Review: Ratchet and Clank 2: Going Commando (PS2)

Graphics- 9.5/10
Sound- 9.5/10
Gameplay- 10/10
Replay Value- 9/10
Overall- 9.5/10

Ratchet and Clank are back. The folks over at Insomniac improved the gameplay mechanics, upgraded the graphics, and fixed the glitches from the previous game. With more to do, more weapons and gadgets, and simply more fun, this game should be owned by every PS2 owner.

The best word to describe why this game is better than the first: more. There are more weapons, more bolts, more levels, more destructible environments, more continue points (check points), more health... well, you get the picture. There is improved versions of things from the first game, like hoverbike races and the ability to control Clank. In the first game, there were hoverboard races, but there were only two of them, and there weren't any cash rewards for winning. Also, you could control Clank in the first game, but he wasn't as big of a part of the game the first time around. Also, the wrench combat has improved, and you get better wrenches throughout the game. Like I mentioned before, there are more bolts in the game. The hoverbike races provide a good way to earn cash, and the enemies drop more bolts. In the first game, levels usually warranted about 5000 bolts each. However, in Going Commando, levels can easily dish out 20,000 bolts, and, because I died a couple of times, I once got about 40,000 bolts, even after I had paid for all of the ammo I wasted. The biggest improvement, however, in my opinion, is the upgradeable weapons. The player is able to upgrade the weapons once during their first run-through, but not by purchasing better versions, like in the first game. They are upgraded by the usage, but the second time you play through, you can buy a better version (it costs a LOT of bolts, but you can get them fairly easily if you're good).

Gameplay wasn't the only thing that is better in this game, however. The graphics are improved, but the graphics in the first game were good already, so the difference may be hard to notice. Also, Going Commando features one of the best soundtracks in the series. The music completes the game, and sets the mood for the situation. However, the game isn't all good. First of all, the cleverly named RYNO II makes the game too easy. Even though the RYNO II is hard to get (unless you are in challenge mode), it takes out just about every non-boss character in the game in one hit. That isn't my biggest complaint about the RYNO II, though. The final boss is a challenge without the RYNO II. With the RYNO II, however, it takes literally only 20 hits to take it out. So with its high rate of fire, that takes about three seconds. No matter what the game is, the final boss battle should not take three seconds. Also, there are some times when the scenery gets in the way of the camera, making it act a little weird. And even though the single player is really good, I think some multiplayer would have been good, and would have helped the game. Despite those complaints, many people call this the best game in the series (I like #3 more because of online), and it is clear why. This game just has more of everything, and with the addition of multiplayer would have been just about perfect.

Pros: Better than the original in every way.
Cons: No multiplayer, RYNO II makes game too easy, camera can be a little screwy.

Review: Eric