunters. And that included female sidekick Elena. Drake’s Fortune fizzed with potential and begged for a sequel. Naturally we jumped at the chance to take part in the Beta trial for Uncharted 2. Here’s a taste of what we’ve been enjoying a little bit too much.
There are three gameplay modes available in the Beta: Co-op Mission, Deathmatch and Plunder. The latter two modes support 16 players online and help demonstrate the freedom to move around locations, or get behind cover to launch your attacks. We’ll start with the Co-op first because it’s closer to what we had in the original Uncharted… and promises to be even better.
Co-op supports up to three players, in this case heading into the Nepal Warzone at the start of the game. Drake is joined by new female sidekick Chloe Frazer and her partner Jeff. There’s great chemistry between Drake and Chloe already in evidence with the new girl seen patting Drake’s bum in one scene. Anyway... Action spreads from tight alleys to bombed out street scenes and immediately you’re up against an uncommonly quick-witted enemy – mercenary soldiers bedecked in body armour and later carrying riot shields.
The cover system was already decent for Uncharted, but street debris in the Nepal Warzone feels less staged – wrecked cars, gondolas, and broken masonry. Enemy soldiers dive between cover to surround you if they can. They’re not miraculously intelligent but at the same time you’ll need to keep your wits about you and avoid taking stupid risks - although heroic if you survive.
Similarly the areas where it’s possible to climb are woven into the main action. In the original Uncharted there were more distinct shooting, puzzle solving or clambering areas. Uncharted 2 combines everything to feel even more like an epic movie, paying respect to the best moments in Indiana Jones. A burned out bus, for example, blocks the road ahead as the enemy closes in from behind. The solution here is to search a nearby building for something that will act as a ramp to clamber onto the bus rooftop. The only access to the building is through a second storey window, so team-mates must help each other find a makeshift route that starts with a leg-up onto a lamp post.
Initially the teamwork entails not much more than covering fire, however when the enemy starts restraining your buddies by the arms you’ll need to be on hand to rescue them. Also, borrowing from Gears of War, your buddies sometimes require a healing hand to prevent them from ‘bleeding out’ after taking too many hits. We’ve realised that lone rangers don’t last long in the Beta unless they’re very skilled. Most players will fare better by watching each other’s back at all times and the action flows better this way, retaining that movie-like feel.
The A.I. characters in Mission mode are superbly animated, collapsing in exaggerated Hollywood style heaps when hit or flying through the air upon explosions. Larger / tougher types are protected by stronger armour that you’ll need to shoot away before causing real damage. You'll see helmets fly off and its owner perform a brief 'Oh sh...ugar' routine. Some enemies carry protective shields that players can also use upon taking them down. It’s thrilling to edge toward a gang of gunmen as bullets ricochet off your shield.
Mission mode gives you a taste of the choreographed action on the way in Uncharted 2, and fun experimenting with weapon types that include a rocket launcher. There are clearer benefits in choosing one firearm over another – you’ll stand to benefit much more from making the right decision between sniper, shotgun, assault rifle and pistol.
Elena and Sully from Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune return as characters for the unscripted 16-player modes. There are two maps in the Beta: Village and The Plaza, with their respective Deathmatch and Plunder modes. Deathmatch is a free-for-all shooting spree for two teams, Heroes vs. Villains. Plunder gives both teams the objective of retrieving and then transporting a small statue – first to five successful hauls wins. Although played in third-person viewpoint, both game modes feel like one of the better first-person shooter experiences on console. You'll be awarded for assists as well as kills, honouring your contribution as fairly as possible.
For demo purposes the Village and Plaza not only look distinct but offer unique tactical options, really selling the game. The Village has lots of ladders and elevated hidey holes. The Plaza has plenty of walls to duck behind or alcoves to take cover / lurk in the shadows. If these two areas are examples of the standard of level design coming our way in Uncharted 2 we can see this becoming one of the most-played games on PlayStation Network, it really is terrific fun.
Back to our comment right at the start about heroes in t-shirts and jeans. You really must give Naughty Dog credit for giving the likes of Elena, Chloe, Drake and Sully such chutzpah and avoiding the trappings of outrageous Broadway costumes. It’s all done in the swagger of their walk, or cheeky kisses blown as taunts, but basically a gang of tough, attractively athletic guys riding their luck to the end.
There’s tons more we could say about why we’re now looking forward to Uncharted 2, but instead we urge you to pick up a copy of inFamous for PS3 (also great) and get yourself onto this Beta.
