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Uncharted was a well received game it blended action adventure and puzzle solving with a slice of excellent good old fashioned story telling. The game was a breath of fresh air but it was left wanting due to its short length and lack of online features. We are used to short games on the next Gen machines now as the online aspect to console gaming gives months of extra life to titles. Naughty Dog took this on board and when they announced details of Uncharted 2 one big surprise was the inclusion of a multiplayer aspect.

As the screen shots and video's started to appear people started to realise the multiplayer angle to the game wasn't just an after thought where tacked onto the game without much thought. This time the multiplayer side was going to be a huge feature and that this wasn't going to be just any old exclusive title.

The Uncharted 2 online multiplayer beta keys flooded the EU today we got our first chance to get a taste of what is in store and what Naughty Dog have managed to do is spectacular.

The beta itself gives a substantial look at what is in store for the full game, it offers a number of different game types, 4 maps,perks, numerous guns and characters it really is quite robust. The maps are multi leveled players can drop down into basements climb up onto balconies and leap between the buildings and roofs to find the best spots. The maps themselves are stunning the stone work in the buildings, the dust falling from the ceiling as some one runs across above you, the water effects are all outstanding. Character animation and the combat are as good as you will ever see.

The in game lobby is simple to use it is amazingly easy to party up and enter games. If you arrive late you can choose to join your friends you don't need to wait for any invites. You can also purchase your upgrades here. As you play games you win money this money can then be spent on upgrades for your character and weapons. You can even buy taunts !! Yes when you shoot someone in this you can point and laugh ( but you usually get shot for standing up in the middle of the game pointing and laughing )

The use of a cover system that works is a major factor pressing circle will get your character to stick to the corner of a wall or if running towards cover will make him slide into place. When you are in cover you need to fight back the aiming is done in 3 stages just pressing R1 results in a blind fire keeping you quite safe but is not very accurate, L1 allows you to focus in on a target but it does leave you exposed. R3 click will give you a scoped view should your gun be equipped with one. The character interaction with the environment for the most part works really well. A few times the character seemed to want to dive across an opening instead of just getting into cover.

They have worked hard to rid this game of the what has plagued other shooters like COD4 and Killzone 2. Running and gunning will just get you killed ( at last someone has tackled it ). Also when your character jumps he cant aim his shot and when he jumps he doesn't jump straight up he will jump forward so you can jump out of the way of bullets but you cant just do a bunny hop and miraculously survive the hail of bullets.