Yeah, so Uncharted 4 isn’t coming out this year. Kind of a bummer, I know. But even though it’s just another remaster compilation, there will at least be some Uncharted goodness to relive or experience for the first time on PlayStation 4 this year to make the wait for Nate’s new-gen debut a little easier to endure.

Sony and Naughty Dog have announced Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, a PS4 collection featuring enhanced versions of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, all in one beautifully blue PS4 game case. (Or you can buy it digitally from the PlayStation Store and get no box or disc.)

The remaster specialists at Bluepoint Games, the studio behind the God of War, ICO & Shadow of the Colossus, and Metal Gear Solid HD collections on PS3, are working closely with Naughty Dog to bring the three PS3 action-adventure classics to PS4, bolstering the trilogy with a 1080p and 60fps upgrade, enhanced lighting, textures, and models, a Photo Mode, and even new Trophies to make Platinuming all three games a whole new challenge.

The Nathan Drake Collection will include only the single-player campaigns from the three Uncharted games. Venturing into the cesspools of ignorance and petty fanboyism that are the comment sections of YouTube and the PlayStation blog, it seems that a lot of players are pissed that the multiplayer from the second and third games won’t be ported over. I don’t get why, though, because the PS4 collection will also come with access to the Uncharted 4 multiplayer beta. So why would anyone want to play old multiplayer when early access to multiplayer from the real PS4 Uncharted will be included? Gamers just can’t let any announcement go by without bitching and moaning about something.

Thus concludes my mini-rant for the day. Back to The Nathan Drake Collection — it’ll be out October 9th for $59.99. Pre-ordering the game grants access to the Nathan Drake Pack DLC containing various character skins as well as the Golden AK-47 and Golden 92FS guns. The digital download version comes with a PS4 dynamic theme as a bonus pre-order incentive provided at the time of checkout.

Continuing a partnership that has already produced excellent books including The Last of Us: American Dreams, The Art of The Last of Us, and The Art of Naughty Dog within the past year or so, Dark Horse Comics and Naughty Dog are now set to publish The Art of the Uncharted Trilogy on April 28th.

As indicated by the title, The Art of the Uncharted Trilogy will contain artwork and developer commentary encompassing the core PS3 titles Drake’s Fortune, Among Thieves, and Drake’s Deception. (I guess Golden Abyss from the Vita didn’t make the cut since it was only overseen, not directly developed, by Naughty Dog. Plus, adding a fourth game would have ruined title options, because something about the word trilogy in a title just sounds right.)

Anyhoo, The Art of the Uncharted Trilogy will be 240 pages long and retail at a list price of $39.99, though pre-order prices at online storefronts like Amazon and Barnes & Noble are already starting below $30.

No disrespect intended to Dark Horse–I am a happy owner of a number of their art books–but part of me wishes Ballistic Publishing still had a partnership with Naughty Dog and Sony. Ballistic’s sadly short-lived ‘Art of the Game’ series, which previously covered Uncharted 2 in a standalone book (along with God of War 3 and Gears of War 3), produced some of the highest quality premium video game art books around.

As a game, Uncharted 2 is a dramatic, superbly paced action adventure thrill ride with tight cover-based third-person shooting and periodic bits of basic puzzle solving and platforming. But honestly, not much has changed with the gameplay since the first game, and the few new additions (propane tank tossing, riot shield, hanging cover points, basic stealth implementation etc.) don’t really stand out as anything particularly significant.

The game also has a lot of little problems I think have been too easily forgiven in all the gushing reviews the game has been receiving. I’m not saying the game doesn’t deserve to be gushed over – hell, it’s probably my current pick for game of the year and I’m about to gush over it myself right now – but certain things really did bug me about it.

AI companions, for instance, frequently get in your way, jumping into and knocking you off of ladders, clogging up nearby cover points and so on – one time a companion stood under me while I was dropping from a wall hang and I wound up floating on top of him before a forced death made it seem as if I’d fallen off a cliff. The level designs – during moments of adventure and exploration, more specifically — are also way too linear and really require a determined suspension of belief to accept. Nate can scale walls and other obstacles with ease, but only walls and obstacles the developers have scripted out, and every step of the way a helpful box, grappling hook or whatever it may is always magically right there when it’s needed. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the absurdity of many of these scenarios – the developers even acknowledge such clichés and unbelievable coincidences via Nate’s many in-game quips, as if poking fun at such things somehow excuses them.

But while Naughty Dog failed to polish and flesh out these areas, they succeeded in producing what is easily the most cinematic gaming experience I’ve ever played – the first video game that I think can hold its own against any Hollywood blockbuster action flick.

Games that emphasize the cinematic experience above everything else typically come with a certain stigma attached to them. However, unlike many other games with “interactive movie” aspirations, Uncharted 2 makes you feel like you are watching a movie without actually making you feel like you are watching a movie, if you catch my drift.

