How The Train Level In Uncharted 2 Works
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- An additional Boundary Break video that goes into more detail about Uncharted 2's greatest set piece level. Here's how it works!
The Boundary Break episode: • Off Camera Secrets | U...
/ freako
I just love how they designed the tracks to constantly twist and turn throughout the loop to further mask the fact you're going in a circle. Naughty Dog are spectacular at graphical sleight-of-hand.
Really interesting.
Yes thank you for explaining this basic trick that's been done in every train scene in every game ever.
I always wondered how the hell Naughty Dog did this. God, they’re geniuses. Thank you very much.
When I first played this level my first initial thought was “How did they do this?!” And you beautifully answered my question! The magic in video games is simply amazing. Thank you for a great video!
Thanks! Only been wondering for about 9 years
This was fascinating. I love seeing how good programmers manage things like that: the PS3 had what, 512 MB total memory? I love the point-out of how Drake's shadow changes.
PS3 only had 256 ram!
Hi Freako! My understanding is 512 total, 256 for video and 256 for system. But yeah, a big hindrance when they split it like that whereas Xbox had access to all of it's 512. PS3 could get around it with clever programming via cell architecture but games like this often had to resort to assembly language to pull that off.
Thank you very much and, by the way, there's no problem with hearing your voice. You explained it perfectly. :)
Yeah, the voice was fine! Make moar!
that was explained so well dude thanks for the awesome video 👍🏻 never realised it was in a constant loop
Yurrupt yeah another skill of his haha
How the hell is it not an obvious loop.
It's quite obvious actually, because if it isn't in a loop, it would have ended already..
Skyrilla at first I just figured everything was just randomly generated.. and I never remembered seeing the same places over again because the loop went on and on
Thanks Freako! This train sequence was the main reason that I wanted to see a boundary break on Uncharted 2, and I was so disappointed when Shesez showed barely any footage. Keep it up, man!
I was hoping he would count how many traincars the train consist of.
I've always wondered about this since I first played the game. Glad it could be explained after all these years! ND really does go above and beyond to make sure you don't notice their tricks.
You know those questions that arise years ago that always stick around in the back of your mind? This was one of them. Thanks for putting that together and showing us the full loops, it’s super interesting and pretty ingenious as well
You explained that really well.
Thanks, I was always very curious as to how complicated the code behind all that was, but it turns out I was easily fooled and it's much simpler than I imagined, haha!
If it was that easy it would've been done before by a lesser developer.
But it didn't and it took one of the absolute best devs to do it.
NasIsLike - The most impressive parts are the timing, camera movement, and epic setpieces that distract you from what's happening, but really aside from that I'm sure most studios could do this.
The biggest thing that creates the illusion is how massive the looping map is, and making it so long basically guarantees that the player will progress to the next setpiece without passing the same environment 2 or 3 times.
That said, Naughty Dog are the masters of these on-rails chase sequences, the desert chase in UC4 is fucking insane.
slvracobra1337 You mean UC3?
xLightXWolfx - Well, there _is_ a desert chase in 3 and it's good, but I'm talking about the city chase in UC4 that transitions to a village/desert and that annoying truck that won't die is following you.
NasIsLike this is much easier than any other "Train levels" that exist in games. But it's just probably takes more resources. So sometimes it's better to do a hard way, but make an illusion of train moving. But in game like this, it's visually better to create large looping track, and it's also easier
This is the video I've been waiting for years.Where you been man??
Josh Mc Where has he been? Something to do with Ellie but we won't go there...
What an awesome video, I love seeing these kind of technical stuff behind games!! Thanks for sharing with us Freako, take care!
This was one of the best videos I have ever seen!
your voice makes me clear my throat every two seconds
thanks
Nice job getting all the footage for shesez, good thing you popped up in my recommended tab I was planning to check out the channel anyways
On boundary break Shesez didnt really make it clear how the train level actually worked. I'm glad you did it. Nice job!
Really cool, I already guessed ut had something to do with a loop, but hadn't comfirmed it. Thanks for sharing! It was perfectly explained!
Thanks, I think this offers a really nice insight in how games technically manage the illusion of continuity between scenes, but also how much thought and design goes into creating an action scene like this in a game world.
Half into the video and HOLY MOLLY I need to play it again
Was always baffled by this level, thanks so much for explaining that! Super interesting :)
Thanks for dissecting my favorite level in gaming history.
