Ratchet & Clank Going Commando

The amalgamation of video game genres is nothing new, but the unique combinations that are the result of this process continue to be known as some as the best and brightest. The original Ratchet & Clank was known for its fusion of platforming and gun-fighting action. This installment increases the genre count by instituting elements from traditional role-playing games (specifically, the ability to "level up"), as well as throwing some flying, racing, and other genres into different minigames (called "maxigames" by the developers, most likely due to the amount of work put into making them stand out). But while these new additions do play an important part in the game, as I will explain in detail later, the game plays most often like a well-made action game with some platforming and puzzle elements added in to even things out.The first thing that will be brought to your attention when you start the game is the story. Plot details aside, it's only slightly above average for a platformer, and is fairly predictable and cheesy. It is also aims to be humorous as well, though I can't say that it accomplishes this most of the time. The story isn't bad, but it's not going to want to make you keep playing to find out what happens next either. I found the story of the original game to be much better, which is surprising, as it was a much simpler plot overall. I think one thing that influenced this was the characters. In this game, Ratchet is a go-getter, and robot-pal Clank is there for support. But while this duo is good-natured, it's nowhere nearly as interesting as the dense (and somewhat egocentric) Ratchet, and intelligent-yet-naive Clank of the original; where-in these characters actually had evolving personalities throughout the course of the game. Back to the game at hand, the other characters introduced and returning are rather one-dimensional and disposable, save perhaps the thief. When all is accounted for in terms of story and characters, there's nothing to behold, but it manages to suffice well as a framework for the progress of the game.You will travel from planet to planet over the course of the game, accomplishing certain objectives on each one before moving on. You can return to a planet at any time, and there are a few secrets and extras that can be found on each one. The "level" design of these planets is definitely good, but I found little about it to be truly special, and in addition, all planets seem to follow the same basic pattern of a starting location with approximately three paths available, each of which take you to an item or objective and then drop you off back at the starting location (often via a teleporter). The secrets and puzzle elements are not deviously clever, but are a nicely implemented. And as expected, the platforming is solid and offers swimming, hangliding, rail-grinding, wall-walking, and other interesting variety.Once you actually get into the fray you can get a feel for the game and test out some of your weapons. You start off with your trusty wrench which can be used as powerful melee weapon (with an added boomerang-like ranged attack), standard issue Blaster gun for battling foes from a distance, and a Gravity Bomb gun for dealing major damage. As you could probably tell from those descriptions, there are preferred weapons for each combat situation, and the list of your arsenal just grows from there. Meanwhile, Ratchet also has a good set of moves to use in battle, such as jumping, ducking, flips, and the ability to strafe. Ratchet's moves also extend to climbing up/hanging off of ledges, performing wall jumps, and other platforming essentials. All of these moves control very smoothly, and the controller is mapped intelligently. On a related note, the menu interfaces are easy to navigate as well. A "quick" weapon select feature (same as in the original, and similar to the one found in Perfect Dark) is a helpful addition for switching weapons, and now pauses the action so you have time to decide on which weapon you wish to use. However, the camera, while not problematic, often requires frequent adjusting for the optimal view, though this can easily be accomplished with the right analog stick.But back to combat, enemies will come in a variety of shapes and difficulties, with these difficulties greatly increasing as the game proceeds. However, this is balanced out by the ability to "level up". Aside from the standard collection of bolts (this game's currency), killing enemies also gives Nano ("experience") to both Ratchet and his equipped weapon. Most weapons that Ratchet uses can gain experience, turning into a "gold", evolved version of itself when leveled up. This results in the weapon becoming stronger and usually receiving a neat added effect. However, each weapon that can be leveled up can only do so once, as opposed to Ratchet himself, who can level up many, many times. Whenever Ratchet levels up, his maximum hit points will increase by one, therefore increasing the amount of damage he can withstand. When all of your hit points are drained, or you fall into the abyss, you will die. However, there are no lives in this game, and the only penalty you will face is having to start back at the last checkpoint; you will still have everything you obtained up to the point of your death. This helps to prevent the game from becoming overly frustrating. Saving can be accomplished at any time as well, and loading will merely start you back from the beginning of the planet you were last on, with all inventory intact.New weapons and gadgets can be found by progressing through the game, or they can be purchased from vendors located on each planet. Many of the weapons grant you different methods of dispatching your foes, and they will vary in strength, ammo capacity, speed, price (if purchasable through a vendor), and other factors. In addition, some planets have "black market" vendors, which allow you to exchange hidden "platinum bolts" for certain add-ons (lock-on, acid burn, and shock) for many of your weapons, thus increasing their performance. There are also special armor vendors which allow you to spend bolts on a new outfit to upgrade your defense and give Ratchet a new look. You can even find upgrades to your wrench which make it extremely powerful. Certain weapons are used specifically for puzzle elements, such as the Dynamo, which can create platforms to jump on by shooting special spherical devices, or the Tractor Beam, which can be used to move around designated platforms, objects, and more. There are items such as the Clank jetpack, which can be used for gliding and added jump height, among many other things. All of this will further contribute to the variety of action and platforming you will encounter in this game.The action is, in my opinion, the most entertaining element of the game, and is by no coincidence, the element most frequently featured. There are a good number of tactics you will have to utilize to survive in the constant flow of battles you will encounter. This includes mastering Ratchet's evasive moves, as well utilizing the correct weapons (and making sure they have sufficient strength). One thing that must always be taken into account is the amount of ammo you have for your weapons, as ammunition can be depleted very quickly when fighting hordes of enemies, and sometimes it's good to have an extra weapon on hand even if it's not very good, just so you have something to use when your primary weapons run dry. It is also good to switch weapons often, as your most used ones will become "gold" rather soon, and then can no longer gain experience. Having a wide variety of gold weapons will be very beneficial later in the game when ammunition becomes tight, but the strength of upgraded weapons is a must. Are far as problems go, you may often find yourself strapped for bolts, there may be some weapons of questionable quality, and the final boss is entirely too easy. But overall, it's nicely balanced, and makes for an interesting and entertaining experience.There are a large number of minigames featured throughout the game, and while they are actually well done for just being minigames, some can become tedious. The flying, space-battling stages can be downright difficult in some parts, and never really become entertaining. The racing levels fair a lot better, and actually have a slight F-Zero GX feel to them, though they never become nearly as intense. There are a couple different puzzle minigames that are interesting and original, though are too simplistic in the long run. And, none of this is to even mention the things such as the Clank-controlled segments and Giant-Clank battles (both of which are quite good), or other gameplay variations. There also a number of special features to be unlocked once the game has been completed. Without a doubt, R&C:GC has an excellent variety of gameplay.While it doesn't reach up to the graphical level of a game such as Jak II, R&C:GC is still impressive for a PlayStation 2 game of this time. Characters, enemies, and objects are well-modeled, and feature some good designs. Explosions and other effects aren't quite as impressive, but are visually effective. As for the environments, the textures are simplistic in design, but are always colorful and clean looking. Polygon-counts are plentiful as the entire level is rendered in front of your eyes. Many levels will feature numerous fully-polygonal buildings decorating the stage's backdrop, while a multitude of ships and other vessels fly by in the sky above to create the feel of a living environment. The aesthetics are pleasing and varied, with locales ranging from a rainy prehistoric-style swamp to a metropolis bathed in sunset, to the dark night of snowy tundra. However, these seem to lack the artistic personality that would make these places truly memorable. Despite all this, the game's frame rate always seems to stay pretty high.Truthfully, my favorite aspect of this game on its own would have to be the music. If I had to make any comparisons, the best I could say is that this soundtrack has a Final Fantasy Tactics meets TimeSplitters 2 feel to it, though it has also its own unique musical style that is unlike anything from either of those games. Regardless, the music in R&C:GC, as composed by David Bergeaud, is simply great. While it fits the game perfectly, it tends to blend in as to not be easily noticeable while playing. Thus, the music seems to be more enjoyable on its own. It's a shame that there is no soundtrack for it, but if you're fortunate enough to find a rip of the game's music online (or plan to make one yourself) it is recommended you go for it. As for the other auditory essentials, they too are nicely done. Sound effects are good as well, and are appropriate for their uses. Finally, the voice acting is great, and the individual voices are nicely suited for their respective characters as they greatly support their personalities.This mixture of genres, while creating a unique experience, also seems to contribute to the lack of focus on one particular type of gameplay. With the exception of the "leveling up" element, which is well integrated with the action, everything seems pretty separate. The platforming portions rarely intertwine with the base action, as is the same with the puzzle sections and the mass of "maxigames". The end result is that this game is a combination of a variety of genres done well, as opposed to just one or a few genres done excellently. However, I will conclude that if you like great action with an extensive variety of gameplay styles from different genres, this game is worth playing.(Editor's Note: Score was originally 8.4, but changed to Fun:5 / Ov.:4 for Amazon.)

