I could kick this off with some witty tag line like "The boys are back in town" or "Dynamic Duo makes Trio" (uhm..wait...), but that would skate too close to the fine line between wit and pure cheese. So I'll keep it short and sweet -- Ratchet and Clank 3.
After saving the universe for a second time in Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando, our two heroes have returned to the easy life. Riding their wave of popularity, the duo even managed to snag themselves a TV show. However, after weeks of product testing, it was discovered that Clank's charm was what everyone really wanted -- making him the star of the show and sticking Ratchet in a cameo role usually reserved for Gary Coleman. Things soon change when Dr. Nefarious returns with his new plan to destroy all organic life in the universe. In response, the galactic president sends out a call for the man who defeated the good doctor last time, a call that throws Ratchet and Clank back into the action.
While on their quest, they soon discover that the man for the job is actually Captain Quark, who hasn't been in too hot of shape after his stints in the previous two games. However, Quark is able to reform his Q-Force to help him defeat this new threat. In addition to Ratchet and Clank, other characters from the Ratchet & Clank universe will also return to form up the rest of the force, including Big Al, the Robo-shack vendor, Skid McMarx, extreme sports icon and Helga, the tough-as-nails robotic trainer.
Offbeat stories and character were one of the things that made Ratchet & Clank so popular. The other was its addictive gameplay and arsenal of wacky weapons. The arsenal has been upgraded, rounding out at about 20. When compared to other games, this number may seem small, but when you factor in that 14 of the 20 will have four upgrades each, the number becomes much more impressive. Building on the system set in place in Going Commando, weapons will still gain experience points through use, but the upgrades won't redefine the weapon as much. After leveling, weapons will now retain their same uses, but will increase in range, speed and power. One weapon, the Infecto Ray, lets Ratchet infect enemies with a shot. Once infected, enemies will begin to attack other enemies. After it's first upgrade, the Infecto Ray's effects will last longer and increase in range. After the final upgrade, the Infecto Ray will become the Infecto Bomb, which is sure to cause all kinds of chaotic fun as it can affect groups of enemies.
Weapons won't be limited to offensive uses. Some, like the Refractor, will also be used in solving puzzles. As a weapon, the Refractor is capable of refracting an energy beam in whatever direction Ratchet is facing, which means you can send energy shots back to the one who's shooting them, as well as in the direction of other enemies. This refracting ability will also be used to solve puzzles as Ratchet will be required to refocus beams of energy all over the map.
The biggest, and in my opinion most welcome, addition to Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is an all-new Multiplayer mode. This mode will allow players to duke it out in six maps in several play modes. The Multiplayer mode will support both online and offline play. Offline, up to 4 players can compete in split-screen action, while online up to 8 players can take part in the action, complete with voice communication.
The mode that got most of my attention was Capture the Base, which is a team-based romp where teams of players try to infiltrate the opposing team's base. The map layout is great and provides lots of sniper shots, as well as some nasty ambush areas. Teams will even have mechanized assistants to help them in base defense. Drones will patrol your base and help target some enemies while turrets will also chime in when things are in range.
Players are armed with gadgets found in the single-player game, including grappling hooks and gravity boots. Both of these gadgets make for some unique gameplay moments. The Gravity Boots allow players to stick to metal walls, which makes scaling base walls that much easier. There are numerous areas on each map that open up some slick tricks. Some maps will even feature destructable environments, which will open up new paths towards, and through, bases. When gadgets get boring, players will also have access to vehicles. Needless to say, this makes for an exciting and fast-paced Multiplayer game.
After witnessing everything that Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando was, Up Your Arsenal is looking even better. The graphics engine has been totally reworked. Levels feature more details, more enemies and more destruction. All of the game's characters have also received facelifts. When combined with the new Multiplayer mode and the improvements to the game's core gameplay model, Ratchet & Clank is once again poised to not only raise the bar for platformers, but redefine the genre.