I love the Metal Gear Solid series, but its lengthy cutscenes do put you into a cycle of “play, watch, play, watch, play, watch…” that can be monotonous and off-putting for many players. Other recent games like Heavenly Sword and even the first Uncharted had a similar feeling (though obviously not to the same extent). But Uncharted 2 avoids this pitfall by flawlessly integrating cinematic moments with every phase of the gameplay and weaving every scene together with pitch-perfect pacing and a form of rolling narrative (characters constantly talk back and forth as you are playing and it really drives the story forward in a subtle but meaningful way) that keeps the game flowing along with an incredible sense of immersion and continuity. Yes, cutscenes are used throughout the game to deliver key scenes, but they never drag on too long, and generally flow so seamlessly in and out of gameplay that you never lose the feeling of control over what’s happening on screen.

With Uncharted 2, Naughty Dog has also mastered the art of in-game cinematic moments. At the heart of every gun battle and every moment of exploration is an elaborate set piece that transforms ordinary gameplay sequences into signature moments that will stick in your mind forever like classic scenes from a favorite movie (or TV show). Numerous such scenes instantly flood into my mind, but one in particular really stands out. Fairly early on in the game, Nate must drag a wounded cameraman to safety in a harrowing escape sequence through the alleys of war torn Nepal. He has one arm lending support and one arm free to fire with as enemies swarm after you, all the while Chloe and Elena are providing cover fire and opening doorways to steer you out of harm’s way. For me it was a signature moment that will resonate in my gaming memory bank forever, and there are many more just like it throughout the game’s riveting 12-hour campaign.

It sure doesn’t hurt that the graphics, animations, cinematography, and character portrayals are the best in the business either. Every bit as much as David Hayter is Solid Snake, voice acting vet Nolan North is Nathan Drake – seriously, whenever I hear him in another game I immediately say to myself “hey, that’s Nathan Drake!” North owns his role as Nate and, through his performance in Uncharted 2, truly defines the character as perhaps the most iconic video game hero of this generation. The supporting cast is excellent too, with actors/actresses like Emily Rose, Claudia Black, Steve Valentine and Graham McTavish putting memorable voices to the lifelike, emotion-filled virtual faces of Elena, Chloe, Harry Flynn and Zoran Lazarevic, respectively.

Sony’s Uncharted 2 TV ad really is spot-on in identifying and promoting exactly what the game is. Friends and family who previously had little, if any, interest in video games will pass by you playing this, stop in awe and say “that looks just like a movie,” and sit down to watch you play. I consider that proof that Naughty Dog has finally shattered the barrier between video games and Hollywood with Uncharted 2, and that’s an accomplishment we should all recognize and applaud.

Oh yeah, and they created a great game too. Don’t forget about that either!

Uncharted 2 is only 11 days away, can you feel the anticipation? I know I get giddy just thinking about cracking the case open, breathing in that new game smell, and popping the game into my PS3 for the first time (which will hopefully be soon)!

As the momentous October 13th launch date approaches, Sony has released a detailed list of character bios for all of Uncharted 2‘s major players. One of the best things about the original Uncharted was the likability of the characters and how they interacted and quipped with each other as you played the game, and by all early accounts the sequel takes things a step further as familiar faces like Elena, Sully and of course Nathan meet up with fresh ones, such as Nathan’s new love interest Chloe Frazer, a Tibetan village leader named Tenzin, and the ruthless new antagonist Zoran Lazarevic.

Read on to acquaint yourself with the stars of Uncharted 2.

Nathan Drake:

As a modern-day fortune-hunter, Drake operates within a rough, lawless world occupied by treasure-seekers, antiquities smugglers, con men and thieves. Unlike his associates, Drake is driven more by the historical intrigue and thrill of the hunt, than the promise of the treasure itself. He may or may not be a descendant of Sir Francis Drake, the great 16th-century explorer and privateer – but regardless of his lineage, Drake is gifted with a remarkable historical imagination and an uncanny ability to unravel mysteries from only the barest clues.

Although he’s smart and self-educated, Drake tends to conceal his intellectual side when dealing with the rogues gallery of dangerous individuals who haunt the gray-market underworld of the illegal antiquities trade. In his dubious line of work, Drake finds himself confronting everything from guerillas to drug traffickers, modern-day pirates, rival salvage companies, and frequently the law – so he’s had to learn how to handle himself in tight situations, whether it means guns, fists, charm, or the occasional hasty exit. In the end, Drake survives by his wits, tenacity and resourcefulness – and a dash of good old-fashioned luck.

Elena Fisher:

Drake’s former companion, Elena has since graduated from tabloid reporter to a legitimate investigative journalist, and now tracks stories in some of the most dangerous and war-torn corners of the world. She’s as stubborn and tenacious as Drake is, and determined to such a degree that it is both her greatest virtue and her greatest fault.

