Game Card
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
- Publisher:
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Developer:
- Naughty Dog
- US Release:
- 16.10.2009
- EU Release:
- n/a
- Number of players:
- n/a
- Type:
- Action
- Age:
- Modern Times
Preview
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Preview
After an impressive showing at E3 earlier this month, we were excitedly awaiting our first session on the explosive Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. True to form, the morning after the Sony conference, an attractive code popped into our inbox just in time to satisfy our needs, screaming that the multiplayer beta was ready and eagerly awaiting our presence. Not wanting to disappoint, we jumped back into the nonchalant boots of Nathan Drake and headed towards the online battlefield for the first time in Naughty Dog’s surprisingly successful series. Although many were sceptical upon the announcement that Uncharted 2 would venture into the multiplayer realms, it’s great to report that the early signs are promising, as the relentlessly gripping action-adventure tale naturally progresses to a well-balanced, carnage-filled online experience that’ll have many lapping up the suave coolness of Drake well after the solo treasure has been looted.
Already at this early stage, it’s possible to see that Among Thieves is going to gather a dedicated fan base. We’ve struggled to put the title down ever since we received the smile-inducing clink that acknowledged our PS3 had downloaded the beta successfully. With competitive and co-op playlists on offer, we headed straight into the world of fierce rivalry, suiting up to take part in a 5 on 5 team deathmatch that was utterly enthralling throughout. They say first impressions are important, and in this case, Uncharted 2 caught our eye with its bristling grit and fast-paced action, and then built on this splendour with a hidden depth for those who are willing to work as team or squad unit.
With two maps on show, it seems Naughty Dog have opted to whet our appetite for the full release by allowing us to strut our stuff on the Plaza and Village locations. While the former is a dark, cramped, intensely quick level to start off on, the Village offers greater space and opportunity to gain a decent vantage point over your opponents. Compared to the Plaza, which features an important central building that can be ascended from three different openings, the Village is a much slower, sniper-friendly outing that allows for some clever team-play if you can persuade your peers to take up sensible positions that scout across the entire map. As expected, cover is littered throughout each level, and there is plenty of opportunity to climb and hang off buildings if you desire. Feeling like an action here leaping from one ledge to the next, we felt unashamedly cool making our way round the battlefield in completely unnecessary and over elaborate fashion.
After a few hours of playtime (and a number of patches), we came to the conclusion that the Plaza map was the more entertaining of the two at this early stage. You’ll spawn with an AK-47 and a pistol, so the close-quarter combat becomes rigorously exciting seconds after your team descends upon the rain-soaked, eerily confined location. Hidden round the map were extra guns, including two monstrous beasts in the insanely powerful and accurate MP4, and of course, the behemoth chain-gun. Both crush human flesh in an instant, meaning acquiring them quickly is often a good choice, especially when getting up close and personal. Although we enjoyed the Plaza more due to the sheer mindless entertainment, we also think the Village set-up will become a favourite over time, as it has wider opportunity for clans to use efficiently, and often highlights those who can and cannot take out an enemy from afar.
Alongside the competitive team deathmatch mode, we’ve had the chance to experience Plunder, which will be better known to the common gamer as Capture the Flag (or in this case, treasure). Once in possession of the lofty booty, you’ll have to resort to using the accuracy of a pistol in order to dispatch any unwanted attention. Teams often leap to the defence of their ally who is lumbering slowly towards the desired destination, in a tense stand-off that’ll reward those who can avidly search ahead and eliminate any danger that lurks ominously round the corner. With this said, even if a foe cannot be seen in the distance, you’ll always have to stand guard from incoming grenades, which can seemingly be lobbed inhumane distances with one stab of L2. We loved this feature, as it allows for a variety of on-the-spot tactical changes, be it flushing enemies out from behind cover, causing a timesaving distraction or even providing a corpse-lobbing blast into the air for your unsuspecting opponent.
If the competition is too much for you, there’s always the chance to play through some co-op with two friends. Beware, this task is testing, and will need strict levels of composure and accuracy to get through alive. With players assuming the role of Drake, Chloe or Sullivan, you’ll tackle missions alongside each other, often acting as a bodyguard when multiple objectives need to be completed. For instance, you’ll all have to arrive at a certain section in the level, where one of you will need to hoist up an old shelf up as a makeshift ladder, or provide a boost so that one of the other players can get onto a telephone pole and into a nearby building to scout forward. Often, streams of grunts will plague the area ahead (and very much, behind), meaning communication is vital for success. We enjoyed the experience immensely, although did find the randomly spawning baddies to be a pain at times, especially when they appear from an area you had just traversed which was definitely clear only seconds before. Still, we expect this illogical approach to be ironed out in the run up to Uncharted 2’s release, or else it could become frustratingly unfair on treasure hunting trios.