Fascinating.
Something I love about this level that you rarely saw in "moving" levels up to 2008 is that you and everything physical on the train actually does have momentum. If you jump off or push someone off, the ragdoll hits the ground and bounces wildly as it's actually traveling at the train's speed when it hits the ground.
Wow, I remembered the graphics looking so much better when I was a kid.
Thanks for this. This level has always been one of the most fascinating accomplishments to me - I've always wondered how they did it.
Is it possible to take a character from an entirely different game and place them into another? For example, is it possible to place John Marston in the Bunker of UDF?
Also Freako, you’ve gotta stop worrying about your voice man. Your voice is YOU! Honestly, I think many of your viewers including myself would like to see more videos with your voice included.
Another great video from you man! It’s very interesting to see how these things work. Keep up the good work!
EanFox am actually testing that. Ill let you know if it works
Does it? I'm still waiting.
AnonyHawk I forgot. Ill test it real quick. I have to hook up my JB Tho.
Great explanation, glad to see that Boundary Break finally has some peeps on board with knowledge of game engines and how stuff works instead of guessing.
Saw this in my recommended, instantly subbed and turned on notifications. I'm gonna check your other videos, but I really enjoyed this "behind the scenes" of a game level. Please continue to make these.
great video! i’ve always been curious about this
Wasn't it obvious?
Odd seeing a popular UA-camr with only a single comment, feels really weird
@@SkyrillaNo.
IIRC - Gears of War 1 did this as well, three years before UC2 was released. The main difference being that the Gears train was a constant straight line, but man did it look rad.
The loop was also shorter which at face value is worse but it also meant the game didn't have to use any camera tricks to transition from outside to the tunnel and to the outside again.
Also in 2008 in Gears of War 2 they had that flying level. Not sure if it was based on loops or not.
ua-cam.com/video/3IMX8IEEZSw/v-deo.htmlm43s
I always wondered how this level worked, but for some reason never thought to check that someone might have answered it. Thank you!
I think the best set piece is the building falling and my fav level is the tank chasing
The tank chasing wasso fun and frustrating at the same time lol
The one in the village?
the zoom out during the 3rd section looked cool
That was fascinating dude, thank you!
yes! thank you for this! I was really hoping to see more from Shesez's video - seeing the entire loops is super interesting
This is absolutely fascinating to know, how they managed such a complex set-piece. After all, it does make sense when you think about it for an extra minute, but damn, that is some resourcefulness.
Amazing video. I’ve never been too into game design but when I was younger I remember thinking about how this level was even possible.
I remember playing this and just waiting watching the train go. So amazing.
Really great job for the creative team and the programmers to came up with these clever ideas. I rather say that the most important thing in the whole segment is the actual speed of the train and the scale of the loop. Such an oustanding example of amazing level design and correct use of camera tricks directly from the cinematic media.
I always wondered about how this level actually worked behind the curtain, thanks !
Don't worry about your voice, dude. It's got a cool grit about it, it's unique. That's a good thing, and great video! Very well explained.
This level is a fucking masterpiece. Absolutely basic yet amazing design. The director/lead designer for this level deserves a raise.
It’s like the moving backdrops in really old cartoons, but in full detailed 3D.
This made me feel like playing the game all over again.
Finally! My questions that I've been asking for 8.5 years have finally been answered!
Thanks for this. I have wanted to know this for a looong time
Nicely explained! Thank you for this
*clears throat
I actually asked my self this particular question when i was playing the game. This is really exciting!
Your voice isn't that bad. I like the extra detail in your vids.
Yeah, I always guessed that it was a loop but hearing how it works is really interesting! It’s just amazing that they were able to do all this is 2009. I mean, that’s the same year that Wii Sports Resort came out.
Freako your laugh went perfectly with your icon
Thank you Freako, very cool!
hellsgate700 Terrific
i see what ya done did
Awesome video. It's really cool to learn how this amazing piece was pulled off. Other videos on Uncharted would be welcomed :)
One of the BEST video game level ever made even to this day.
Man, I've known about these tricks since Jet Force Gemini on the N64.
But I still love seeing them in other games.
Man this is an expertly crafted map.
2:21 WOW! Is so non-immersive seeing that train roll over and over in that angle but in first person you can't tell that!
