Opaque
11-18-2004, 10:16 PM
From the very first time you lay eyes on Ratchet’s universe to the moment the end credits roll, Up Your Arsenal will amaze and engross you like few others can. With its bold approach to weapon, character and level design along with infused RPG elements, it has moved above the platformer genre and into new and previously untapped grounds.
It’s almost difficult to know where to start when describing something as perfect and polished as Up Your Arsenal, especially when the best changes this installment makes are the little ones. The basic premise of the series remains completely unchanged; Ratchet and Clank travel from planet to planet using guns and gadgets to fight evil in an attempt to save the Universe; the depth and detail with which you do this, that’s where the change lies.
The entire system surrounding combat has been completely revamped and altered, all for the better. Weapons now upgrade 4 times, meaning that you will be rewarded more often for continued use of any particular one. The first three upgrades simply enhance the damage inducing capabilities of each gun, while not changing the core dynamics or visuals to any extreme degree; the final upgrade however will always add a new and entertaining element. Magma guns, which used to burn enemies, begin to spray liquid nitrogen which instead freezes them; Shields that once only protected begin to attack enemies at close range; once mere suicide bombers, ground droids will begin to fly around ratchet shooting heat seeking missiles. Other little touches to the system are the true high point, though. Ratchet now has two quick select slots, meaning you will always have instant access you both your favorite weapons and all the puzzle solving gadgets you may need. All weapons can be tested in a virtual reality simulation before they are purchased and Insomniac even introduced an option to buy max ammo for all your guns at once from any vendor; it was never a chore buying ammo before, but that’s exactly why this addition is such a wonderful improvement.
Level design was always one of the series strong points, and Up Your Arsenal delivers like no other. New environments shimmer with detail and grandeur rarely seen on a Playstation 2, while old and familiar environments have been updated and changed to fit into the new and ever changing universe. Side paths, alternate routes and hidden areas abound with spot on placement and utilization. New, better controlling, ground and air vehicles make exploring some larger open areas a breeze compared to past installments.
Speaking of air vehicles, don’t expect to suffer through the long, boring and flawed space fights from Going Commando, there aren’t any. Your rocket ship does little more than take you from planet to planet, and the ships you do find yourself piloting around lush cityscapes offer improved controls and a better sense of flight.
A series first, Up Your Arsenal introduces The Phoenix, a starship which serves as hub for the games development. The Phoenix houses weapons and armor vendors, trophy rooms, gadget VR training and housing for all crew members. In the crew quarters rests the VG-9000 video game system on which you can play “Vid-Comics”; four to five minute long side scrolling levels that resemble a mix between Crash Bandicoot and Metal Slug. These “Vid-Comics” tell the back story of Captain Quark and his battles with the evil Dr. Nefarious. The simple controls, genius level design, and a variety of weapons and enemies make these bite sized distractions a welcome addition.
Of course a Ratchet and Clank game just wouldn’t be a Ratchet and Clank game without humorous dialogue and a great storyline. From the tapings and viewings of Secret Agent Clank episodes to the hilarious interactions between Dr. Nefarious and his Butler Lawrence, Up Your Arsenal delivers a comedic performance that is funny beyond what one would expect from a video game. Star Wars, Bond, Halo and Brittney Spears parodies are executed with precision and style producing actual laugh out loud moments.
Gameplay doesn’t miss a step either. Boss battles are varied and well placed, showing an inventive mix of play elements that makes each one both memorable and enthralling. The Battle Arena now features danger courses filled with enemies and environmental traps taken from the single room battles of past. Enemies react differently to situations and attack in intelligent and thought out patterns; this coupled with the weapon selections and combinations make any battle a different battle no matter how many times you fight it.
Up Your Arsenal also allows players with a broadband connection to take all their crazy weapons online for a wide range of battle modes ranging from capture the flag to death match while also allowing buddy lists, clan formation and full headset support. The strategy that can go into each match is almost mind blowing. Weapons combinations and manual shield/turret placement allow for near endless defensive and offensive variation. Maps are filled with three types of turrets and two types of bot generators. Gatling turrets are large, shielded, and computer controlled guns which guard many bases. Auto turrets, which are controlled by nodes, hide in the ground and pop up when enemy players come within range. Vulcan turrets, also controlled by nodes, attack vehicles both on land and in air. Generators also produce shock bots and ballbots, both of which can be shot and destroyed by enemy forces. Insomniac also included two vehicles: turbo sliders and hover ships, both of which can be co-op controlled for maximum destruction.