For a first showing, you can’t help but be impressed with Naughty Dog’s online component, and indeed, Uncharted 2 as a sequel. From what we’ve played, there will be enough to keep gamers hungrily coming back, as you fight to earn money and Call of Duty style perks with each kill. When you consider this beta stage completely blows titles such as SOCOM: Confrontation out the water, you begin to understand just how well multiplayer has been implemented here (admittedly, Confrontation was a mess). We can’t wait to get our hands on the full product, and will continue to exert our online prowess until the 27th of June when the servers are finally taken down. Until that day, it’s back to extreme grenade tossing for us..
Top Game Moment: Working effectively together as a dynamic, death-inducing team.
Already at this early stage, it’s possible to see that Among Thieves is going to gather a dedicated fan base. We’ve struggled to put the title down ever since we received the smile-inducing clink that acknowledged our PS3 had downloaded the beta successfully. With competitive and co-op playlists on offer, we headed straight into the world of fierce rivalry, suiting up to take part in a 5 on 5 team deathmatch that was utterly enthralling throughout. They say first impressions are important, and in this case, Uncharted 2 caught our eye with its bristling grit and fast-paced action, and then built on this splendour with a hidden depth for those who are willing to work as team or squad unit.
 |
 |
|
With two maps on show, it seems Naughty Dog have opted to whet our appetite for the full release by allowing us to strut our stuff on the Plaza and Village locations. While the former is a dark, cramped, intensely quick level to start off on, the Village offers greater space and opportunity to gain a decent vantage point over your opponents. Compared to the Plaza, which features an important central building that can be ascended from three different openings, the Village is a much slower, sniper-friendly outing that allows for some clever team-play if you can persuade your peers to take up sensible positions that scout across the entire map. As expected, cover is littered throughout each level, and there is plenty of opportunity to climb and hang off buildings if you desire. Feeling like an action here leaping from one ledge to the next, we felt unashamedly cool making our way round the battlefield in completely unnecessary and over elaborate fashion.
After a few hours of playtime (and a number of patches), we came to the conclusion that the Plaza map was the more entertaining of the two at this early stage. You’ll spawn with an AK-47 and a pistol, so the close-quarter combat becomes rigorously exciting seconds after your team descends upon the rain-soaked, eerily confined location. Hidden round the map were extra guns, including two monstrous beasts in the insanely powerful and accurate MP4, and of course, the behemoth chain-gun. Both crush human flesh in an instant, meaning acquiring them quickly is often a good choice, especially when getting up close and personal. Although we enjoyed the Plaza more due to the sheer mindless entertainment, we also think the Village set-up will become a favourite over time, as it has wider opportunity for clans to use efficiently, and often highlights those who can and cannot take out an enemy from afar.
Alongside the competitive team deathmatch mode, we’ve had the chance to experience Plunder, which will be better known to the common gamer as Capture the Flag (or in this case, treasure). Once in possession of the lofty booty, you’ll have to resort to using the accuracy of a pistol in order to dispatch any unwanted attention. Teams often leap to the defence of their ally who is lumbering slowly towards the desired destination, in a tense stand-off that’ll reward those who can avidly search ahead and eliminate any danger that lurks ominously round the corner. With this said, even if a foe cannot be seen in the distance, you’ll always have to stand guard from incoming grenades, which can seemingly be lobbed inhumane distances with one stab of L2. We loved this feature, as it allows for a variety of on-the-spot tactical changes, be it flushing enemies out from behind cover, causing a timesaving distraction or even providing a corpse-lobbing blast into the air for your unsuspecting opponent.
 |
 |
|
If the competition is too much for you, there’s always the chance to play through some co-op with two friends. Beware, this task is testing, and will need strict levels of composure and accuracy to get through alive. With players assuming the role of Drake, Chloe or Sullivan, you’ll tackle missions alongside each other, often acting as a bodyguard when multiple objectives need to be completed. For instance, you’ll all have to arrive at a certain section in the level, where one of you will need to hoist up an old shelf up as a makeshift ladder, or provide a boost so that one of the other players can get onto a telephone pole and into a nearby building to scout forward. Often, streams of grunts will plague the area ahead (and very much, behind), meaning communication is vital for success. We enjoyed the experience immensely, although did find the randomly spawning baddies to be a pain at times, especially when they appear from an area you had just traversed which was definitely clear only seconds before. Still, we expect this illogical approach to be ironed out in the run up to Uncharted 2’s release, or else it could become frustratingly unfair on treasure hunting trios.
For a first showing, you can’t help but be impressed with Naughty Dog’s online component, and indeed, Uncharted 2 as a sequel. From what we’ve played, there will be enough to keep gamers hungrily coming back, as you fight to earn money and Call of Duty style perks with each kill. When you consider this beta stage completely blows titles such as SOCOM: Confrontation out the water, you begin to understand just how well multiplayer has been implemented here (admittedly, Confrontation was a mess). We can’t wait to get our hands on the full product, and will continue to exert our online prowess until the 27th of June when the servers are finally taken down. Until that day, it’s back to extreme grenade tossing for us..
Top Game Moment: Working effectively together as a dynamic, death-inducing team.
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GamesCom 2009 Trailer
Posted 19.08.09
Length 01:40 Views 760 -
Multiplayer Trailer
Posted 29.04.09
Length 01:50 Views 534
