Even though I’m a big fan of platformers and have been since my days back on the NES, I’ve been disappointed in the past few years. Seeing gaming technology advance so quickly, it’s seemed like the platforming games were being left in the dust for more trendy and hip genres. With the monumental release of Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64, my wildest dreams suddenly came true, but also my most horrid nightmares. With the sudden influx of platforming games, and a large number of them being mediocre or redundant, I was once again faced with a quandary. Is a platform game OK just for the sake that it’s a platform game, or does quality really win out over quantity? And, can a platform game deliver the action that I crave, while still staying true to its roots? Well, just having sat down for some serious time with Insomniac Games’ Ratchet And Clank: Going Commando, I’m relieved to say that quality does indeed matter and the fine line between quality platforming and intense action does exist somewhere other than in my imagination.
Staying true to much of what made the first Ratchet And Clank such a success for the PS2, Ratchet And Clank: Going Commando takes the bar that its predecessor set and launches it into the sky. Those familiar with the series will instantly recognize the distinct attitude and humor of the first. As the game opens, Ratchet and Clank are being interviewed by some news reporters, inquiring what the two have been up to after saving the world in their first adventure. Well, to be blunt, they haven’t been up to much and are itching for action. Enter Abercrombie Fizzwidget, an eccentric and Don King-talking CEO of Mega Corp., a universal conglomerate based in the Bogon galaxy. He “kidnaps” our heroes and tells them that he has a mission for them. Someone has stolen the proto pet, a cute little critter that if misused, is capable of unleashing galaxy destroying powers. Ratchet and Clank must get the proto pet back and save the universe. The only clues that the daring duo have to go on is a grainy video feed from a surveillance camera showing a mysterious enemy stealing the little critter. And, with that, the two jet off in their spaceship, determined to get to the bottom of the theft. From the start, players will take control of Ratchet, who thankfully, controls pretty much like he did in the first game. Using your ship, you’ll have the ability to travel to different planets to complete mission objectives and gather more clues while st
aying hot on the trail of the proto pet thief.
Gamers will notice two new meters that appear onscreen while you are using your weapons. A sort RPG-ish system now rewards players with weapon upgrades after you’ve used them a certain amount of time in battle. Not only does it keep you motivated to bust out the big guns quite a bit, it also keeps you on your toes because you’ll need certain weapons for certain situations and an upgraded weapon is most certainly more effective than a weaker one. You may favor the rocket launcher for most battles, but you can be sure that you’ll be placed in a situation where that weapon may not be the best choice. Also, throughout the game you’ll pick up bolts from defeated enemies which can be used to buy items and weapon mods that can add attributes to your big guns. One mod will make your shots shoot out bolts of electricity upon impact, arcing to any other nearby enemies and damaging them as well. Another interesting mod allows some of your guns to auto target foes in your way, instead of just having to shoot in their general vicinity to score kills.
In fact, the game is all about upgrades and tweaks to your available items and weapons. With the weapon upgrade system I mentioned earlier, your guns will seemingly take on a life of their own, going from normal to super versions. Beating the game and then running through it again with a maxed out weapon will also allow you to upgrade your firepower to mega standards. Ratchet will also be able to buy new armor throughout the course of the game, which helps to alleviate some of the damage that is unleashed upon him. All these upgrades cost bolts, though, so you’ll need to ration your money wisely. Also, you’ll have access to some of the weapons from the first game in the series. If you have a save on your memory card from that game, you’ll be able to score the weapons free of charge from a wandering gadgetron vendor that you’ll encounter every now and then during your travels. If you don’t have the save on your memory card, the weapons are still purchasable, but will cost you bolts to acquire.
Players this time will also get to control Clank once again, and there have been some notable upgrades to the little fella since Ratchet And Clank. Clank is able to control various robots and machines that he comes into contact with during his levels, to which he can issue orders or commands to. We won’t spill the beans on all the various kinds of bots that he can control, but we will reveal the microbot. The microbot, although small, can attack enemies and can also open locked doors that would have been previously inaccessible without them. Overall, the Clank levels and the wide array of actions he can perform help to create a nice contrast to the sheer level of destruction you’ll be unleashing while playing as Ratchet.
And, as if I hadn’t already touted the sheer number of upgrades and bonuses, extra content junkies will squeal like little girls when they get a glimpse of the enormous amount of bonus content that is available in this game. First, beating the game will unlock the Challenge Mode. In this mode, you’ll be placed in a level that i
s absolutely swarming with enemies. Your objective: kill as many enemies as possible and stay alive. The more enemies that you kill without getting hit will add a multiplier to the number of bolts that you’ll receive when they’re destroyed. Potentially, you can rack up thousands upon thousands of bolts in this mode, which make the really pricey weapon upgrades and items that you’ll find later in the game a bit more affordable. You’ll have to be careful, though, as if you’re in the middle of a 15 multiplier and get hit by some stray enemy fire, your combo will reset. You'll still score the bolts up to when your multiplier ended, but for those gunning for the big bucks, it can put a switft end to your combo. And, while we don't want to give away too much of the sweet, sweet extra content, there are few things you should keep an eye out for. One particularly quirky little game has you trading weapons fire with some hostile sheep. And another has you scouring an exact replica of the Insomniac Games offices, where you'll uncover content that didn't make the final cut for the game and some other goodies.
Overall, this game has re-energized my faith in the platform genre, not only for its nonstop action, but also for having a personality and attitude that sets it apart from other games like it. Fans of the first game will certainly find something here to tickle their fancy…for a long time. But, those who possibly aren’t familiar with the series will also find an extremely deep and varied gaming experience that will hopefully make them fans of the genre for years to come.
), aber anders geht es nicht. Wenn man Jak 2 auf nächstes Jahr verschiebt, verpasst Naughty Dog die Feiertage. Andererseits kann R&C 2 nicht verschoben werden, da für November 2004 schon der dritte Teil in den Startlöchern steht (auf dem Sony Gamers Day bestätigt).
wert. Du kaufst dir allen ernstes ein Spiel nicht, weil der Spielstand zu groß ist?