Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Video Game
STUDIO Naughty Dog
RELEASED 2009

Nathan Drake tracks down Marco Polo's centuries-old trail to finally track down one of Earth's greatest mysteries: the city of Shambhala, the holder of the elusive Cintamani Stone. With the help of Chloe, Elena and Sully, Nate will uncover Shambhala's secrets that could change the course of history.

Knowledge

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Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Source

22 Months From Start to Finish

The whole game came together in just 22 months, with a solid 6 of those spent purely in pre-production before the team even got properly stuck into building levels.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Source

The Tibetan Village Was Inspired by an Indie Art Game

Game designer Richard Lemarchand has said the quiet, reflective Tibetan village section drew inspiration from The Graveyard, a small 2008 art game about slowly walking an elderly woman through a graveyard, of all things.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Source

Harry Flynn Roasts Drake's Weight

When Harry Flynn saves Nate from a botched jump in the second chapter, he cracks "you put on weight, mate" and tells him to lay off the doughnuts, a cheeky little reference to the Doughnut Drake multiplayer skin most players wouldn't even connect unless they'd already unlocked it.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Source

Over 200 Game of the Year Wins

By the time the dust settled, Among Thieves had racked up more than 200 Game of the Year awards from outlets all over the industry, a haul that still gets brought up whenever people argue about the best games of that generation.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Source

A Record-Setting Night at the Spike Video Game Awards

At the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards, Uncharted 2 pulled in a then-record eight nominations and walked away with three wins voted for entirely by fans, including the big one, Game of the Year.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Source

Five Trophies at the Game Developers Choice Awards

At the 2010 Game Developers Conference, Uncharted 2 didn't just take the overall Game of the Year prize, it swept up five trophies total that night, also picking up wins for writing, audio, technology and visual art.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Source

You Can Actually Play Marco Polo

Run past a rooftop pool during one of the city chapters and jump in, and Drake will actually start playing a round of Marco Polo, a playful little callback to the explorer's role in the first game. Naughty Dog liked the joke enough to bring it back years later in Uncharted 4.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Source

A Chalkboard Quotes Homer's Odyssey

When Flynn tracks Nate down in the second chapter, keep an eye on the bar's chalkboard behind them, it reads "polytlas dios Nathan," a play on the ancient Greek epithet for Odysseus that roughly translates to Nathan the great sufferer, which, given everything Nate goes through in this game, feels pretty accurate.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Source

Elena's Actress Wasn't Even Trying to Audition

Emily Rose landed the role of Elena Fisher almost by accident, she'd just tagged along to support a friend who was auditioning, and ended up getting cast herself thanks to the chemistry she showed reading opposite Nolan North.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Source

The Cast Rehearsed Together Like a Film Shoot

Unlike the first game, which was shot in a fairly rough open shed setup, Among Thieves had the whole cast rehearsing and performing scenes together on a proper soundstage with three or four mocap cameras running, letting the actors improvise off each other the way they would on an actual movie set.