Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Preview

Ice ice baby.

Platform games have come a long way in the last couple of decades. Remember when this was all just 2D side-scrolling fields? Now there are huge 3D environments to explore, combat that involves more than jumping on enemies' heads and storylines that aren't just about rescuing princesses. In fact they're not even called platform games any more - it's all action this and adventure that.

But some things will never change. For as everyone knows, every game studio in the world has a copy of the Ten Commandments of Videogames pinned to the office wall. These are mainly directed at the makers of first-person shooters - Thou Shalt Honour the Colour Brown, Thou Shalt Not Introduce the Rocket Launcher Until the Sixth Level etc. But there is one commandment specifically meant for those developing platform games: Thou Shalt Include an Ice Level.

Naughty Dog is not about to disobey. The level they're showing off at gamescom is set in a giant cavern full of dangling icicles and snow-covered ledges. It feels like we've been here before - or rather, like someone we know rather well has. Lara Croft visited an ice cavern when she went to Nepal in Tomb Raider: Legend, and during her trip to Valhalla in Underworld. In fact, Lara's first ever adventure began with her approaching a set of carved stone doors set into the side of a snowy mountain, accompanied by a sherpa in a big hat.

'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves' Screenshot 1

Eurogamer gave the original Uncharted 9/10. Yep, that's how much we fancy Nathan.

So it would seem Naughty Dog isn't too bothered about all the comparisons made between the first Uncharted game and the Tomb Raider series. This suspicion is confirmed as the level demo gets underway, and we see Nathan Drake approaching a set of carved stone doors set into the side of a snowy mountain, accompanied by a sherpa in a big hat. But this sherpa has a name - Tenzin - and unlike Lara's pal, he doesn't meet a sticky end within the first five minutes. Plus, Nathan is wearing attire which looks suitable for exploring icy caves, rather than tiny shorts and a ridiculous poncho-snood hybrid.

As community manager Arne Meyer explains, Tenzin is there to help Nathan overcome obstacles which can only be dealt with by two people working together. For example, they each stand on opposite pressure pads to make a line of stone pillars descend into the floor, leaving the path ahead clear. But you don't get to control Tenzin - you're always playing as Nathan, and he's very much at the centre of the action. It's Nathan who shoots the rock to release the rope trapped under it, for instance, then wall-runs and swings across the giant crevasse.

'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves' Screenshot 2

There was no sign of the sassy blonde in the gamescom demo. Have Nathan's attentions turned to Tenzin?

For all he's a man of action however, Nathan won't be using his gun for any more than that while he's in the ice cavern. "This portion of the game is more about exploration and puzzling than combat," explains Meyer. As it turns out, no combat takes place during the entire demo. This is a little worrying as one of the biggest problems with the original Uncharted was the repetitive, stilted switching between exploration sections and gunfights. But there's nothing to be afraid of, according to Meyer.

"One of the criticisms of the first game was it was a bit narrow and linear," he says. "There's a lot of verticality to [the levels in Uncharted 2]. One of the hallmarks of this game is you can really climb and get new vantage points for combat set-ups, so the levels feel a lot wider."

Sounds like Naughty Dog's taken that criticism on board, then. "In the first game, there were very set times where you were doing the puzzling or the adventuring then entering combat," says Meyer. "We wanted to make it a bit more fluid. We wanted to make sure that would work well. So now you find yourself going between the exploration and the puzzling and the combat within spaces very seamlessly."

It's hard to tell how just how well that will work when we're only being shown the exploration and the puzzling. Still, those particular elements are certainly very impressive. The ice cavern itself is stunning, not just in terms of the huge scale but the amount of stuff crammed into it. Elaborate stone carvings line the walls, menacing statues stare down at you and giant Tibetan prayer wheels hang from the roof. There are grinding cogs to cling to and collapsing bridges to leap from and spinning blades to avoid being sliced into bits by. There are enough pillars, poles, ledges, levers, ropes, chains, switches and pressure pads to keep even Lara entertained for a good while.

