Uncharted 2: Among Thieves [Archive]

Taustin Powers

Sep 20, 2009, 09:41 AM

The first batch of reviews is out.

IGN: 9.5/10 (http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/102/1026373p1.html)

Games Radar: 10/10 (http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/uncharted-2-among-thieves/review/uncharted-2-among-thieves-review/a-2009091875511998094/g-200812159395546092)

(Official Playstation Magazine (US): 5/5...gee, how shocking)

Near perfect scores as expected.

Can't wait for this, it seems like it does everything Drake's Fortune did, but better, and adds more awesome stuff to it. And I really can't wait to see those graphics in action!

MacRumorUser

Sep 20, 2009, 10:03 AM

My only concern (one which will not affect my purchase, but may hamper my enjoyment) is that there are less puzzles/adventuring in comparison to the original uncharted, which I already felt was too gun action orientated in the first place.

I would love the adventure/action to be a 50:50 ratio, not 20:80. I hadhoped they would have addressed the original ratio imbalance, they have but not in the way I'd hoped.

Still going to buy though :-)

NoSmokingBandit

Sep 20, 2009, 10:06 AM

Looks to be one of the best games of the year. Cant wait to play it.

Dagless

Sep 20, 2009, 10:27 AM

Looks amazing, but that's the problem. Looks like they've dropped all the exploration in favour of big cutscenes and such. More people will like it for that but I wants me some flat out vast exploration game. I think I'd prefer the original :o.
Can't wait to see what is released here on for the PS3 though, considering these guys are sharing their dev knowledge.

sikkinixx

Sep 20, 2009, 12:03 PM

From the 20 minute or so demo I played at PAX, the shooting is much more refined. Enemies actually die (assuming you don't just shoot them in the chest) and having some guns with zoom REALLY helps with headshots. One of only 2 "Day one!" this fall for me :( *so poor*

2nyRiggz

Sep 20, 2009, 02:42 PM

The multiplayer beta is awesome....that is all.

On a serious note I'm kinda bugged out about having less puzzles to solve but I can live with it. U2 seems to be the front runner for GOTY...next up Modern Warfare 2.

Bless

spyker3292

Sep 20, 2009, 07:48 PM

I'm not in the current beta, but I loved the first beta over the summer. I think a multiplayer demo comes out in two weeks.

NoSmokingBandit

Sep 20, 2009, 08:32 PM

I played the beta a little. I dont care much for online play, but this looks like it might be rather interesting.
Uncharted is my 2nd favorite ps3 game so far (1st is Ratchet and Clank), and it looks like Uncharted 2 and R&C:A Crack in Time will be fighting for the number one spot on my list this year. Too bad R&C isnt recognized for the genius it is... Its not violent enough to be taken seriously by "true gamers" i suppose.

spyker3292

Sep 20, 2009, 09:24 PM

I've played Ratchet and Clank since the beginning, and it's probably my favorite series. And Uncharted is probably one of my favorite PS3 games. Yay! October is gonna rock.

Ov3rlord Falc0r

Sep 21, 2009, 12:21 AM

I think you guys are complaining about the puzzles too much...If i remember correctly the video review off IGN.com said that there are a few less of them, but they take up about the same amount of time. Idk, it may not be so bad especially if some of them are interesting and somewhat challenging. :) Way excited for this, ratchet, and MW2.

Chaszmyr

Sep 21, 2009, 12:23 AM

fiercetiger224

Sep 21, 2009, 06:34 AM

I played all the way through the first Uncharted, and it didn't wow me at all. This game looks better than the first one, but I don't really have any interest in it, and I find myself continuously wondering why IGN keeps raving about these games...

It's not about the wow factor, it's about the fun factor. Isn't that what games are all about? :rolleyes:

MacRumorUser

Sep 21, 2009, 08:02 AM

It's not about the wow factor, it's about the fun factor. Isn't that what games are all about? :rolleyes:

Yeah but I didn't find the constant wave after wave of identikit enemy troops / gun sections to be much fun in the first. If anything it made the game feel rather antiquated relying on old gaming stereotypes.

Here we had a game breaking grounds on consoles for looks, yet its basic fundamentals were terribly old school.

The only thing that kept me playing to the end of the game was the prettiness of it all and the well scripted storyline (and the hope that there would be more lovely looking platform sections).

So yeah... prettiness helps when the actually gameplay mechanics / fundamentals are as old fashioned and labored. Some sections of Uncharted were a real chore.

;)

Taustin Powers

Oct 14, 2009, 06:34 AM

So I guess it's out, at least in some regions.

Anyone have it yet?

MacRumorUser

Oct 14, 2009, 08:13 AM

^ Friday for me. Gonna pick it up with Brutal Legend on the 360.

sikkinixx

Oct 14, 2009, 08:15 AM

^ Friday for me. Gonna pick it up with Brutal Legend on the 360.

