Review: Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2)
System: PS2
Title: Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Publisher: Insomniac Games
Writer: Frodo
Overview: Released last November, the third game in the Ratchet and Clank series features the Lombax Ratchet and the robot Clank facing off against Dr. Nefarious and the evil Tyhrranoids. It has taken me this long to write a review because I can’t stop playing this game. Ratchet and Clank is a series that focuses on combat platforming. Sound strange? It’s actually an interesting hybrid of the classic Rare Banjo and Kazooie style platformer with a more gun focused FPS. Think Jet Force Gemini, or a good version of Starfox Assault’s foot missions. There is a single player mode familiar to fans of the previous games, and an all new multiplayer mode that can be played online with up to players.
Shininess: Ratchet and Clank really make use of the PS2. In the game you will find brilliantly modeled characters, environments and awesome weapon designs. Just looking at this game, you can see how truly inspired the designs are. The shininess is definitely shown in the cutscenes, which are so fluidly animated, you would think they were for a feature film. The voice acting is great, the writing is filled with humor and nuance, making the cinematics a treat to watch. It’s almost like playing an interactive cartoon. The menu system is laid out nicely, everything is just designed very well. The sound is awesome as well, while the music might not have many themes that will stick in your head (which might be a good thing) the sound effects are spot on, and sometimes hilarious. You will be treated with voice acting from actors like Armin Shimerman (Quark from Star Trek: DS9), James Arnold Taylor (Tidus from FFX) and many more slightly unknown, yet very talented, voice actors.
Funness: This is a very unique game, with some great play elements that make it incredibly fun. It is often less about classic platforming (jumping and collecting items) as it is about blending platforming, shooting, and RPGs together. Ratchet and Clank has an awesome system of upgrading, as you use your weapons, they gain levels. Like little semi-automatic Pokemon. Each weapon has a number of levels it can be upgraded to, with more firepower and abilities each level. There are some awesome gadgets as well, like a weapon that turns your enemies into ducks, along with your standard machine and shotguns. The shooting is incredibly smooth and intensely satisfying, and so are the missions. The worlds in the game are full and detailed, challenging and interesting. Splitting up the standard missions are more task-based combat missions where you have to help out the space rangers. These missions almost mirror the multiplayer, which I will get to in a second. Also included are small platforming minigames and an incredible amount of unlockables and secrets, including new costumes and special effects. I have never played the other games in the series, so I can’t agree with other reviewers saying that they feel that this game is basically an expansion pack for the previous game, but it took me about 20 hours to beat. I am a completionist, however, so I really try to find everything in the game the first time around. If you are good, you can probably finish the game faster than I. The only problem with that is you will end up spending hours and hours in the multiplayer. Not only is it fun to play at home with your friends, but going online is awesome. This is the first platform team combat online game I’ve seen, and it accomplishes the task very well. There are a couple modes to choose from, your standard deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture the flag and the awesome siege mode. Siege is a team based game where you run around on a map, trying to capture the other team’s base which is guarded by various forms of weaponry. You can use your standard guns, along with some air and ground vehicles to drive along and shoot at things. Siege will keep you very busy for a very long time.
Worthiness: If you enjoy things that are fun, Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal is a game for you. In my opinion, this is the game to buy if you are buying a slim PStwo for the first time. The online component is built in with the slim PStwo, and Ratchet and Clank definitely is worth your time online. That being said, if you like games like Rare’s old N64 titles, you will absolutely love Ratchet and Clank. The storyline is funny and interesting, the cutscenes are awesome to watch, the voice acting is actually good, and the game has so many unlockables, you completionists will be spending hours trying to find everything. I have played through this game three times. It is excellent. Definitely check it out.
Score: 5/5 Buy it!
