Review: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Written By Kapil Kumar - A Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network

When I bought my PlayStation 3, one of the first games I bought was Uncharted: Drakes Fortune. Simply put, this game blew me away. The characters, story line, action, and scenery were incredible and kept me playing all the way to the end. Then, when the creators of Uncharted (Naughty Dog) announced Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, expectations were understandably high. Release day came and not only did Uncharted 2: Among thieves surpass all expectations, it turned out to be one of the best selling video games of all time. The game is polished almost to perfection, with very few drawbacks.

"You sure you're up for this?" says Nathan Drake to his partner in crime Harry Flynn as they're about to break into a Turkish Prison to locate a priceless artifact. Right from the beginning, the game is a heart pounding adventure. In Uncharted 2: Amongst Thieves, our favorite fortune hunter Nathan Drake embarks on a journey that will push him to his physical, emotional and intellectual limits to discover the real truth behind the lost fleet of Marco Polo and the legendary Himalayan valley of Shambhala, more commonly known in the west as Shangri-La. Drake isn't the only one in search of Shambhala however, as he will face new enemies that will push him to his limits. I won't say anymore to prevent spoiling the story for you (you'll have to check it out yourself!) but the plot is engrossing.

Hanging on...literally

Although gameplay in Among Thieves is similar to that of the previous game, there are several key differences. The most important of these is the addition of several online multiplayer options. No offline multiplayer was included in the game due to the impact local split-screening has on the game's graphical quality. However, the online modes include cover both co-op and competitive play. In addition to play modes there are a number of new gameplay features including new stealth gameplay altered climbing mechanics (enemies get this as well!). In addition, the ability to create cover by flipping over certain found items; the use of riot shields for defense and offense; and a complete lack of loading screens are welcome additions to the game and are a lot of fun! Overall, those who have played through the first game will quickly notice that Naughty Dog has improved every single aspect of the game. Better story line, better shooting mechanics and physics, better graphics and even better voice acting. They left almost no stone unturned in the process of developing this game which shows their commitment to releasing quality titles.


One of Uncharted 2's greatest strengths is it's story and characters. None of the game's amazing graphics and game play would matter if the characters weren't so likable. The conversation between Drake and his two lady friends are quite often hilarious and really draw you into the game further. Sully and Elena are back from the first game, and Drake's new romantic interest, Chloe, is a a great addition to the game as she helps Drake mow down evil mercenaries. 


The environments are in a word, beautiful. Unlike in the first Uncharted game where you were in a Jungle most of the game, this time you the environments are more varied, interesting, and fun. Ancient ruins in Borneo and snow capped mountains in the Himalayas are just the tip of the iceberg. One thing that really makes this game stand out are the moving levels such as the train chapter which is titled "locomotion." Lush green trees and vegetation fly by while you try to rescue a friend at the front of the train. Moving levels like this really make the game more alive and dynamic and almost makes you feel like you're there. Their are also a number of puzzles you have to solve to advance to the next stage in a game - this is a thinking mans game as well, not just a shooter.

This whole chapter takes place on a fast moving train

Overall, Among Thieves is an exhilerating action packed adventure that is fun all the way through. The games story line, characters, scenery are all very well done. If you have a PS3 this is a game you must absolutely play. Their is one downside to this game though - it eventually ends!

Rating: 9/10

How To Choose between a Matte or Glossy Computer Screen

By Kapil Kumar - A contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network

Are you in the market for a new laptop computer? If so, you'll know there are all kinds of options you can choose from such as hard drive size, graphics display, processing power and battery life, just to name a few. One of the most important decisions you'll have to make will be deciding between a matte or glossy display for your new laptop. Each screen has its advantages and disadvantages and the tips provided below will help you choose the best screen for your needs.


Matte Screens
Matte displays handle glare better due to a polarized coating over the glass that diffuses ambient light. They are ideal for business users or users who use their laptops mostly for work. In fact, business class laptops like Lenovo Thinkpad and the Dell Latitude are usually only available with matte screens. Matte screens reflect very little light so you will hardly see reflections on the screen, giving you a clearer image even in a well lit environment. Some of the downsides of matte screens is that they have slight blurring, reduced contrast and narrower viewing angles compared to glossy screens, which are discussed below.

Matte VS. Glossy (Matte display on the left and Glossy display on the right)

Glossy Screen
When laptops were first produced many years ago they all came with a Matte display. Now most laptops today are stocked with a glossy screens. Glossy screens can be found in just about every consumer class notebook. They produce rich images with vivid colors that pop (particularly important to photographers and users who work with pictures a lot). On the downside, glossy screens are far more susceptible to glare and reflect a lot of light from windows and lights. Furthermore, glossy screens show finger prints and smudges much more clearly than their matte cousins. Using glossy screens outdoors can prove problematic due to the amount of light it reflects. Here's a tip: when using a glossy screen indoors try to have the light source placed in front of you to minimize reflections.

Overall, picking between a matte and glossy screen is both a personal and logical decision. If you will be using your notebook outdoors frequently then the matte screen would be far more pleasant to use due to little to no reflections. If you work with photos and/or like more vivid colors then a glossy screen will serve you well.


Happy viewing!