One of the surprises about Uncharted 2 was that the multiplayer was actually good. The combination of small maps as well as being able to scale the maps allowed for a fast-paced multiplayer game that was addictive. Uncharted 3’s beta proves that it can be a competent successor, but has it lost its identity in the process?
The Uncharted 3 multiplayer beta improves upon the elements found in Uncharted 2. Shooting is tighter with a better sense of recoil, the graphics are better with improved lighting and animations and the music is just as dramatic as ever. For the most part, players of Uncharted will have no problems adjusting to this.
One of the key themes to the update is Naughty Dog’s attempt to make the game more ‘cinematic’. Maps now start and end with short cutscenes, putting into context your battles and the consequences of your battle. Maps like Airstrip continue this starting the map on a runway as the plane is chased by a horde of trucks. The concept is interesting by making the game more ‘cinematic’, but at the moment is hampered due to poor spawn placements that can result in one team being spawn camped.
The melee system has been given a new lick of paint with an animation overhaul. Now, when a player is close to death a unique animation, such as a sliding kill, will play to make it look flashier. The result is that melee battles now look better, but in practise they act the same as they did in Uncharted 2. However, due to the nature of peer-to-peer and being a beta, it is easy to be hit despite not being close to the player, or dying moments after killing the other player.
Customization has been increased, allowing players to decorate their characters with new clothes and logos. It allows for a more personalised experience. Weapon customizations also make an appearance, such as allowing you customize your weapon with larger weapon clips. As you level up new mods become available, but this may run the risk of giving players unfair advantages.
There are two maps available in the beta called Airstrip and Chateau. Both of these maps are larger than the average map found in Uncharted 2, but whether or not this is consistent with the other maps is unknown. This affects the overall pacing of the game, making it slower-paced than Uncharted 2 as you’re likely to spend longer running around looking for enemies.
It is noticeable that this game has been influenced by the Call of Duty multiplayer franchise. Boosters have returned from Uncharted 2 and still give unfair competitive advantages to players who have higher ranks than others. Boosters include Cloacked, which makes you harder to hear and see, and Back in the Saddle, which decreases your respawn time. These kinds of perks don’t make the multiplayer balanced, and instead rewards players over how much time they have invested in the game. Kickbacks further imbalance the game, by rewarding players who do well. Although this may seem reasonable, in reality it gives an unfair advantage to the winning team when they don’t need it. Some kickbacks include getting a RPG or even no longer having to reload. It’s unfair, and there is no need to for Uncharted to try and be like Call of Duty.
Free –for – all also makes an appearance, which is most pointless because Uncharted’s multiplayer was always team orientated. This addition seems to be one that caters to COD players, and mostly involves getting suddenly by three players and getting spawned upon.
Naughty Dog has also implemented ‘power plays’, in which a team that is losing by over 5 points will get a special perk that gives them a competitive edge. These perks can include being able to see your enemies position, double damage and extra points. In most games the losing team still loses, but it does make the experience generally more enjoyable for them.
Uncharted 3’s multiplayer comes into its own in its hardcore mode, which eliminates powerplay, kickbacks and boosters. The benefit of this mode that no team has a competitive edge, and the only factor that dictates your success is how well you work together in your team. This mode really highlights the design of the game, being able to flank enemies by scaling up the wall and watching the power weapons spawns. It is in this mode where Uncharted’s multiplayer plays like Uncharted, and not some third-person shooter that wants to be Call of Duty.
Overall, the beta shows good signs of what to come when it comes to Uncharted 3. In most cases, the game improves upon its predecessors and delivers a customized and cinematic experience. However, Naughty Dog has to realise that Uncharted is not Call of Duty, and they should avoid the unfair advantages that COD’s multiplayer gives.
i have to agree with most of this having spent time with the beta myself i wouldnt of mind if UC3 didnt go all out with the changes to its MP, just adding the cinimatic maps, custimizations, and new sprint and aiming feel would of been enough for me
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