The Brutal Legend demo was so awesome but the fact that it switches to being an RTS a few hours in has totally turned me off.... plus it's a Tim Schafer game so it will be $30 by Janurary...

2nyRiggz

Oct 14, 2009, 08:24 AM

Brutal Legend demo sucked and I don't see the what the fuss is but the music was cool....I've leave this one for the bargain bin.

On Topic: I'm getting my copy today which I won't be able to play until the weekend:(

fiercetiger224

Oct 14, 2009, 09:52 PM

Got it yesterday! I think I've put at least 10 hours into it already. ;)

Man oh man, this game is just a thriller. The action never seems to stop! But it keeps the game interesting. The pacing is just right, and the story is great so far. I like how they've implemented the stealth and controls in this game.

And the visuals never seem to stop impressing me. This is definitely a showcase title for PS3. I'm glad they've fixed the screen tearing issue that was so prominent in some spots in the original game, all while improving upon it. I'm actually quite surprised at how they're able to use a variety of textures, and they all seem high-res too. The scale of some areas is quite amazing as well. I guess I'd forgotten how pretty the first game was. :rolleyes:

Anyone else got it? So far, IGN's 9.5 seems spot on. Won't know until I finish it. And the multiplayer is quite fun, and I've yet to run into any lag issues.

spyker3292

Oct 14, 2009, 11:49 PM

Brutal Legend demo sucked

Agreed.

I've been playing so much Uncharted 2! I'm up to chapter 24 (/26?) on normal, and once I beat that I'll play on hard! I've played a few great matches online, but I'm trying to finish the story first.

JackAxe

Oct 15, 2009, 02:01 AM

The Brutal Legend demo was so awesome but the fact that it switches to being an RTS a few hours in has totally turned me off.... plus it's a Tim Schafer game so it will be $30 by Janurary...

I find it ironic that Tim stated this about Brutal Legend, “Well it’s really an action game, that when you play it you’ll see that it was meant to be on a console”, but yet it's part RTS.

Anyways, I still respect his work, I'm just not going to buy this game on anything but the PC, as that's where I've played all the other games he worked on.

Taustin Powers

Oct 15, 2009, 05:48 AM

Just picked up my copy. May start playing it tonight. :)

2nyRiggz

Oct 16, 2009, 08:21 PM

Got my copy today and I've been at it all night...This game is excellent. I'm digging the interactions between characters and the gameplay has been tighten up from the original...everything flows together just right and to top it off the graphics is top.

It deserves the praises its getting.

Bless

spyker3292

Oct 17, 2009, 12:11 AM

Yup, this game obviously includes less waves. It still has sections where you get waves of enemies, but I don't think it's as many :P. And a lot more climbing, stealth, etc. I love it. Just finished the story mode :D

MacRumorUser

Oct 17, 2009, 01:52 AM

They seem to have solved the texture load in problems that plagued the first game everytime you loaded/started new area too.

Very cinematic, more so than the original and I'm liking the stealth parts although it's often hard to see which direction an enemy is facing, and occasionally there is a missaction to your stealth take down (your a micromilimetre out of place) springning the guard into action and revealing your position.

But that's a tiny quibble in what is otherwise one of the best looking games ever.

dukebound85

Oct 17, 2009, 02:01 AM

I played all the way through the first Uncharted, and it didn't wow me at all. This game looks better than the first one, but I don't really have any interest in it, and I find myself continuously wondering why IGN keeps raving about these games...
i agree
It's not about the wow factor, it's about the fun factor. Isn't that what games are all about? :rolleyes:

i thought the first one was irritating like none other and most certainly not fun imo

macfan881

Oct 17, 2009, 03:10 PM

any one use the twitter intergation how does that pull off?

Taustin Powers

Oct 17, 2009, 05:07 PM

Okay, are there no treasures in Nepal, or am I just too stupid to find them?

:confused:

Taustin Powers

Oct 18, 2009, 05:08 AM

Also: Man, this game is pretty! It will be hard to go back to "normal" looking games after this!

Ov3rlord Falc0r

Oct 18, 2009, 07:22 PM

Well the game is out and is fantastic! :) VERY HAPPY with the job Naughty Dog put out with this game. This game takes what the first one did so well and turns it up 10 fold. The visuals are stellar. The gameplay is nearly perfectly paced. The cut scenes are done so well. The story is very interesting and keeps you hooked.

Some people on here complained about some of the games "flaws" and about those from the first. I don't see them as "flaws" they're just things you didn't care for, thats all. Like the weapons or lack there of...there are plenty of weapons and each one has their own time in the spot light (especially in multiplayer). If Naughty Dog had added more weapons it would have thrown off the gameplay and turned it more of a shooting game when that's not exactly what they were going for.