Nathan might not quite have her grace and elegance, and he might look a lot mincier when trying to balance on a narrow beam, but he's definitely equipped with acrobatic skills. Meyer accidentally kills him more than once due to mistimed jumps, but on the whole the control system appears to work well. The animations are excellent, and Nathan moves fluidly and realistically around the levels. Meyer explains this is thanks to a new process they've introduced to the development cycle.

"Now we record our motion capture and our voices at the exact same time with the actors, so we're getting the same performances you see in the cinematics," he says. "It creates very natural, fluid cinematic moments."

'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves' Screenshot 3

If Nathan and Lara had a baby, bet it could climb sheer walls like a monkey dipped in glue.

But for all his fancy moves, Nathan isn't the biggest star of the demo - that accolade goes to the environment. It's beautifully lit, full of detail and packed with an enormous variety of stuff to run, jump, hang, swing and fall off. Meyer's not afraid to blow Naughty Dog's own trumpet when it comes to how pretty the game looks: "The graphical upgrades and updates have been tremendous," he says. "The way we've brought the narrative together with the story, both within the game and our cinematics, is a huge step forward from Uncharted: Drake's Fortune."

But how much has the gameplay changed? Not a great deal, by the looks of things. There's an awful lot of ledge-hanging and gap-jumping. It's familiar stuff, not just with regard to the first Uncharted but... "Isn't it very similar to the Tomb Raider games?" asks another, braver journalist in the audience.

"The genre and the universe we created has really been about the combo of action with combat, exploring and fiction," says Meyer, who sounds like he's heard that one before. "We're combining it in a way that has not been seen before." Has he played the Valhalla level in Underworld, by any chance? "No, I have not."

'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves' Screenshot 4

Have you noticed how these captions are all obsessed with Nathan? Perhaps he's our new Ben Fogle.

In any case, Valhalla never looked this good. And an action-adventure fan complaining about too much ledge-hanging and gap-jumping would be like an FPS lover bemoaning the emphasis on guns. To explore such a beautiful, variable environment should be a real treat for those who like their games all runny and jumpy. Plus, although the focus for this demo is on exploration, there's certainly more to Among Thieves than what we're being shown today - as you'll know if you've seen the dramatic E3 video where Nathan has a row with a helicopter.

As for you cynics, you and your "Oh no, not another ice cavern" - the thing is, ice caverns are fun. Besides, this is by no means the only location Nathan will get to explore. Other locations mentioned so far include a Tibetan museum and the swamplands of Borneo. If Naughty Dog really is following the Ten Commandments to the letter, we'll get a driving level and a mine cart race too. Even if we don't, it probably won't matter; Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is shaping up to be a stunning reminder of just how far the action-adventure genre has come.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is due out exclusively for PS3 later this year.

Comments (37) Latest comment 3 years ago

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  • Moonprince #1 3 years ago

    "Isn't it very similar to the Tomb Raider games?"

    Man, you could point to any game and say it's like another. Retards in this industry, seriously. Bet the twat thought he was being clever too...
  • henza #2 3 years ago

    Nathan is kinda hot isn't he?
  • Colin8703 #3 3 years ago

    Would it be wrong to say that all games have come a long way in 20 years? Not just platformers.
  • theiceman #4 3 years ago

    Looks amazing. When's the demo out?
  • Collymilad #5 3 years ago

  • breedob #6 3 years ago

    I actually like the split between platforming and action sections of the original Uncharted.
  • peterfll #7 3 years ago

    Sorry to keep banging the same drum whenever comment comes up about this game but I REALLY CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS ONE.

    I even dusted the first one down recently for a 3rd play thru and I'm still loving it.

    This is my most anticipated game of the year by far.
  • Dizzy #8 3 years ago

    "Remember when this was all just 2D side-scrolling fields? Now there are huge 3D environments to explore, combat that involves more than jumping on enemies' heads and storylines that aren't just about rescuing princesses."

