Look, let’s be real. If you’re booting up Uncharted 2: Among Thieves today, you aren't doing it because you want a walking simulator. You’re here for the train. You're here for that heart-stopping opening where Nathan Drake is dangling off a literal cliff in a wrecked railcar while bleeding out. It’s one of the greatest openings in gaming history, period. But as much as we love the set pieces, this game is sneaky. It’s harder than it looks. Even if you've played the Nathan Drake Collection version on PS4 or the original PS3 disc, the combat encounters in this game can be incredibly punishing if you play them like a standard cover shooter.
A solid walkthrough for Uncharted 2 isn't just about telling you where the treasures are hidden; it’s about understanding the rhythm of the AI. Naughty Dog built these enemies to flank you. They don't just sit behind a crate and wait for you to pop their heads. They toss grenades to flush you out. They send heavily armored guys with shotguns—the infamous "Shotgun Heavies"—to walk right up to your face while you're distracted.
The game is a masterpiece of pacing, but that pacing hits a brick wall if you don't know how to handle the "Desperate Times" chapter or the verticality of the Tibetan village. You need a strategy.
Stop Playing It Like a Modern Cover Shooter
Most people get stuck because they treat the cover system like a holy sanctuary. Big mistake. In Among Thieves, cover is a temporary suggestion. If you stay in one spot for more than ten seconds, a mercenary is going to lob an M67 grenade right at your boots.
The secret sauce to a successful run, especially on Crushing or Brutal difficulty, is "the corner peak." You don't actually press the circle button to stick to the wall. Instead, you stand just behind the corner and aim your reticle around it. Because the camera sits over Nate’s right shoulder, you can shoot enemies while your entire body is technically behind a solid wall. They can’t hit your hitbox, but you can hit theirs. It feels a bit like cheating, but when Zoran Lazarević’s men are raining RPGs on you in Borneo, you’ll be glad you did it.
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Another thing: the hip-fire. Drake is surprisingly accurate when he’s running. In the middle chapters, like "The Urban Warfare" section in Nepal, you’ll find yourself in tight alleyways. Don't always aim down sights. If a guy is rushing you, just spray while backing up. It keeps your movement speed high and prevents you from getting pinned down.
Navigation and the Legendary Train Sequence
Chapter 13, "Locomotion," and Chapter 14, "Tunnel Vision," are the meat of the experience. It’s a literal gauntlet. You're moving through a moving train, which sounds simple until the helicopter shows up. This is where most players lose their minds.
The trick here is to use the environment's verticality. You can hang off the side of the train cars to avoid gunfire from the front. If you see a guy with a shield, don't waste your ammo. Use a grenade or wait for him to reload. If you’re out of explosives, shoot him in the foot; he’ll stumble, and his head will pop out from behind the steel.
Dealing with the Guardian Bosses
Later on, you'll reach Shambhala. This is where the game shifts from a military shooter to something... weirder. Those blue-skinned Guardians? They’re sponges. Total bullet sponges.
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- Don't use pistols. They do basically nothing.
- The Crossbow is your best friend. One shot from a Guardian’s own weapon can take them down way faster than an entire magazine of M4 ammo.
- Keep moving. They have a leaping attack that will one-shot you on higher difficulties.
Actually, the Shambhala section is less about "winning" the fight and more about survival. You often don't have to kill every single Guardian to progress the scene. Focus on the puzzles, keep your distance, and always keep a high-powered weapon in your secondary slot.
The Lazarevic Final Boss Fight: A Lesson in Patience
Zoran Lazarevic is a beast. He’s huge, he’s angry, and he’s fueled by the Resin from the Tree of Life. You cannot shoot him directly. Well, you can, but it won't do anything but make him yell at you.
Basically, the arena is filled with blue sap pockets. You have to lead him toward these pockets and shoot them when he's standing right next to them. The explosion stuns him and chips away at his health. The mistake most people make is trying to stay too close. Lazarevic has a grab move that is essentially an instant game over.
Run in a giant circle. Don't look back unless you're ready to shoot a sap pocket. Use the rolls (circle button) to dodge his grenades, but be careful not to roll into a corner. The terrain in the final arena is uneven, and it’s very easy to get caught on a root or a rock. It takes about 8 to 12 explosions to put him down for good, depending on your difficulty setting. It’s a test of endurance, not accuracy.
Finding the Hidden Treasures (Without a Map)
If you're going for the Platinum trophy, you need all 101 treasures. But let’s be honest, finding them on your own is a nightmare. They usually glitter—a tiny white flash on the screen.
Look up. Seriously. A lot of the treasures in the monastery levels aren't on the floor; they’re stuck to the ceiling or a high pillar. You have to shoot them down to collect them. There’s one in the very first chapter, hanging from the wreck of the train, that almost everyone misses. If you see a weirdly detailed architectural detail that doesn't fit the rest of the room, there's probably a relic there.
The "Strange Relic" (the precursor orb from Jak and Daxter) is back too. It’s in Chapter 5, "Urban Warfare." You’ll find it in a sewer pipe in a small side-alley. Finding this specific item is almost a rite of passage for Uncharted fans.
Why This Game Still Holds Up in 2026
It’s the chemistry. The dialogue between Nate, Chloe, and Elena isn't just filler; it’s the soul of the game. Even during a frantic walkthrough for Uncharted 2, you should stop and listen to the banter. The way the characters react to the world makes the stakes feel real. When Drake says "crap," you feel it.
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The set pieces, like the collapsing building in Nepal, were revolutionary because they weren't just cutscenes. You were playing through the destruction. That’s why we still talk about this game. It didn't just set the bar for Naughty Dog; it set the bar for the entire industry.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
To truly master the game, start by tweaking your settings. Flip the "Camera Sensitivity" up a notch or two; the default can feel a bit sluggish by modern standards. If you're struggling with a specific firefight, remember that the game’s stealth mechanics are actually viable in several chapters. You can often snap the necks of three or four guards before the "loud" music starts, making the subsequent shootout much easier.
- Prioritize the M4 over the AK-47. The fire rate is better, and the recoil is easier to manage at long range.
- Use the "Steel Fist" technique. Soften an enemy with a few bullets while running toward them, then hit the square button for a one-hit melee kill. It’s risky but saves ammo.
- Check the ceiling. Use your weapon's scope to scan high rafters for that telltale treasure glint before leaving any room.
- Master the "Grenade Toss." You can throw grenades while aiming your gun by tapping the L2 button (on most layouts). It’s faster than switching to a dedicated grenade arc.
Focus on your positioning and don't get greedy with your shots. The game rewards patience more than it rewards a "Rambo" playstyle. Once you get the rhythm down, you'll be flying through the Himalayas in no time.