As for the story...ND did a great job of telling it. I felt like I was along for the ride the whole time and grew to love the characters. :) Not gunna lie, I shed a little tear during the last cut scene when...well I won't ruin it for others but those of you who played and beat it know what I'm talkin about.

fiercetiger224

Oct 19, 2009, 01:34 PM

i thought the first one was irritating like none other and most certainly not fun imo

So how was the first game irritating? Did you keep dying at certain spots? :p

How is it different from other games, like Modern Warfare? Besides the different perspective, the game is probably just as frustrating as that. You die pretty quickly in both games, etc.

Uncharted 2 is an exciting thrill ride. Modern Warfare 2 will do the same, just in the fancy first person view. ;)

MacRumorUser

Oct 19, 2009, 04:24 PM

^ I found the walk into an open area / or confined area and shoot scripted enemies wave after wave until game says - yes you can pass now - to be irritating to say the least and it tarnished an otherwise great game for me.

I'm not a fan of these sections and they feel forced and unnatural in context of a cinematic experience, to have some tired game mechanic which is as old as space invaders.

The story and adventure elements saved the game, but there were times I nearly gave up entirely on Uncharted because of those.

NoSmokingBandit

Oct 19, 2009, 05:29 PM

^^ You must hate COD.

dukebound85

Oct 19, 2009, 05:33 PM

So how was the first game irritating? Did you keep dying at certain spots? :p

How is it different from other games, like Modern Warfare? Besides the different perspective, the game is probably just as frustrating as that. You die pretty quickly in both games, etc.

Uncharted 2 is an exciting thrill ride. Modern Warfare 2 will do the same, just in the fancy first person view. ;)

thats just it, i hate 3rd person shooters

if a game is going to be 3rd person, it needs to be like mario or zelda for me. any 3rd person game that involves aiming, i get annoyed right off the bat

these include
gears of war
ghost recon games
uncharted
etc

first person on the other hand is much nicer for me at least

MacRumorUser

Oct 19, 2009, 05:44 PM

^^ You must hate COD.

It's a different context and with FPS your kinda used to that limitation.

That being said I am only 25% into COD:MW or World @ War before boredom kicked in for me.

fiercetiger224

Oct 19, 2009, 05:47 PM

^^ You must hate COD.

Haha I second that. If you don't like Uncharted, then you must not like COD, and vice versa. They're not much different in terms of gameplay when you think about it, besides the perspective. They're still sectioned off, and pretty linear in gameplay. Aaaaaaaand, you can die alot. :p

MacRumorUser

Oct 19, 2009, 06:09 PM

^^ It's not the same thing at all 'if you thought about it' and most importantly your missing the point entirely about Context.

With a first person shooter - it's exactly that a shooter. Moreover a war shooter then you are in acceptance of the mechanic of shooting wave after wave of enemy.

Besides as I have already stated - I do grow bored with their repetition although I accept it.

With Uncharted there is a different mechanic and context to the whole thing - it's an 'adventure' game in third person. It is not solely a 'shooting game' and therefore when presented after a thrilling set piece or exploration section with an open space with characters ABC jumping in to attack - survive that wave - only for same pirates ABC to jump in yet again. Repeat a few times and then game lets you progress.

Also with a FPS including COD you do not have to shoot 'EVERY' single person, but merely survive and move from A-B. With those sections in Uncharted you had to kill all those enemies before the game let you progress. There was no other choice. No way of bypassing the mechanic, by sneaking around and avoiding the confrontation.

In a game where adventure was the key word - the lack of choice and option in those sections sucked ass and whilst killing wave 1 of enemies would have been enough, when it asks you to kill 3 or 4 waves just because it thinks it extends the gameplay and makes the game tougher then the joke begins to wear thin.

All about context and the way the game presents itself. Uncharted sections like that sucked.

e²Studios

Oct 19, 2009, 06:28 PM

Ah, MRU being MRU. The planets are in alignment again! You hate every game, but wow, tell us how you really feel? ;):p

http://site.despair.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/whining.jpg

^^ It's not the same thing at all 'if you thought about it' and most importantly your missing the point entirely about Context.

With a first person shooter - it's exactly that a shooter. Moreover a war shooter then you are in acceptance of the mechanic of shooting wave after wave of enemy.

Besides as I have already stated - I do grow bored with their repetition although I accept it.

With Uncharted there is a different mechanic and context to the whole thing - it's an 'adventure' game in third person. It is not solely a 'shooting game' and therefore when presented after a thrilling set piece or exploration section with an open space with characters ABC jumping in to attack - survive that wave - only for same pirates ABC to jump in yet again. Repeat a few times and then game lets you progress.

Also with a FPS including COD you do not have to shoot 'EVERY' single person, but merely survive and move from A-B. With those sections in Uncharted you had to kill all those enemies before the game let you progress. There was no other choice. No way of bypassing the mechanic, by sneaking around and avoiding the confrontation.