As the second entry into the Ratchet & Clank series, the game takes a nicely performed turn in terms of handling. The game play, however, has remained almost exactly the same. Which, of course, is by no means a bad thing. Blowing up enemies is still a prime factor in this game and is, of course, much more fun with the addition of multiple new weapons. In their second adventure, Ratchet and Clank must strive to save the galaxy once again.The controls of the game were nicely handled. Ratchet seems to move a bit faster and retained all of his old jumping techniques. What is really nice, however, is the addition of the strafing technique which allows Ratchet to move side to side shooting at enemies simultaneously. The camera in the game is much better this time compared to the first game's. It moves a lot more swiftly and can be more easily maneuvered.This time around are plenty of more weapons to choose from, ranging from a remote controlled mechanic spider to the old Tesla Claw from the first game. The weapons are now capable of getting stronger without needing to pay for a separate, stronger weapon this time. Each weapon will gain a sort of "experience" by defeating enemies with the respective weapon until it automatically levels up to a stronger one.The bolt system is still in play, and to many player's comfort, can be aware that obtaining them is much more easier in this game than the first. A lot of bolts can be found in breakable objects throughout the planets and the crates containing them are still around. While there are seemingly less places to get bolts, the bolts now range in quite different amounts. Some are worth 5, and some can be as valuable as 1000 a piece. So, while you won't see as many glittering metal pieces flying at Ratchet, you will definitely not fail to see your bolt count skyrocket when you break a bunch of boxes.However, there are plenty more things to buy, all of which are quite costly. Of course, you will still easily be able to afford them with the multiply in bolts that can be found.The nanotech health system is quite different this time around, and will react differently to each individual enemies' attacks. In the first game, you had a set number of "health," and each time you got hit, it subtracted one away. In Going Commando, your nanotech is limited to WHICH hits you can take, rather than how many. Some enemies do minimal damages, others do massive. To compensate, this time around your health can be upgraded on your own. Similar to the experience system weapons get, every time you defeat an enemy, your health bar will get more experience. Ultimately leveling up will grant you another piece of health/"nanotech."There is even specialized armor Ratchet can purchase that will heavily reduce the damage he takes to help survive. Obtaining it, however, will cost a pretty penny.Story wise,Ratchet is a much more dedicated soldier in this game, and many who played the first won't see much of a change in his thirst for adventure, but will certainly notice his growth in maturity. Taking the missions he is assigned quite seriously will be apparent throughout the game.Clank on the other hand, still has the same mission-focused personality and is always looking for what to do next.You will certainly meet new characters in the game as well as a few returning ones, and the humor from each character is still retained.There is also another new interesting feature in the game which allows you get a better perspective of your ship. Now, warping between worlds won't always be as easy as selecting it and flying over there. There will now be a chance that you run into trouble outside, having to battle other hostile ships that are in the way of your destination. There are also even levels dedicated solely to battling with your ship. Missions consisting of story related objectives, and others giving you a chance to earn bolts.Overall, this is an absolute excellent title for the Playstation 2 and definitely deserves a 5/5. I would recommend it to anyone regardless whether they played the first or not. Of course, anyone who enjoyed the first game will undoubtedly love this one.Let it be warned, however, that this game is significantly more difficult than its predecessor, and can be quite challenging at times. Anyone looking for a simple shooting/blowem' up game will be quite surprised at the skill needed to progress at times. Personally, the challenge is not to be considered a bad thing by any means. The challenge, however, can take away from the fun sometimes which is why I rate this game's fun rating a 4/5. I don't expect most people looking at this game to be a hardcore gamer and rated it the way I felt was right. Anyone who enjoys difficult games would definitely rate this a 5 out of 5.The Ratchet & Clank series is easily one of the best that the Playstation 2 has to offer and Going Commando is no exception.

