Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception Multiplayer Beta Hands-On Impressions

Uncharted multiplayer has always polarised opinion among online gaming fans. Some find it a refeshing move away from the first person, grenade throwing, claymore laying mundanity of an evening spent with online gaming, while others think it is a buggy, hard to control, pointless addition to an otherwise great adventure game. One thing is for sure, Uncharted’s multiplayer isn’t going anywhere, if anything, it is an even bigger part of the Uncharted franchise than it has been before.

The first thing that is noticable is the customisation of character attire. In Uncharted 2’s multiplayer, players could choose from a range of character skins to enter battle, and the same goes for Uncharted 3, but players are able to customise colours, accessories, and skin tone of their characters, making them more unique. As players rank up, they are able to spend XP on new accessories that become available, such as sunglasses, headwear, and gloves.

Another addition to the Uncharted 3 multiplayer is player emblems. Anyone who has played Call of Duty: Black Ops will instantly relate to the idea of the customisable emblem. However, the emblems in Uncharted 3 are put to different use, as the leading player of any multiplayer game will have their emblem emblazoned on walls throughout the map, rubbing it in the faces of those struggling to catch up. While some will argue that Naughty Dog has copied Treyarch with this feature, the implementation is different, and it adds a little bit of extra competition to matches, so we’re all for it.

At the time of writing, two maps were available in the beta, with one more due to appear shortly. The first of the two maps we want to talk about is the Airstrip. This map starts off with several military vehicles chasing an aeroplane down a runway. The aim, if you are on the bad guys’ team, is to board the plane and kill as many enemies as possible. Players have to do this by jumping from vehicle to vehicle in order to get to one of the side doors, or the rear loading ramp. This section of the map is the place to grab those first few kills to give players a head start going into the map proper. It is fun to play, but the longevity of this part came into question after playing it 10-15 times, especially when it doesn’t quite go to plan in terms of kills made. Players can often find themselves just wanting to get into the main map and get on with it. Also, the spawning in this part is pretty shambolic at times, which can cause frustration. But hey, its a beta, so we can’t complain. When the Airstrip map gets going, it is a joy to play, and full of variety, split levels, and areas which all require a different approach. With the added dynamic of the wooden structure on the roof of the hanger, which gets shot to pieces half way through, it makes for some fun gameplay, and is sure to be one of the most popular maps on the game.

The other map available in the beta is the Chateau. The derelict grounds and the burning section of the building again provides dynamic events that Uncharted fans have become accustomed to. The addidion of the zip line in this map really shakes things up, as players scurry to get to that area in order to take people out as they try to do the same. The combat is generally focused inside the building on this map, with players fighting to dominate the burning corridors of the chateau. This map will be a little more suited to a plunder game, in order to get players using the whole of the map.

Team deathmatch is pretty much the same as before in terms of gameplay, but it is the introduction of 2v2v2 and free-for-all matches that have shaken things up a bit. There is lots more on offer to people who want something a little different in their multiplayer experience here. The co-op in the beta is also enjoyable, much like it was on the previous game.

A few things have been tinkered with in the beta, starting with the reticle, which rather than the previous “dot” has changed to look more like the reticle in other shooters out there. I found this minor change a little irritating, as there was nothing wrong with the old one. There are also changes which allow for four different “load outs” which players can customise before they enter a match. Upon further investigation, this could have quite the effect on the gameplay, as in previous Uncharted games, there was always a rush to be the first to reach the sniper rifle, for example. Players can also buy extra boosters for XP, which will last one game and give players an advantage of re-spawning quicker, or carrying an extra grenade. Another change is that players do not need to press a button to pick up ammo and grenades, and will only need to press triangle to pick up a new weapon. The power-plays also offer up some interesting gameplay. “Marked Man” is something players will try to avoid at all costs, as the position is given away, and it is the team’s responsibilty to look after the marked player. Losing teams are also given a helping hand, as a power-play will come into force which inflicts double damage on the winning team.

As the beta goes on, we are sure to find out a lot more about Uncharted 3’s multiplayer experience. New modes and maps are going to be added, and as players level-up and unlock more boosters and weapon mods, we will see how that affects the dynamics of the modes on offer. So far though, it is obvoius that Naughty Dog has recognised and addressed some issues from the previous multiplayer, but some of the old gripes still remain. In terms of the added customisation, players can ignore the aesthetics and just upgrade their weapons to get on with the game if they so choose.

Fans of the game will be pleased with the improvements made to the multiplayer, while those new to the series may not be as enthusiastic to begin with. However, the gameplay is as solid as always, so it shouldn’t take the newcomers too long to start enjoying the game.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is set for a November 1st release, exclusively for PlayStation 3.