Nathan Drake is hanging off a train. Again. It’s been years since Uncharted 2: Among Thieves redefined what a cinematic action game could actually be, but people are still looking for a solid Uncharted Among Thieves walkthrough because, frankly, those treasures aren't going to find themselves.
The game is a masterpiece of pacing. Naughty Dog basically wrote the blueprint for the modern blockbuster here. But between the collapsing buildings in Nepal and the icy shipwrecks in the Himalayas, it’s remarkably easy to miss the tiny glints of silver and gold tucked into the corners of the map. If you're playing the Nathan Drake Collection on newer hardware or revisiting the original PS3 disc for that hit of nostalgia, you’ve probably realized that "winging it" usually leads to missing about 40% of the collectibles.
Getting Through the War Zone: The Nepal Urban Sections
Early on, the game throws you into the deep end. Nepal is gorgeous but chaotic. Most players get stuck around Chapter 6, "Desperate Times," because the verticality of the level design is a massive jump from the first game. You aren't just running and gunning; you’re platforming while a Hind helicopter tries to turn you into Swiss cheese.
A common mistake in this section is staying in one place for too long. The AI in Among Thieves was a huge step up from Drake's Fortune. They will flank you. If you’re following a walkthrough to survive the Crushing difficulty, the secret isn't just better aim. It's movement. You have to treat the environment like a playground. Swing from the poles, climb the signs, and always look for the red propane tanks. Seriously, those tanks are your best friends when the heavy troopers with shields show up.
When you get to the temple, things slow down. The puzzles here—like the one involving the giant statues and the Phurba dagger—are more about observation than logic. You’ll spend a lot of time looking at Nate’s journal. Pro tip: if you’re trying to speedrun or just get past the "boring" parts, the symbols on the floor always correlate to the positions in the book. Don't overthink it.
The Ice Caves and the Shambhala Transition
Chapter 18, "Heart of Ice," is where the game shifts from a grit-and-grime shooter to a full-on Indiana Jones supernatural epic. This is the part of the Uncharted Among Thieves walkthrough where people usually start getting frustrated with the platforming. The jumps are tighter. The camera angles are more dramatic, which sometimes makes depth perception a nightmare.
Tenzin is your guide here, and honestly, just watch his feet. If he jumps, you jump. If he stops, there’s probably a reason.
The secret to the platforming puzzles in the ice caves is momentum. Naughty Dog designed these sequences to be fluid. If you hesitate, you often miss the window for a ledge grab. This is especially true when you’re dealing with the massive gears and the weight-based elevator systems. You have to stay moving.
Then there are the Guardians. You know, the big, scary, purple-ish guys in yeti skins?
💡 You might also like: Fortnite New Battle Pass Skins: What You Actually Need to Know Before Buying
- Don't waste your primary ammo on them early.
- Use the crossbows dropped by enemies later in the level.
- Run. Seriously, just keep running.
- Melee is a death sentence unless they are already stunned.
Why the Train Level is Still the Gold Standard
We have to talk about "Locomotion." It’s arguably the best level in action gaming history. It’s also where a lot of "100% completion" runs go to die. Because the train is constantly moving, the "treasures" are often attached to the sides of cars or tucked under ledges that disappear behind you forever if you don't grab them immediately.
There is no "going back" on the train. Once you move to the next car, the previous one often becomes inaccessible or the game triggers a checkpoint that prevents backtracking. If you’re hunting for the Strange Relic or the high-value gems, you need to be checking the roofs and the undersides of every single container.
The boss fight at the end of the train sequence against Lieutenant Draza is a lesson in patience. Most people try to rush him. Don't. It's a scripted encounter that relies on the counter-mechanic (the Triangle button on PlayStation). Wait for the prompt, strike, and then get back to cover. It’s a rhythmic fight, not a brute-force one.
✨ Don't miss: Today's Wordle: Why Everyone is Still Obsessed with This Simple Grid
Collecting the Shiny Stuff Without Losing Your Mind
There are 101 treasures in this game. That’s a lot of staring at walls. If you’re using this Uncharted Among Thieves walkthrough to hit that Platinum trophy, remember that the game tracks treasures by chapter. You don't have to do it all in one sitting.
I’ve found that the best way to handle the search is to clear the room of enemies first. I know, it sounds obvious. But Uncharted has a habit of spawning "infinite" enemies in certain sections until you cross an invisible line. If you're wandering around looking for a gold mask while soldiers are lobbing grenades at you, you’re going to have a bad time. Clear the encounter, then go back to the start of the area and do a sweep.
Surviving the Lazarevic Boss Fight
Zoran Lazarevic is a tank. He’s the ultimate "bullet sponge" boss, and if you try to shoot him directly, you’ll run out of ammo before he even breaks a sweat. This fight is entirely about the Resin.
The blue sap on the trees is explosive. You have to lead Lazarevic near a cluster of Resin and shoot it when he’s standing right next to it. That’s the only way to deal real damage. On higher difficulties, like Brutal or Crushing, he will throw three grenades at once with terrifying accuracy. You need to keep a circular path around the arena. Never run in a straight line, and never stop for more than two seconds.
It’s a test of endurance. It’s not particularly "hard" once you get the timing down, but it is punishing. If you miss a shot on the Resin, don't panic. Just keep running to the next tree. There are plenty of them, and they respawn after a short while.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
To truly master the game and get that 100% mark, follow this workflow:
- Prioritize the "Steel Fist" Trophies Early: It’s much easier to get the "10 hand-to-hand kills after softening them with gunfire" trophies in the early Borneo chapters where enemies are weak and don't have armor.
- Use the Journal: Nate’s journal isn't just flavor text. It contains the literal solutions to the puzzles in the Monastery and the Temple.
- Check the "Store": If you’ve beaten the game once, you can unlock tweaks like "Infinite Ammo" or "Slow Motion." These don't disable most trophies (depending on which version you’re playing), making the treasure hunt significantly less stressful.
- Listen for the "Chime": When you are near a treasure, there is a very subtle, high-pitched shimmering sound. Turn your SFX volume up and music down slightly if you’re struggling to find those last few items in the darker cave levels.
- Master the "Soft Cover": You don't always need to press the "circle" button to take cover. Often, just standing behind a pillar without "locking" into it gives you better mobility and a faster aim-down-sights transition.
The beauty of Uncharted 2 is that it rewards curiosity. Even a decade plus after its release, the world feels dense and intentional. Whether you're here for the story or the trophies, taking it slow and observing the environment is the best way to experience everything Shambhala has to offer.