I started out playing Jack and Dexter because a friend of mine had played the first Ratchet & Clank and said it was awful. I picked up the 3rd one and loved it so I went and tried this one. It's a little rougher than the 3rd one, but it's still a really great game.Ratchet & Clank are heros of the galaxy, but things have slowed down and there's nothing they have left to do. They're pulled to another galaxy by a weird company head and start off on an adventure. The main thing that strikes you with this series is the weapons. Instead of just having a few, there are a lot of them. It does make things a little clunky to select them sometimes, but generally it works pretty well. I especially liked the auto-turrets. If you use them a lot the level up and you get a more upgraded version. It can be a little tedious to use the expensive ones, but it's generally worth it by the time you get to the end boss.There are also some ship levels where you have to fight sort of like Starfox used to. You can upgrade your ship which is nice. Overall the levels were OK and not a horrible chore, but I can see why they pulled them from the sequel. I also didn't like the glider levels all that much. They were also removed from the 3rd game. There are also some glitches like one of my weapons becoming impossible to upgrade. I've read some where you can actually lose weapons or gadgets so I'd suggest saving in multiple slots so you don't have to start over.All in all a great game series. It's long enough to make me happy, maybe 15 hours or so when I played it. I didn't complete everything available, but also milled around collecting bolts so I wasn't exactly rushing. If you can get it cheap, it's a no brainer.

Game took a bit to get here but that’s more so due to covid but it came in excellent shape very happy

This game aged well like fine wine❤️❤️

They said the quality was "Used, Very Good" and it was an understatement. This product felt brand new. Very few scratches and everything came as advertised. The manual and disk seemed untouched with no scratches!

Arrived early, better condition than expected. Game booklet even came with sleeve that was missing when I first bought this game 10 years ago at a EB Games. Completely satisfied!

I have to say this was exactly what I wanted. It was still sealed and had new product smell and everything was in it. I would buy from this person again I was looking For a mint or near Mint old game.