In a game where adventure was the key word - the lack of choice and option in those sections sucked ass and whilst killing wave 1 of enemies would have been enough, when it asks you to kill 3 or 4 waves just because it thinks it extends the gameplay and makes the game tougher then the joke begins to wear thin.

All about context and the way the game presents itself. Uncharted sections like that sucked.

MacRumorUser

Oct 19, 2009, 06:58 PM

NoSmokingBandit

Oct 19, 2009, 08:05 PM

If you dont like Sonic then i dont like you as a person.

Sad, but true.

;)

spyker3292

Oct 19, 2009, 09:06 PM

Ya! I'm level 12!

åidån

Oct 20, 2009, 02:54 AM

I thought the game was a vast improvement on Uncharted, so many of the annoyances fixed up. However the constant waves of enemies gets quite frustrating.

I was led to believe that the extra storage capacity of a Blu-Ray was used more primarily for game length as apposed to higher detail textures, therefore 11 hrs gameplay was something of a disappointment for me. There is however, a lot of extra game time to be extracted if you were actively looking for all of the treasure in your first play. Some are stupidly well hidden.

Overall, I would agree with IGN's rating, and look forward to seeing what they bring with Uncharted 3.

Taustin Powers

Oct 20, 2009, 02:56 AM

Some are stupidly well hidden.

Glad I am not the only one who feels that way! :) The treasures are a lot harder to find than in the first one. But I enjoy that. :D

jabingla2810

Oct 20, 2009, 03:11 AM

Im enjoying this game so far... even though I could never get into the first game.

The stealth misson at the begining uses completely broken gameplay mechanics, and im very suprised they released it as it is....

But after that, its picked up nicely....

My only other complaint is that guns dont feel powerful enough.... bullet's just dont seem to pack a decent punch.

takao

Oct 20, 2009, 08:12 AM

In a game where adventure was the key word - the lack of choice and option in those sections sucked ass and whilst killing wave 1 of enemies would have been enough, when it asks you to kill 3 or 4 waves just because it thinks it extends the gameplay and makes the game tougher then the joke begins to wear thin.

thanks for summing it up nicely.. i got frustrated with that even when playing at a friends house ... the "wave" set up always feels so unneccessary when used in games

sikkinixx

Oct 20, 2009, 08:41 AM

Hopefully I finally get this today... damn Bestbuy jerking me around *grr*

NoSmokingBandit

Oct 20, 2009, 02:14 PM

I was led to believe that the extra storage capacity of a Blu-Ray was used more primarily for game length as apposed to higher detail textures, therefore 11 hrs gameplay was something of a disappointment for me.

Its not really disappointing when you consider that ND packed more awesomeness into 11 hours of Uncharted than most devs can fit in 20 hours of another game.

2nyRiggz

Oct 20, 2009, 08:13 PM

Glad I am not the only one who feels that way! :) The treasures are a lot harder to find than in the first one. But I enjoy that. :D

Yes they are indeed harder to find but I've done well finding like 60 on my first play through. I usually take my time in games and explore every corner in the environment before I move on to a new section.

I still can't see how someone could beat a 10+ hour game in one sitting...I don't care how good the game is your eyes will bleed.

Bless

NoSmokingBandit

Oct 20, 2009, 09:05 PM

Unless its a really great game i run out of steam in about an hour or two of gaming. The longest i ever played, iirc, was a 4 hour 2-player Contra binge with my friend in high school. We werent giving up, dammit!

Nuck81

Oct 20, 2009, 10:29 PM

Once you get passed the opening stealth section and Head to Borneo the game is tits.

First hour is Ho Hum however.

Aggravated at the Multiplayer as the guys with no lives that are already level 50 are so overpowered the game is unplayable.

spyker3292

Oct 20, 2009, 11:01 PM

The game isn't that hard online... I'm level 13 and do fine online :P

jabingla2810

Oct 21, 2009, 08:10 AM

Question about trophies, and collecting trophies

When ive completed the game on normal, i'll get the "you've completed the game on normal difficulty trophy"

To get the "You've completed the game on easy trophy", do I then need to play the game through again on easy?

And then for very easy?

Maybe a daft question....

2nyRiggz

Oct 21, 2009, 08:59 AM

^No you don't need to play it on easy anymore...if you play and beat it on normal then you will unlock the normal & the easy trophy. Now its time you try it on crushing so you can get the hard/crushing trophy...good luck.

Bless

ManhattanPrjct

Mar 3, 2010, 12:38 PM

I know I am super late to the game here (I almost never play a game within a few months after its release), but I am in the midst of playing U2 and was telling a friend "it's just as fun as the first Uncharted" until I paused the game and had to run and grab a drink of water. I walked past my TV and only when I got to within a foot or so of the screen did I really see how intricate the graphics are. Unreal.