Chloe Frazer:

Drake’s current partner and romantic interest, Chloe is as tough and capable as she is beautiful. She’s equally comfortable in a gunfight or a fistfight – whatever the occasion demands. Chloe’s a good ally, but her moral compass is uncertain, and her reckless and impulsive nature makes her somewhat unpredictable.

Harry Flynn:

A longtime friend and associate of Drake’s, Flynn operates within the same shady underworld of fortune hunters, smugglers and thieves that Drake inhabits. Flynn possesses a certain roguish charm, but he’s far more unscrupulous than Drake, and will take just about any job if the profit’s good – regardless of any moral or legal implications.

Victor Sullivan:

A larger-than-life Hemingwayesque character, Sullivan is Drake’s partner, mentor and the closest thing he’s got to a father figure. He’s a seasoned adventurer, explorer and treasure hunter – the consummate con man in a world of con men – and knows just about everyone connected to the illicit antiquities trade.

Zoran Lazarevic:

A rogue paramilitary leader and fugitive war criminal, notorious for committing unspeakable massacres and atrocities. Believed to have been killed in a bombing raid, Lazarevic survived (though he bears the scars of the attack), and now operates in the shadows as the leader of a secret terrorist society. Ice-cold and relentlessly ambitious, Lazarevic is an imposing figure with a ruthless intensity and a dark magnetism that’s both terrifying and hypnotic.

Karl Schäfer:

The sole survivor of a failed expedition to the Himalayas in 1938, Schäfer has been living among the locals of a remote Tibetan village for seventy years. As a fellow explorer, Schäfer is able to provide critical information and guidance at a time when Drake needs it most.

Tenzin:

A leader in his remote Tibetan village, Tenzin joins Drake halfway through his perilous journey. Their partnership is made awkward by the language barrier – Tenzin speaks only Tibetan, and Drake only English – forcing them to communicate largely through gesture. Despite this obstacle, Tenzin becomes one of Drake’s most trusted allies.

Another October heavyweight has gone gold, this one from the Sony camp. Naughty Dog’s PS3 action/adventure sequel Uncharted 2: Among Thieves reached its golden milestone today, 32 days in advance of its North American launch on October 13th.

If you live in Chicago, LA, Seattle or San Francisco, you can get an early taste of the game at special sneak peek events planned for October 5th and 6th at a designated movie theater in each area. At each event, attendees will get to play the game on an HD big screen powered by Sony Electronics 4K digital cinema tech and compete in multiplayer tournaments for a chance to win one of the rare Fortune Hunter Editions. Hit up the PlayStation blog at the link below for more details.

UNCHARTED 2 Officially Goes Gold, Plus Sneak-Peek Cinema Events! [PlayStation.Blog]

P.S. Keep on watching once the trailer footage ends as Naughty Dog’s Arne Meyer chats with PlayStation.Blog’s Chris Morell in a quick video interview.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – the New Gamescom Trailer [PlayStation.Blog]

Sure, you’ve already seen what Uncharted 2‘s exhilarating multiplayer mode looks like in motion, but it’s always nice to have some still imagery as back-up ogling material, right? So here you go! 13 piping-hot multiplayer screenshots, most of them of the Death Match persuasion, but also a couple showing co-op play and a few from the Plunder mode.

Well we’re all in luck because Sony has posted a pair of videos over at the PlayStation blog showing off some early competitive multiplayer action, including the unveil trailer and an interview with Naughty Dog game designer Justin Richmond. Lookin’ pretty sweet, if I do say so myself. It’s cool to see the climbing and acrobatic elements playing such a key role online. And then there’s the ability to carry around gas tanks and lob them at enemies or set traps. How nifty is that!

Uncharted 2: More Multiplayer Details [PlayStation.Blog]
Uncharted 2 to Include Multiplayer, Beta Starts June 3rd [PlayStation.Blog]

Sony and Naughty Dog sure are going all out to make Uncharted 2: Among Thieves a sequel to remember, today making a surprise announcement that the follow-up to the 2007 PS3 hit exclusive Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune will feature a new online multiplayer component.

Uncharted 2 online will offer 5-versus-5 competitive battles in Death Match and Plunder (Capture the Flag variant) match types and a 3-player co-op mode in which players will work together through various missions earning in-game currency to put towards unlocking upgrades and other goodies.

“Adding a multiplayer aspect to the UNCHARTED franchise is a significant step in the replayability of the game,” said Christophe Balestra, co president Naughty Dog. “UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves will be the most impressive and ambitious game that Naughty Dog has done and we are thrilled to let our fans experience it this fall.”

Sony is scheduled to host a beta test for Uncharted 2‘s new online suite from June 3rd through June 28th, and if you decide to pick up a copy of Sucker Punch’s sandbox superhero game inFamous on May 26th you’ll be treated to a beta access code.