The Skinny: Forget everything else that Sony showed off at its Gamers' Day a couple of weeks ago. More than anything else, game journos and fanboys flocked to the Uncharted 2: Among Thieves online multiplayer functions. There was no real setup -- a rep from Naughty Dog just said to get out there and play. I like story; I like to listen; I like to be immersed in the dream of gaming. I didn't want a tech gospel about the software. But I did want to know about the who, what, why and where of the multiplayer (along with info about the environments Naughty Dog had chosen as wargrounds). So, was Uncharted 2 online multiplayer all it was cracked up to be?

1. Everyone was surprised to see multiplayer of any sort in Uncharted 2. That's because Sony pretty much denied its existence prior to Gamers' Day. Online multiplayer supports up to 10 people. I wondered, as I played, if the Uncharted 2 multiplayer code somehow repurposes the Resistance 2 multiplayer modes, as they felt somewhat similar. Then again, Resistance 2 supported way more players, and Naughty Dog is not Insomniac.


2. I'm a gargoyle-like gunner at heart, and short guys like me like heights. One of the reasons the Killzone 2 online multiplayer was the bee's knees was that it was easy to find a perch from above to take aim at others below. Much as I searched, I could not find high ground in Uncharted 2.

3. At one point during online play, I took careful aim at an opponent who was fairly far away, but not out of range. This sitting duck was not moving and not behind any protection. I aimed at the head. Otherwise, the sitting duck would only be injured, not killed. I had the middle of the head precisely in my sights. Bang! Nothing happened. I aimed again and pulled the "trigger" again. Still missed. Online multiplayer still needs some tweaking.


4. I had much better luck with shooting at closer range. But the best shot was taken by GameDaily's Chris Buffa. As an enemy frantically leapt over a rusted-out car, Buffa got her in mid-jump in the air. The wounding was simply amazing to see -- all ragdoll physics, flailing and bloody.

5. Where's the art of war in these journos' minds? I know it's competitive multiplayer, every man for himself. But this is chaos. For the love of Genghis Khan, take 30 seconds and come up with a minor plan and create some teamwork between a couple of players. That way, you'll take a lot more enemies down. Then, the two or three of you can have it out to the death.

The Crispy Forecast: Online multiplayer is a console-game essential these days. While the Uncharted 2 multiplayer isn't that different, and still needs tweaking, it should attract the true online fans like sugar-yearning ants to summer picnic popsicles. But where's something to attract the person who looks at online multiplayer and shrugs, "So what"?

This preview is based on a hands-on demo at a publisher-driven event.