Is Uncharted 2 Multiplayer a Joke?

I've recently gotten back into Uncharted 2 multiplayer. Well, I tried anyway. You see, after playing Uncharted 3's beta, I've concluded that the predecessor was so flawed, I don't see how I didn't see it for what it was prior.

Now before anyone discredits me, I consider myself an UC2 multiplayer vet. I normally do very well in my matches (at the top of the scoreboard most times) and have almost hit rank 60. I also have a platinum trophy in the game. I have logged in 14 days of mulitplayer in all. Now, seeing as I met most of my current friends list in UC2 and they play it often, I thought I'd give the game another "season". Shortly afterwards, I found myself putting down the controller and saying, as the Angry Video Game Nerd would say, "What were they thinking???"

Only after time with what I would consider a vastly improved sequel, I just can't take the cheapness that runs as a rampant excuse for "skill" in the game. Now, I don't think I even have to mention the abomination that is Situational Awareness. I'm sure many of you shivered as you read that. Well, I encountered a fellow in Elimination using just that booster... wielding a shotgun... standing motionless around a corner. Yeah, 'nuff said.

But wait, what about all that other garbage? What about the hair-tearing frustration that is corner shooting? In case you didn't know, corner shooting is when a player uses (abuses) the "lopsided" perspective of the third-person camera and will repeatedly move in and out of cover, usually with a FAL and Fleet Foot (faster movement while aiming), and shoot you, EVEN IF HE ISN'T VISIBLE ON YOUR SCREEN.

Then there's the bunny hopping. You know those guys who jump around like a moron, making them an extremely difficult (annoying) target? Yeah, those guys. Or maybe you've been killed by a dude who dropped a grenade when he should technically be dead by that point? Or the shotgun that only requires the user to face his camera in the general direction of the enemy?

When the Uncharted 3 beta initially began, a lot of people accused the developers of making the game "clunky". What Naughty Dog ACTUALLY did was limit the number of ways people could exploit the animations like they did in the previous game. If you noticed, grenades must be held up before throwing, diminishing the chances of the despicable "manual martyrdom". This goes for just about everything I mentioned above. The worst part is that if you don't follow the ludicrous play styles of these "elites", you'll suffer most times.

Now, I've had several friends ask me to a game of Uncharted 2, but I politely deny the request. After UC3, the garbage that goes on in UC2 is nigh unbearable for me: full-autoing weapons across the map with perfect accuracy, the ease of camping in the upper end of The Temple, the treasure cheating and game-breaking geometry glitches that still haven't been fixed, etc.

So, I have to say, I'm officially retired from UC2 multiplayer.
I will most definitely play through the game for a fourth time in anticipation of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, but for multiplayer, well, you guys can hit me up on November 1st. Hopefully, it won't turn out like the last one.There may not be another Zynga game in which Energy is more important than in Adventure World. Every switch thrown, every puzzle solved and beastie whacked costs you the Facebook game juice. Players often find themselves without Energy minutes into an Expedition. But this isn't the time for whining--it's time to show you the value of upgrading your Tools and how to do it.

Tools: The Game Changer
If you noticed, each piece of debris and monster has a life bar, and normally take multiple hits with your Whip or Machete to whittle down. This, of course, quickly becomes a waste in later Expeditions purely due to the amount of obstacles in your path. But increasing the amount of damage your various Tools inflict against said baddies could considerably reduce the Energy spend in-game.

For instance, say a Snake has three hit points and is Level 5. Since monsters can hit back in this game, it could take three to five Energy before an enemy goes down. Now, imagine if you had upgraded your Whip to Level 2. Offing that Snake would take just two to four Energy with a beefier Whip. The same situation applies to Tools like the Machete.
Adventure World Tool Shop inside
And Now For Your How-To
Adventure World Tool Shop outsideUpgrading your Tools in Adventure World is simple. All you need to do is head back to Base Camp from an Expedition, and look for a makeshift hut that should already be in place in your headquarters. When you click on the Tool Shop, a window will appear featuring all the Tools you've found thus far on your journeys. Click on the Tool you wish to upgrade.

Once you click on a Tool to upgrade, you'll notice that each Tool costs Coins to upgrade. That's it--no asking friends to help you out with materials or farming certain crops for special items. Just the goods you find during your travels in search of El Dorado. However, Coins are actually quite rare in this game, so you'll need to save and spend wisely.

When you have enough Coins for an upgrade, just click on the appropriate icon to pay up. Tool upgrades are also level-locked, meaning you must reach a certain level for most Tools before being able to upgrade them using Coins. If you're feeling impatient, you could always unlock access to those higher level Tools early using Adventure Cash.

Just One Small Catch...
However, some Tool upgrades do require an extra boost: your Tool Shop. Yes, the building itself can be upgraded, too. And this time, you will need items from your friends. (Just think of how things work in CityVille.) Luckily, you only have to do this about twice to unlock access to all of the game's Tools. Then, it's back onto leveling up to access new upgrades for Coins.
Adventure World Tool Shop Upgrade
Upgraded Tools are hands-down the way to go, if you want to save precious Energy for the good stuff, that is. You know, exploring ... uncovering the secrets of El Dorado? That kind of stuff. Your wallet might thank us later.

Click here to find all of our Adventure World Tips in one spot >

[Source: Zynga]

Have you upgraded your Tools in Adventure World yet? What other Energy-saving tips might you have for your fellow adventurers? Sound off in the comments. 1 Comment