Even when I played the game I did not buy it. No way that rolling train has more momentum than the train itself
So cool. Damn, I miss Uncharted... really need to play this again.
Thank you ! When I played it I didn't thought it was a circle
Awesome explanation and a fantastic video. Thanks!
Thanks freako, there is no problem hearing your voice you explained this level very well
This is just perfectly explained, thank you plentiful Freako! ^_^
This is why I love naughty dog. Even now this train sequence is still ingenius as well as breathtaking
Thank you! I was specifically interested in how this segment works :)
I learned something today, thanks Freako
Cool video. I wish there were more like this on youtube explaining the tricks of the trade.
Uncharted 2 is my favorite because it’s the only one I played. This part was my favorite part in the game because you just go one direction and you wouldn’t get lost
I always wondered about this in games that have constant self moving levels that only changes as you progress.
This was like watching where the sausages are being made.
One of the best explained video i ever see...
I didn't know that on the cliff section it was looped up there thanks for this and hello came over from Boundary break
Simple nothing - this magic trick was something I couldn't work out at all when I played the game - managing this multi-chapter train with not a single loading sequence, without ever doing something that was too obviously a trick to hide details. Not to mention, managing to keep the gameplay fluid while all parts of the train are so visibly curving and shunting and coming close to lethal obstacles (unlike many train segments in games where the landscape would be little more than set dressing looping past you).
I don't think this even really covers how they managed to have a portion of the jungle where you are meant to maneuver past lethal train signals in a short window, but have them not show up once Nathan passes that portion of the train. My best guess is that they're allowed to spawn anywhere on that loop track? Can't even really imagine how that got set up though.
The two carriages with high walls and one cutscene in the tunnel. Simple but effective! It fooled me too
I have always wondered how this worked, thank you
These types of videos are very interesting
I swear you did this video last year. I remember almost all of this but the parts about Boundary Break.
Amazing slight of hand by Naughty Dog, cheers for the insight man.
Finally I know what the engine looks like.
I got used to the voice after a while! Thanks for making really informative content!
You should explain the train scene at the end of Lost Legacy. I imagine they do a looping thing also, but at the same time you can see the tower in the distance getting closer.
Cool! Ideas i can use in game development! Thanks!
This is like looking at the world through 4th dimension
Your voice is as calm as Shesez. I see no problem bro
This was really interesting to see it like this.
Always wondered what would happen if you stood on top of the train without progressing through the chapter.
This stage was epic and the most memorable of UC2
So basically, it's a series of illusory loops. And they are waiting to be broken by certain triggers activated by the player.
This level was amazing
That was so cool. I always wondered how games do those types of gameplay
My old PS3 was breaking and I played this level. One interesting thing is that the tunnel segment never de-loaded for me when it was supposed to (when the general cocks the shotgun)
I died before i could get far cause it was crushing but i thought that was worth sharing
So freako, there is a total of the engine + 50 carriages, the green ''container'' carriage that is lifted in the air is number 30 from the engine, long tree trunks is number 17, you fight Draza in 13 and this is the last one you get to in the game, can you make a camera breach to check what exactly is in the remaining carriages in the front? Are there any character models in them? Any weapons? How does the engine look with a close up on it? Can you perhaps even put drake into the first 12 carriages? Is there solid ground? After the explosion of butane tanks the front part of the train keeps on going, where to?, probably just disappears as the cutscene takes over but maybe this is not the case. Please check the stuff for us haha
I didn't know it was possible to see that is a game, good youtube recommendation
(PS : English is not my native language and I understood you perfectly)
Wow, that was really cool. A lot of people seem to become disappointed when they realize how the trick works (like in magic), but I'm the exact opposite. I gain more respect, and become more interested. It's pretty fascinating to see how these scenarios are built. The jeep chase in uncharted 4 would be cool to see like this.
That is some big brain programming. What a great illusion. Nice.
This is fascinating! Are there any other ways to make a train segment work or is this pretty much how any game would do it?
I actually don’t care how they did it. This sequence is probably the most impressive and enjoyable sequences of any game I’ve played. I was transfixed and smiling with awe throughout the whole thing when I played it.
Nobody cares about your voice if the video is so well done. Please keep doing this kind of videos! Your voice isnt bad
Awesome stuff. Man this is such a great channel
For anyone curious, the train has 51 cars starting from when Nate jumps on the back