    And yet the new 2D Mario got game of E3 from EG ;) and Shadow Complex got universal praise.

    Anyway... I like the Nepali settings in this. They have done a good job of re-creating the streets of Kathmandu. Not sure about jumping and running at high altitude in Tibet though.... but that is gaming ;)
  • Vertius #9 3 years ago

    You're forgetting the Fire/Volcano level in your Ten Commandments.

    Can't have an Ice level in a platformer without the contrast.
  • Demiath #10 3 years ago

    I'm a big Uncharted fan but since I really didn't like the downright archaic gameplay of Tomb Raider Underworld I'm not too keen on returning to lots of snow and Valhalla. Game developers, would you kindly start using some new mythological stereotypes?
  • Widge #11 3 years ago

    Got to have a desert level and a 'mystical temple of the ancients' level too.
  • Darren #12 3 years ago

    My most wanted game of this year... can't wait. I'm avoiding reading too much about it though as I don't want the plot spoilt.

    And, yes, Natan is hot... the line in the article about tight shorts and a poncho got me all excited for a moment until I realised it was about Lara Croft!
  • peterfll #13 3 years ago

    "Natan is hot... the line in the article about tight shorts and a poncho got me all excited for a moment until I realised it was about Lara Croft!"

    Reminds me once, a couple of years ago in the reception area of our office we had a life-sized Lara cut-out to promote a fancy dress party. A couple of weeks after the party one of the lesbian messengers made a grab for it saying "I've 'ad me eye on this one for ages - gonna take it 'ome!". And she did, god-knows what she did with it once she got it home..... ;-)

  • M_of_the_sys #14 3 years ago

    Isn't this very similar to the Tomb Raider games?
  • makeamazing #15 3 years ago

    Croc had an ice level, does that mean Uncharted is copying that game as well as LC... come on Ellie you can do better than that... no game is unique with its settings.

    This is a little worrying as one of the biggest problems with the original Uncharted was the repetitive, stilted switching between exploration sections and gunfights

    Guessing you played a totally different game to the rest of us then :). The game has to appeal to two types of audiences, so you cant just have combat or just adventure/puzzles.

    Anyway... this is one of my 5 games for Xmas so dont care what anyone says I will be getting it.
  • stepneg #16 3 years ago

    Uncharted was all right but it had far to many dull combat sections which just seemed to be there for padding, more so than TR Underworld which I preferred. I agree it does need combat but wave after wave of spawning goons it doesn't.
  • Les #17 3 years ago

    "Game developers, would you kindly start using some new mythological stereotypes?"

    Creating new myths takes some time. A bit more than video games have been around for... ;)
  • mashk #18 3 years ago

    Oh no, not another ice cavern!
  • Mashum #19 3 years ago

    @breedob - I also liked the split between shooting and puzzling in the original, who wants to get shot at when they are having a good think about something!

    I'm sure it'll be great though.
  • septimus #20 3 years ago

    No one is complaining about an ice level apart from you Ellie :)
  • VicViper #21 3 years ago

    I will hate this game if it carries over the following: -

    Shirtless enemies that can take a full clip from an AK-47 in normal difficultly

    That is all, I hate those goddamn pirates, the shooting in the original was pretty much unbalanced. Yes I know go for head shots. I loved the characters, the exploration and the story and the cutsences that delivered it and the in level chatter but the combat was awful sometimes.
  • sneetch #22 3 years ago

    @VicViper
    I will hate this game if it carries over the following: -

    Shirtless enemies that can take a full clip from an AK-47 in normal difficultly


    Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo*deep breath*ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

    Say it isn't so! I hate that crap and the first game is probably going to be the first game I get for my new PS3 (along with Killzone which seems to be bundled in all three stores near me).

    That "invulnerable super soldiers" rubbish has ruined more games for me than anything else. I don't mind if it's because I miss a lot, but I do mind if it's because they're (apparently) made out of lead wrapped in sheet steel coated in some futuristic ceramic rather than flesh and blood.

