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| Back with a bang. |
2002's Ratchet and Clank proved to be a hit on the PS2, which prompted developer Insomniac Games to quickly release a sequel, Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando, a year later. Not long after their last adventure, we see duo Ratchet and Clank in another one, this time saving a new galaxy. Boasting a bigger selection of levels, more action, and more funnier humor, the game improves upon its predecessor in every way. I've been wanting to playing Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando for ages and after finding some time to do so, let's see how it holds up.
Having saved the galaxy, Ratchet and Clank's heroics have been on the low lately, with the duo having nothing better to do. That's until they're suddenly hired by tech giant Megacorp to find a stolen experiment known as the "Protopet" from a masked thief. The pair will have travel to different planets in order to track them down while uncovering some unpleasant secrets regarding Megacorp. It was great seeing Ratchet and Clank acting as more of a team now compared to the first game and the new characters like Mr. Fizzwidget, Angela, and the Thugs-4-Less goons were also great too. Just like the first game, the humor and witty writing were the stars of the story, which will leave you giggling throughout the ride.
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| Ratchet and Clank are back for another space-saving adventure. |
Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando is a third-person shooter where you control Ratchet as he shoots enemies and engage in platforming segments. The main draw of the game are the weapons that you can use ranging from the standard blaster to buzz saw blades to even spiders that detonate on your command. There's a healthy selection of weapons (nearly 20 new ones compared to the first game), each with their own unique ability. Ratchet can also use his wrench as a melee weapon when up close with enemies too. Occasionally, you get to play as Clank where he controls minion bots to fight enemies and solve puzzles. Clank can even turn into a giant mech and fight off even bigger enemies as well.
The game also features RPG elements like Ratchet's health increases the more he beats enemies. Weapons also level up the more you defeat enemies with them, unlocking a more powerful form as a result. This encourages you to constantly try out different weapons to see what fits your playstyle. That said, you can't rely on a single weapon for all of the game since the late-game levels will throw all everything at you, forcing you to use every weapon at your disposal. Getting the Bouncer and Shield Charger as soon as possible and levelling them up will make even the tougher fights a lot more easier.
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| Camera-issues aside, the gameplay's still fun. |
The level design was great as you to explore different planets, each with their unique look, scenes to enjoy, and enemies to beat. Some even feature mini-game segments like hoverboard races, gladiator fights, spaceship skirmishes to change things up a bit. I didn't enjoy the spaceship parts since the controls weren't all that great and tended to drag on. Replaying them will give you more Bolts (the game's currency) to spend on buying new weapons and armor from vendors. Going Commando took a good 16 hours to beat, though getting all ship upgrades, platinum bolts, and taking on the challenges will add a couple extra hours. Also, beating the game unlocks Challenge Mode, basically a New Game+ mode where you keep your weapons and health, but replay the game again with tougher enemies and double the amount of bolts gained.
Going Commando shows its age given it came out nearly 20 years ago, but the cartoony character models, charming worlds, and detailed weapon designs, still help the game age gracefully. The PS3 HD remaster bumps the game to 720p while retaining the 60FPS of the original despite a few slow-downs. Sadly, the cut-scenes aren't in full-screen like the rest of the game. The voicework was solid and thanks to the funny dialogue, had great performances all around. The soundtrack was good too and fitted the action moments really well.
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| Insomniac did a fine job creating the game's worlds. |
Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando is a fantastic sequel that improves upon the original in many ways. The story was a lot more entertaining, the gameplay's even more action-packed, and the presentation is big step-up visually. What's more astounding is how Insomniac Games managed to release an ambitious and polished game just only a year after the original game, which is pretty impressive. Fans and especially newcomers will enjoy what Going Commando has in store.
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