More Articles on Ratchet & Clank 2
Ratchet & Clank 2SCEA Announces R&C2Ratchet & Clank 2 - First ScreensRatchet & Clank 2 On The Way???Latest Reviews
Guitar Hero: On TourSecret Agent ClankWe Love Golf!Ferrari Challenge Buzz! Quiz TVUser Reviews
There are currently 1 User Reviews for Ratchet & Clank 2Write your own review for this game today and you will receive 100 Gamer Points.
Click here to register
Ratchet & Clank 2 Review
Chris Leyton
09/12/2003
The comedy duo return to the PS2 once again in less then a year...
Although itâs barely a year since we last saw Ratchet & Clank in action, we have to say itâs a welcoming relief to see this duo on the Playstation2 again.
For those who may not have caught up with the first game, âRatchet & Clankâ is a traditional 3D platformer, starring a comical duo akin to Naughty Dogâs âJak & Daxterâ series â“ in fact thatâs not necessarily where the similarities end. Although âRatchet & Clankâ may not push the platform genre forwards, its focus on strange and eccentric weapons and gadgets keeps it entertaining and enjoyable.
Picking up where things left off in the first game, we find the two guys taking a bit off time to relax from the strains of saving the world, in all honesty things have been a little slow since they defeated the evil Chairman Drek. But then a call comes in from an Abercrombie Fizzwidget, the eccentric CEO of a company called Megacorp; it seems that a masked intruder has broken into Megacorp's HQ and walked away with the firm's latest invention: the 'Protopet', a super-cute little creature designed to be the perfect household pet. Fizzwidget is confident that everyone in the Bogon galaxy is going to want one, so it's essential that he gets the Protopet back fast, and who better to help him than Ratchet and Clank?
The gameplay remains largely unchanged from last yearâs outing, requiring the player to make his way through the galaxy, solving a variety of missions on each planet. Once again the game features stunning cut-scenes to draw the player into the game; itâs thanks to these and the strong gameplay that youâll find yourself hooked more then you thought you would. Instead of placing focus on traditional platform elements but combat instead, âRatchet & Clank 2â does feel more like an action/adventure title at times, however thereâs no denying this gameâs roots lie as a platformer.
Whilst the actual game hasnât changed that much, Insomniac Games have been busy beefing up every aspect of the game, from the number of missions to the real stars of the show â“ the crazy weapons. Because of the time spent on these and the sheer amount, everybody will find those they like and those they donât; âRatchet & Clank 2â features 20 new weapons, whilst itâs also possible to import weapons from the original game or buy them from a special vendor. Not since the glorious âMDKâ and its sequel have we seen such a crazy and charismatic arsenal of weapons, from the brilliant âmini-nukesâ to âturret-gunsâ, each of them brilliantly fun to use and play with. In an attempt to add a layer of depth to the proceedings, weapons upgrade the more you use them, resulting is some attacks that simply stagger belief. Ratchet himself also gains experience as you progress through the game, with his life gauge increasing depending on how many bad guys you take out. Finally itâs possible to buy a huge range of items, armour and upgrades at the various vendors youâll find scattered throughout the levels.
By placing more emphasis on the weapons, the sequel becomes much more of an enjoyable and faster paced game then the original, which could largely be played without using a gun at all.
To spice up the action the game presents you with a number of challenges, such as racing in a hoverbike race, taking out the enemy in a space dogfight or becoming the best at a gladiator contest. Completing these rewards the player with new weapons, gadgets and bolts to spend on whatever you wish.
Whilst the level designs are predominantly based around a linear design, there is scope to explore and discover secrets located in each level, however itâs never enough to feel as though youâre wandering aimlessly.
Although âRatchet & Clank 2â is based on the original âRatchet & clankâ graphics engine (which was essentially borrowed from Naughty Dogâs Jak & Daxter), itâs testimony to it that it still looks so good a year down the line. Itâs a combination of technical effect and artistic style, featuring character models that sport a smooth organic look to them (apart from the robots naturally) and environments that are bustling with activity. The weapon effects have been worked on and look better then ever as a result; quite easily âRatchet & Clank 2â is testimony to the strengths of the ageing PS2 platform.
Iron Man
Date Added:Fri 6th Jul 2007 17:24