Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (2004) (VG)

User Rating:

8.9/10   

Release Date:

3 November 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Romance | Sci-Fi

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

James Arnold Taylor	...	Ratchet / Maximillian / Nature Channel Narrator / Announcer / Game Show Announcer / SuperFast Narrator (voice)
David Kaye	...	Clank / Blondie (voice)
Jim Ward	...	Captain Qwark, Tyrranoid Host, Scorpio, Skrunch (voice)
Armin Shimerman	...	Dr. Nefarious (voice)
Leslie Carrara	...	Commander Sasha (voice)
Sylvia Aimerito	...	Darla Gratch / Computer PA Voice (voice)
Chris Hatfield	...	Big Al of Al's Roboshack, Soap Actor-Lance / Englebert, Director, Trooper 3
Neil Flynn	...	The Waterworker, Skidd McMarxx, Taxi Driver, Gary (voice)
Mona Marshall	...	Helga / Helen (voice)
Fred Tatasciore	...	Joe (voice)
Lindsay Schnebly	...	The President (voice)
James Horan	...	Slim Cognito (voice)
Michael Bell	...	Lawrence / Comic Narrator / Trooper 1 / Trooper 2 (voice)
Melissa Disney	...	Courtney Gears / Soap Actress (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Travis Davis	...	Bot

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:All | Australia:G | USA:T

Company:

Insomniac Games

Quotes:

Comic Narrator: These are the real life adventure of Captain Qwark, the greatest superhero the galaxy has ever known
Captain Qwark: Hey... is this thing on?
Comic Narrator: Ahem... Meticulously reconscructed with the aid of eyewitness acounts, bathroom gossip, wild speculations... and a magic eight-ball

Movie Connections:

Followed by Ratchet: Deadlocked (2005) (VG)

One hell of an action masterpiece for the PlayStation 2 (VG Review #1)

Every now and then, the world is hit with a video game so hard-core, action-packed, and addictive that everyone who plays it must stop everything in their daily lives just to get their dose of it. The latest phenomenon to do this is the 3rd installation of Ratchet & Clank known as Up Your Arsenal. The best game of the trilogy didn't just please, it went beyond to the point to get your eyes swollen with red from after hour game marathons. Up Your Arsenal makes you want to buy and beat the rest of the series, the original and Going Commando. However, with limited options and features missed from UYA, it doesn't feel the same game-play-wise. However with Insomniac and the classic people as SCEA and all their production improvements, it makes all of us who's played the game want this series to extend to a quad-trilogy and beyond.

Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal stars the beloved, furry space mammal (possibly a wombat) named Ratchet and his robot buddy sidekick named Clank. This time around, it's a new adventure in a new galaxy with a new villain named Dr. Nefarious. The series already has a huge line-up of destructive weapons and gadgets but in Arsenal, the line-up is improved even further. Old and new, the weapons make up the heart and soul of this game. The Suck Cannon is back as a classic, which sucks up small enemies and turns them into ammo and a new one is the Annihilator, which sends massive waves of missiles to any enemy foolish or unlucky enough to stand in the way. The 20 weapons from the game can all be upgraded up to 4 times which brings the game somewhat of an RPG element so to say that your weapons are your beloved party members. Also, instead of space orbs, health is now measured conveniently into an HP bar. Your health, power and etc. can be leveled up with experience to the maximum of 100 hit points. The game is essentially an action/adventure video game with Platformer and RPG elements. The game is also improved in such a way that you never get bored. Besides, platforming through the levels, there are aerial battles, car battles, arena battles, wars, levels only with Clank or only with Ratchet, hacking, vid comics, giant robot battles, parachuting and much, much, much more. One subplot of the story is Clank's galaxy popular TV show and movies, Secret Agent Clank.

Then, in the also addictive multi-player, you can play with up to 3 friends in such modes as Siege, Capture the Flag, and Deathmatches as Ratchet, Galactic Rangers, and more characters. The fun never ends with the Arsenal at your fingertips such as the battle turrets, ground and air vehicles, and more. What's also phenomenal about this game is that I'm already more than satisfied yet I have yet to try the online gaming portion offered.

Here's the rundown:

Good: -Single player keeps you glued to the screen in an addictive manner.

-Hours of fun in multi-player

-Superb production values

-The weapons and gadgets speak for themselves

Bad: -The smallest flaws unrecognized such as no invincibility while getting pummeled and the game's save system isn't all that convenient.

-Its addictiveness may make you lose some precious hours of your free time.

Overall, Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal is simply put: spectacular. Comparable to the Jak and Daxter series, Ratchet kicks his ass. The game is action packed, exhilarating, and strongly addictive. The game offers at least 20 hours of non-stop game play. This chapter leaves your blood rushing making you want more and more of the game and that is what Challenge Mode (offered at the end of the game) is for. There, you can upgrade your weapons, gadgets, armor, ship and more even further than their most powerful states. If you can afford one game now, get this one. Up Your Arsenal is among the greatest of the years of games put on the format of the PlayStation 2 console (sorry for the formality but I'm trying to get a point across...) and will undoubtedly become a Greatest Hit alike its first two chapters. This game is truly a masterpiece and probably the best game of the year. If the game is blessed with a sequel or even, let's say a Jak vs. Ratchet game, the fans of the series will rejoice as if it's Christmas.

My Rating: 10/10

Eliason A.