Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (2003) (VG)

Release Date:

10 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

James Arnold Taylor	...	Ratchet / New Ager / Hypnotist Head 1 (voice)
David Kaye	...	Clank / Arena Announcer / Robot / Hypnotist Head 2 / Employee (voice)
Jim Ward	...	Abercrombie Fizzwidget / Captain Qwark / UltraTech Announcer / Corp Announcer / Qwarkbot Galactic Greetings Announcer (voice)
Rodger Bumpass	...	The Unknown / Inventor / Announcer / Dr. Fullbladder (voice)
Kath Soucie	...	Angela (voice)
Sylvia Aimerito	...	Female Announcer / Darla Gratch (voice)
Michael Bell	...	Security System / Interview Announcer / Biker Two / Mutant Crab / Protopet Announcer (voice)
Steve Blum	...	Thug Leader / Biker One / Qwark Announcer / Gladiator (voice) (as Steven Blum)
Julianne Buescher	...	Vendor Girl / Loudspeaker / Help Desk Girl (voice)
Ben Diskin	...	Fan Boy (voice) (as Benjamin Diskin)
Chad Einbinder	...	Shady Salesman / Billy (voice) (as Chad Michael Einbinder)
Neil Flynn	...	Waterworker (voice)
Kim Mai Guest	...	Trailer PA (voice)
James Horan	...	Mechanic / Bikers Announcer / Slim Cognito / Male Employee (voice)
Carolyn Lawrence	...	Mother / Child (voice)

Also Known As:

Ratchet & Clank 2: Locked and Loaded (Australia) (UK)
Ratchet & Clank: Locked and Loaded (UK)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:T

Company:

Insomniac Games

Trivia:

In Silver City on Boldan, there is a teleporter on top of a fountain that does not work, except for at 3 AM; the idea being you have to be an insomniac to work it (Insomniac Studios made the game). Using it gives you access to a large room where you can view and play unused concepts for the game, as well as listen to commentaries.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Interviewer: Welcome back to "Behind the Hero", tonight's heroes are the duo who recently restored peace and order to our galaxy: Ratchet & Clank. So gentlemen tell us about your latest incredible adventures.
Ratchet: Well as you can image, we've been pretty busy: After Drek's defeat there were parades, press conferences, fancy dress balls...
Clank: ...and the wiener roast at Al's.
Ratchet: Oh yeah that, and then things started to slow down a bit. After that we... well...
Clank: There was the grand opening at "Groovy Lube".
Ratchet: Right. I think that was, last week.
Clank: Six months ago.
Ratchet: We're still pretty busy, but in a more, uh, domestic sense.
Clank: Yesterday I flushed out my radiator core.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#30.16)" (2003)

Funny game

This game was direly renamed in the UK to "Ratchet and Clank 2: Locked and Loaded", but I simply refuse to call it by that. This is a very well put together, humorous game (much like the previous installment) and has tons of neat little things about it and a good element of re-playability. In-jokes, funny dialogue and a few references to other games such as Jak and Daxter give this game a comic edge that keeps you interested. It must be said that the references can only be really appreciated by people that have actually played the games they are spoofing...

The graphics aren't all that different from the last game, in fact it's pretty much the same with a few minor tweaks, but hey, if it ain't broken don't fix it! The idea of you leveling up (like in RPG games) to increase your health was a good move, but even better was the idea to get your weapons to level up to become bigger and better. Other little extras like the arena games, the bike races and the fact that you can import the weapons from the first game make this title all the more enjoyable.

This game is challenging and often frustrating, although not without reward. The ending put me off a little bit - it didn't feel really conclusive enough after all that effort. Take my advice, play the first game before you play this to fully "get it". Then play this. Then get Ratchet and Clank 3 when it comes out.