Weather affects gameplay in Uncharted 2

Naughty Dog's Richard Lemarchand has explained that ice and snow in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves will create the same impact water did in the original game.

Plenty of elbow grease has been applied to get the weather up to scratch, he said, so it will not only look nice but also affect gameplay.

"We've spent a lot of time focused on the distinctive look that snow has as it falls and is blown by the wind, and of course on the way in which Drake leaves footprints as he trudges through the snowdrifts in the Himalayan mountains that he ventures to," Lemarchand told IGN. "When he's out in the snow he'll accumulate a layer of snowflakes on his clothes and in his hair, which will slowly thaw when he gets back inside, under cover.

"Ice reflects light in a way that cleverly mimics the sub-surface scattering that goes on inside a chunk of frozen water, and gives it a look of incredible volume and density.

"We have a few more tricks up our sleeves, too," he added. "We don't want to give away all our secrets - you'll have to use your imagination to figure out all the ways in which we might use sub-zero temperatures in the service of gameplay! One thing I will say is that if you've ever tried to fight an intense cover-based gun battle against a vicious enemy in the middle of a Force Ten snowstorm, then you'll appreciate how complicated the reduced visibility can make things for combatants on both sides."

Naughty Dog reckons Uncharted 2 will use nearly all the power of PlayStation 3. Particular attention has been poured into allowing Nathan Drake to shoot and fight while climbing or travelling on moving objects, allowing much greater freedom than before.

"On top of that, we're planning on adding several features to the game that will increase replayability and extend the gameplay experience for everyone," added Lemarchand. "We'll be revealing those features at a later date, so hold tight for more info!"

Naughty Dog has yet to date Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, but has shown screenshots and videos to placate the mob.

Those can be found, with other news, on our Uncharted 2: Among Thieves gamepage.