When all is said and done, there’s more polish to this package than anyone could ask for. Insomniac has crafted a perfect and fitting finally to its beloved sci-fi franchise which succeeds in all areas and truly changes what we should come to expect from platformer and games in general.
5/5
It’s almost difficult to know where to start when describing something as perfect and polished as Up Your Arsenal, especially when the best changes this installment makes are the little ones. The basic premise of the series remains completely unchanged; Ratchet and Clank travel from planet to planet using guns and gadgets to fight evil in an attempt to save the Universe; the depth and detail with which you do this, that’s where the change lies.
The entire system surrounding combat has been completely revamped and altered, all for the better. Weapons now upgrade 4 times, meaning that you will be rewarded more often for continued use of any particular one. The first three upgrades simply enhance the damage inducing capabilities of each gun, while not changing the core dynamics or visuals to any extreme degree; the final upgrade however will always add a new and entertaining element. Magma guns, which used to burn enemies, begin to spray liquid nitrogen which instead freezes them; Shields that once only protected begin to attack enemies at close range; once mere suicide bombers, ground droids will begin to fly around ratchet shooting heat seeking missiles. Other little touches to the system are the true high point, though. Ratchet now has two quick select slots, meaning you will always have instant access you both your favorite weapons and all the puzzle solving gadgets you may need. All weapons can be tested in a virtual reality simulation before they are purchased and Insomniac even introduced an option to buy max ammo for all your guns at once from any vendor; it was never a chore buying ammo before, but that’s exactly why this addition is such a wonderful improvement.
Level design was always one of the series strong points, and Up Your Arsenal delivers like no other. New environments shimmer with detail and grandeur rarely seen on a Playstation 2, while old and familiar environments have been updated and changed to fit into the new and ever changing universe. Side paths, alternate routes and hidden areas abound with spot on placement and utilization. New, better controlling, ground and air vehicles make exploring some larger open areas a breeze compared to past installments.
Speaking of air vehicles, don’t expect to suffer through the long, boring and flawed space fights from Going Commando, there aren’t any. Your rocket ship does little more than take you from planet to planet, and the ships you do find yourself piloting around lush cityscapes offer improved controls and a better sense of flight.
A series first, Up Your Arsenal introduces The Phoenix, a starship which serves as hub for the games development. The Phoenix houses weapons and armor vendors, trophy rooms, gadget VR training and housing for all crew members. In the crew quarters rests the VG-9000 video game system on which you can play “Vid-Comics”; four to five minute long side scrolling levels that resemble a mix between Crash Bandicoot and Metal Slug. These “Vid-Comics” tell the back story of Captain Quark and his battles with the evil Dr. Nefarious. The simple controls, genius level design, and a variety of weapons and enemies make these bite sized distractions a welcome addition.
Of course a Ratchet and Clank game just wouldn’t be a Ratchet and Clank game without humorous dialogue and a great storyline. From the tapings and viewings of Secret Agent Clank episodes to the hilarious interactions between Dr. Nefarious and his Butler Lawrence, Up Your Arsenal delivers a comedic performance that is funny beyond what one would expect from a video game. Star Wars, Bond, Halo and Brittney Spears parodies are executed with precision and style producing actual laugh out loud moments.
Gameplay doesn’t miss a step either. Boss battles are varied and well placed, showing an inventive mix of play elements that makes each one both memorable and enthralling. The Battle Arena now features danger courses filled with enemies and environmental traps taken from the single room battles of past. Enemies react differently to situations and attack in intelligent and thought out patterns; this coupled with the weapon selections and combinations make any battle a different battle no matter how many times you fight it.
Up Your Arsenal also allows players with a broadband connection to take all their crazy weapons online for a wide range of battle modes ranging from capture the flag to death match while also allowing buddy lists, clan formation and full headset support. The strategy that can go into each match is almost mind blowing. Weapons combinations and manual shield/turret placement allow for near endless defensive and offensive variation. Maps are filled with three types of turrets and two types of bot generators. Gatling turrets are large, shielded, and computer controlled guns which guard many bases. Auto turrets, which are controlled by nodes, hide in the ground and pop up when enemy players come within range. Vulcan turrets, also controlled by nodes, attack vehicles both on land and in air. Generators also produce shock bots and ballbots, both of which can be shot and destroyed by enemy forces. Insomniac also included two vehicles: turbo sliders and hover ships, both of which can be co-op controlled for maximum destruction.
When all is said and done, there’s more polish to this package than anyone could ask for. Insomniac has crafted a perfect and fitting finally to its beloved sci-fi franchise which succeeds in all areas and truly changes what we should come to expect from platformer and games in general.
5/5