Sneak Peek Review of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

The best Playstation 3 game of 2008 was Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. No excuses. No arguments. Between a well-written, movie-style storyline, fun weapons, and the most unlikely of comrades, Uncharted gave players hours upon hours of treasure-seeking and brutal combat pleasure that you won't find in much of its competition. So it's no surprise its sequel, Uncharted 2:Among Thieves, has PS3 fans all over the world on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating its official arrival.

I was recently among the few who got the opportunity to try out the sneak peek multiplayer Uncharted 2: Among Thieves video game at the Playstation Patrol Truck at the Quad City Air Show. At first it was a bit of a challenge to adjust from a single player role to a multiplayer role with seemingly more enemies than allies, but the adjustment was quickly made. During a collective half hour of gaming (which was not nearly enough, but better than none at all!), I discovered some interesting nuances that have changed since the original Uncharted. Here's a breakdown of my five favorite aspects of the new Uncharted 2: Among Thieves to make you start salivating right away.

New Comrades

Elena Fisher returns to Uncharted as a woman slightly scorned by her replacement, Australian adventure-seeker, Chloe Frazer. Chloe will undoubtedly add a new dimension to the game, if in none other way than with a foreign accent, but both females will likely create sparks of tension throughout the movie portion of the game.

Another confirmed comrade is Victor Sullivan, a.k.a., Sully. The lazy, womanizing Sully, who somehow makes himself a loveable, indispensable character, will again join Nathan Drake in his adventure quest.

Players can choose to play Chloe, Elena, Nate, and Sully on the "Heroes" side of the multiplayer game.

Player on the "Villains" side play heavily suited mercenaries, who, as I found out in the multiplayer game, are very difficult to get in and out of a small doorway due to their outfits. They're a little on the bulky side, and don't seem to move quite as fast. However, they are difficult to kill with brutal combat, unless you're sneaking up behind for a stealth kill.

New Toys

What's a new game without some new weaponry to go along with it? In the multiplayer version, the most notable new weapons are the FN-FAL and the Gatling gun. The FN-FAL is a good substitution for the AK-47, especially at long distance, with the exception that it seems to take several shots to down an enemy in the multiplayer game. It is very similar to the M4 but seems to be somewhat more effective in certain circumstances. The Gatling gun will likely be "fun" but some players are already complaining that it's overkill.

Another cool feature is the addition of the riot shield. Anyone from either side can pick up a shield, but it is not only unwieldy, but also very heavy. I seem to have a hard time getting my player to run in the first place, but you're slowed to a slow walking pace with the shield. However, this may prove to be a necessity in some circumstances, because in the multiplayer game, with 10 players, you don't stay in the game very long before someone shoots you out. A shield used properly could help provide extra cover that a wall simply can't.

New Battlegrounds

The premise of the new game is to find a Cintamani Stone and the lost kingdom of Shambhala (a.k.a.Shangri-La), an ill-fated voyage attempted by Marco Polo centuries earlier. Nate is again using notes from an ancient treasure hunter to map his quest, which takes him to the Himalayas and through parts of the Orient. New battlegrounds will include palaces, the Himalayan mountains, and scenes known as The Plaza and The Village in the multi-player game.

New Tactics

You will need to familiarize yourself with the new weapons before heading into battle. There are some tight quarters to run in and out of in The Plaza and The Village, and running into them with weapons can get you stuck, turned around, or shot. Some of your armor, like the riot shield, might not fit through the doorways, nor can you jump very easily. Take these new factors into account when you are learning the new game.

New Goals

In the multiplayer game, your goals don't just involve killing the enemy. You also need to work with your team members to pick up treasure from a central location and bring it back to your home base without dying or losing it.

In the single player game, you will be trying to outwit the war criminal Lazarevic in an attempt to reach treasure and the lost kingdom before he does. You will be looking for the Cintamani stone, a huge blue sapphire. But will it prove to be a curse, as did the gold statue in Uncharted: Drake's Fortune? You'll just have to wait and see. Be careful what you take home!

It doesn't matter if you're new to Nathan Drake's adventures, or are a die-hard Nathan Drake fan like I am; you're sure to have a blast with the new Uncharted 2: Among Thieves video game for Sony Playstation 3!