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Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Score: 100%
ESRB: Teen
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment America
Developer: Insomniac Games
Media: DVD/1
Players: 1 - 2 (3 - 8 Multitap)
Genre: Action/ Platformer

Graphics & Sound:
Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Unlike other games in its genre, which try to bring in foreign concepts like GTA-style gameplay, Ratchet and Clank tries to simply perfect platform games by sticking to the roots. Like its predecessors, Arsenal is perfect in just about every aspect -- in fact, the only problem, albeit a rather selfish one, was the lack of cool swag this time around. Then again, I’m sure it would be hard to top last year’s goodies.

As with every aspect of the game, Arsenal’s presentation is more about tweaking and polish than anything else. Areas are still wide open and have lots of activity going on in them. Whether it’s a full-scale battle between the Galaxy Rangers and Tyhrranoids or downtown traffic, there’s always something to look at and, if the desire overtakes you, shoot at. Characters show tons of personality, and showcase animations that rival some CGI movies. Arsenal looks great on a standard TV, but those with the option of playing the game in progressive scan are in for a real treat.

Sound is also a strong point with Arsenal. Characters are voiced to perfection, and help to bring the game’s already incredible script alive. Punch lines are delivered with comic timing, and while the humor may not be as “adult” in some cases (like in the recently released Jak 3), there are still plenty of laughs and obscure references to make just about anyone laugh. Sound follows the same line as previous games, and features a number of remixes of tunes from past games.


Gameplay:
Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal brings Ratchet back to the Veldin, where he must defend his homeworld from an attack by the Tyhrranoids. Of course, the chance to once again jump into action suits Ratchet just fine, given that he’s been wasting away as a bit player to Clank’s new found popularity. Once back in his home galaxy, Ratchet (along with Clank) discovers that the attack is really a diversion for a much greater threat by Dr. Nefarious, one-time mastermind and now full-time robot. After uncovering the plot, Ratchet is charged with finding the only person who can stop Nefarious -- Captain Quark. Nearly every character from the past two games returns for the third installment.

The single-player campaign delivers the same first-rate action as previous games. Familiar objectives from past games are joined by new play-styles, many of which are meant as primers for the game’s excellent multiplayer modes. The most prominent of these modes are objective-based battlefields where you’ll be joined by the Galaxy Rangers in trying to defend (and attack) certain hotspots around the galaxy. Each area usually contains about five to six different scenarios where you’ll have to capture nodes, man a turret, or help to repel and attack. Completion of most of these missions isn’t required to complete the game, but they will net you valuable weapons experience, bolts, and some weapons you can only get from completing all of the scenarios.

Filling in some of the game’s backstory are Vid-Comics, featuring everyone’s favorite hero -- Captain Quark. Vid-comics are another big surprise in a game full of them, bringing back old-school side-scrolling adventures. Each comic opens with a short story giving details on Captain Quark’s early adventures. The story then moves on to the interactive portion which is very similar in play to the old Duke Nukem and Halloween Harry games (for those old enough to remember them).

As much fun as the single player mode is, multiplayer (which includes online and offline variations) is where the real fun comes in. Deathmatch and Capture the Flag modes should be more than familiar to anyone who has ever played a multiplayer game, but Arsenal adds a unique twist to the concepts. Most of the guns and gadgets from the single-player game are present in multiplayer -- elevating the game from a simple fragfest to a slightly more complicated affair. Siege is a mode that may be new to some players. Here, players take sides and battle for control of nodes scattered across a battlefield. Controlling nodes offers tactical advantages, and will unlock turrets to help you defend your territory. The action is fast-paced and fun, especially when you get into games with players who play in teams (as opposed to those just playing for themselves). The variety of modes isn’t as expansive as other games.

Multiplayer includes full USB mic support, allowing you to better communicate with your team, as well as ranking features. My only complaint is the lack of maps, which round out at about ten. Hopefully, Insomniac will take advantage of the PS2’s HDD and online capabilities, and offer new maps (or dare I say it -- weapons) in the future.


Difficulty:
As with previous games, Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal can really be picked up and played by anyone, regardless of skill. There’s a definite challenge, but it’s the sort of fun that will have you coming back over and over again. All Nanotech and weapons upgrades you attain are yours to keep, even if you die right after receiving the upgrade -- so if you can’t complete an area, upgrade your weapons, come back, and you should have no problems. If that still doesn’t work, you can also compete in mini-games and earn bolts that you can use to purchase new armor.

Game Mechanics:
The armor system introduced in the last game has been revamped, allowing both Ratchet and his enemies to take more punishment. The advantage goes more to his enemies (they do have numbers), but this can be negated through smart use of weapons, leading me to the aspect I enjoyed most about the game -- the strategy in selecting weapons. Which weapons you choose play a much bigger role than in previous games. Some weapons work better on certain enemies than others, requiring you to think about everything in your arsenal rather than just relying on what’s in your Quick Select cycle.

The weapons system has also been revamped. Many weapons from past games return in either their original or improved forms. Some improvements are power boosts to weapons, while others combine the functions of two weapons into one. Weapons gain experience through use, and gaining enough experience will level up the weapons, adding new functions and capabilities to the weapon like Lock-on mods or more power. After gaining enough experience, weapons will transform into their final “Omega” mode, unlocking a powerful special attack for the weapon.

Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal is a game that can be enjoyed by just about anyone, regardless of age or gaming skill. There’s something here for everyone, ranging from a funny, enjoyable script, likeable characters, fast-paced action, and an online mode. Although rated Teen, Arsenal is still one of the few family friendly titles coming out this year, making it a good choice for parents looking for just the right gift for their young gamers.


-Starscream, GameVortex Communications
AKA Ricky Tucker

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