    WH40K: Fire Warrior is a prime example, you had to unload a full las-gun clip into a random Imperial Guardsman before he dies... ok... so you have to kill one in order to get the ammo to kill the next one... it just feels like bloody work after a short time!
  • VicViper #23 3 years ago

    @sneetch

    Still get it, an excellent game regardless, maybe I need to aim better but I was usually just trying to get the shooting done with to get to the good bit and the next story part.

    I remember that WH40k: Fire warrior game, it was set in a future where there is only war maybe your normal man can take a bit of damage, don't get me started on the Choas marines at least that partly made sense on thier damage soaking abilities but did they need a shield too?
  • peterfll #24 3 years ago

    The screen tearing is there but I'm not sure if it was the worst of this generation. The repeated enemy models is true. I personally didnt buy the 1st game on the back of a massive amount of hyped expectation. It just turned out to be one of my most favourite games in a long time.
    Edited by 1 at 21/08/09 @ 16:49
  • jimboton #25 3 years ago

    This is a little worrying as one of the biggest problems with the original Uncharted was the repetitive, stilted switching between exploration sections and gunfights

    weird, i only remember the switch between gunfights and more gunfights.. did it have any exploration or puzzles at all?
  • Les #26 3 years ago

    "That "invulnerable super soldiers" rubbish has ruined more games for me than anything else."

    Funny. It has saved more games for me than anything else. ;)

    In general, realism =/ fun

    E.g. an Uncharted game that would have you wheeled off to the hospital because you were stupid enough to be hit by a bullet wouldn't be fun for long...
  • Les #27 3 years ago

    "One of the criticisms of the first game was it was a bit narrow and linear," he says."

    Might be, but that criticism came from idiots...
  • Master09 #28 3 years ago

    GOTY! Glad I own a PS3.
  • BritishBlue1 #29 3 years ago

    Who is Ben Fogle...?
  • DjFlex52 #30 3 years ago

    Sony loyals are so predictable. Uncharted has adopted alot from other games and it's fine. It's a great game!
    But to let Dante's Inferno adopt alot of God Of War's gameplay and it's blasphemy...shite game!
  • Scimarad #31 3 years ago

    Okay, now I want a Nathan/Lara team-up adventure:)
  • SteveB #32 3 years ago

    I was a bit disappointed with the original. Coming straight form GOW2 the shooting sections felt clunky in comparison and the platforming sections were too simplified compared to similar games. On the plus side the story and characterisation were done very well and the graphics (ignoring the tearing) were some of the best of this generation.

    I have high hopes for the sequel, the set pieces shown at E3 were very impressive.
  • dominalien #33 3 years ago

    Okay, now I want a Nathan/Lara team-up adventure:)

    OK,now THAT is a good idea. Would be awome if they didn't say anything beforehand and then BAM, here comes Lara Croft.

    They could even make it a _good_ co-op game, like Naughty Dog are wont to do.
  • SeesThroughAll #34 3 years ago

    Okay, now I want a Nathan/Lara team-up adventure:)

    Hmmm... Online co-op... Nathan gameplay oriented towards action, and Lara gameplay oriented towards puzzles/platforms... It would be a fun game indeed.

    Cool idea mate!

    A shame it's probably never going to happen...
  • woodyrulesok #35 3 years ago

    Not sure why people bang on about the screen tearing.
    I played Uncharted through 5 times and only remember tearing once when I was on the jet ski.
  • swissorc #36 3 years ago

    PS3 fan boy's could you please tell me what stops this from being generic got a wii got a 360 and looking to pick up a ps3 and trying to find reason's to buy one before at GT5 gets released next year
  • mkreku #37 3 years ago

    I just hope Nathan still has the little quips as he hops around the levels. Hearing him talk to himself all the time was the highlight of the first game for me. Of course, being as gorgeous as it is (Uncharted 2, that is) helps keep the interesto-meter high too!

    A neat easter egg would be the ability to unlock a Lara outfit for Nathan :p