Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is one of the PlayStation 3's best games. It's on the same level as the Indiana Jones films, with a likable hero, a sweeping sense of adventure and tons of action. That said, it's no surprise that Sony and developer Naughty Dog are hard at work on a sequel, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
The game once again follows Nathan Drake, taking him out of the tropical jungle and placing him in the snowy mountains. While his first adventure took him on an adventure to discover the secrets of his famous ancestor, Sir Francis Drake, in Uncharted 2 he's following in the footsteps of the legendary Marco Polo, seeking out the ships that were lost on his return trip from Italy hundreds of years ago. One of them holds a mysterious crystal that grants its holder a single powerful wish. Nathan, however, isn't the only person looking for it. Bad guys are in hot pursuit.
Chloe Frazer, a hot babe with a few tricks up her sleeve, replaces Elena Fisher, the female protagonist from the first game. Although we know little about her, Stargate SG-1 and Pitch Black actress Claudia Black provides her voice.
Obviously, the new locale plays a huge part in Uncharted 2. The snowy atmosphere ties into a series of new levels, where Nathan engages in gun battles with evildoers. New stealth segments force Nathan to be light on his toes, or he'll alert patrolmen, resulting in an unnecessary encounter. There's also a new wall-climbing technique, allowing you to maneuver along surfaces. This proves useful for avoiding enemies or trying to reach a higher location, in case you get stuck.
As for the rest of the game, it bears a striking resemblance to the original. Nathan will still need to find protection in the environment as he shoots enemies, and this time he can actually leap behind furniture and other fixtures for cover. He'll also need to avoid environmental dangers. For instance, in one of the game's trailers, he finds himself barely alive in a train car, hanging over the edge of a cliff. Obviously, he'll need to get out of there, but he'll need to do it at just the right speed. If he doesn't, the car will go careening over the cliff, taking him right along with it.
Naughty Dog has also made sure to push Uncharted 2 so that it uses more of the PlayStation 3's graphical muscle. Whereas the original game only used 30 percent, its sequel will attempt to use all 100 percent with zero load time.
Also making a return is Greg Edmonson, the composer of the first game's soundtrack as well as the TV series Firefly. Sound effects and voice work should be on par with the original, complete with environmental noises and weapon effects.
Since we haven't seen live in-game footage yet, it's hard to say what we think about the visual and gameplay enhancements. However, it sounds very promising, and we're eager to see how it shapes up. We'll revisit Uncharted 2 over the next few months with new screenshots, videos and hands-on impressions before it releases later this year. In the meantime, buckle up and enjoy the wild ride.
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