Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Lore & Background

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves deepens the personal history of Nathan Drake, revealing his past partnership with the charming but morally ambiguous Harry Flynn. The game also introduces Chloe Frazer, a fellow treasure hunter and Drake's on-again, off-again love interest, who becomes a key ally. The narrative weaves historical legend with modern-day conflict, centering on Marco Polo's lost fleet and the fabled Cintamani Stone, which is later revealed to be a colossal sapphire hidden in the mythical kingdom of Shambhala.

The game's lore expands the Uncharted universe by grounding its fantastical elements in real-world history and mythology. The Cintamani Stone is tied to the Buddhist concept of a wish-fulfilling jewel, while Shambhala is a legendary hidden valley from Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The story also introduces the villain Zoran Lazarević, a Serbian war criminal who seeks the stone for its supposed power to create an invincible army, adding a dark, militaristic threat to the treasure hunt.

Beyond the main quest, the game explores themes of trust, betrayal, and redemption. Drake's relationships with Elena Fisher (his love interest from the first game) and Chloe are tested, and the story culminates in a high-stakes confrontation that forces Drake to choose between personal gain and the greater good. The lore of Shambhala and the Cintamani Stone also sets up future entries in the series, particularly the supernatural elements seen in Uncharted 3 and Uncharted 4.

In Their Own Story

The air in the Tibetan monastery was thin, cold, and smelled of old stone and incense. Nathan Drake pressed his back against the wall, the weight of a centuries-old mystery pressing on him. 'You sure about this, Nate?' Chloe's voice crackled through the earpiece. He didn't answer. Instead, he looked at the faded map in his hand — the one Marco Polo had supposedly carried, the one that led to a valley no one had ever found. Below, in the courtyard, Lazarević's men were dragging crates of explosives. The Cintamani Stone wasn't just a legend. It was real. And it was about to be used to reshape the world. Drake took a breath, checked his pistol, and stepped into the shadows. The hunt was on.

Reader's Guide

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves begins with Nathan Drake in a precarious situation — hanging from a derailed train car over a cliff in the Himalayas, his fingers slipping on cold, wet metal as the car groans and shifts. The story then flashes back to Istanbul, where Drake, his old friend Harry Flynn, and Chloe Frazer steal a lamp from a museum that holds a key to Marco Polo's lost fleet. The central MacGuffin is the Cintamani Stone, a legendary jewel that Lazarević believes can grant him an invincible army. From there, the adventure takes you through the rooftops of Nepal, a war-torn city crawling with mercenaries; a tense infiltration of a Tibetan monastery; and a final, desperate climb through the lost city of Shambhala, where blue resin flows like water and ancient guardians still walk. Along the way, you'll solve environmental puzzles, engage in cover-based gunfights, and survive set-pieces that include a collapsing building, a helicopter chase through a village, and a brutal showdown atop a train racing through the mountains. Key tips: use stealth when possible, conserve ammo for heavy encounters, and always look for handholds — Drake's grip is stronger than your patience.

Did You Know?

• The train sequence in the opening chapter was inspired by the 1985 film 'Runaway Train' and was one of the first set-pieces designed for the game.
• The game's script was over 2,000 pages long, and the voice actors recorded their lines together in the same room to improve chemistry.
• The fictional city of Shambhala was based on descriptions from Tibetan Buddhist texts and the writings of the explorer Nicholas Roerich.
• Uncharted 2 was the first game in the series to feature a multiplayer mode, which included cooperative and competitive play.