When we last left our heroes, I posed the question how can they top this? Ratchet and Clank’s second outing, “Going Commando”, was a bigger, badder experience than the first game, and besting it seemed impossible. It’s true that this third game in the series does a lot more of the same as far as the single-player game is concerned, but the minor tweaks and additions go a long way to make it feel like an even more refined game than ever before. And when you add in the incredible fun that is the online multiplayer, the answer to my initial question is given.



I’d like not to spend too much time on the single-player part of the game because if you’ve played either of the other games, you know exactly what you’re in for here. Suffice it to say that Up Your Arsenal takes the gameplay from the earlier games, spit-shines them, beefs them up, and lets them roll. Clank has once again been given the spotlight not only as far as the plot is concerned but also with a wealth of Clank-specific missions. Beyond the Clank missions, one of the most surprisingly enjoyable elements of the game are the Captain Quark side-scrolling games. Throughout the game, Ratchet and Clank will collect “Vid Comics” that they can then take back to their base and play on their personal video game console. These minigames are simple, side-scrolling adventures starring Captain Quark (remember him?) and are incredibly fun.

But let’s move onto the multiplayer aspect of the game, shall we? After all, this is the biggest change to the series, and one that blew us away. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if Up Your Arsenal’s new multiplayer mode gives Microsoft’s upcoming furry-crittered shooting fest a run for its money.

Up Your Arsenal’s multiplayer mode includes the old standby’s like Death Match and Capture the Flag, and each of these are pulled off very well. The maps are perfectly designed, and the variety of weapons is stellar. At your disposal, not only do you have most of the weapons available in the single-player game, but also vehicles, gravity boots, and more. However, we did find that the rocket launcher was a bit over-balanced at times, as it not only wipes out your opponent in a couple shots, but also has a lock-on feature that makes missing almost impossible. Despite this little oversight, we had a blast with these modes.

Beyond the standard fare, Up Your Arsenal also contains a Siege mode, which – as the name implies – requires you to take over enemy bases. And in a cool twist, you’re given protective robots to help with your defenses.

As good as the single-player adventure is (and believe us: it is really freakin’ good), the multiplayer mode will keep you coming back for months on end; especially considering the fact that it’s online enabled. In fact, multiplayer is so well done that it outshines many classic, established multiplayer shooters out there.



Graphically, we’ve always been more than impressed with what Insomniac has been able to do with the PS2 hardware. The scope of the levels and crisp/clean environments is even more apparent this time around than it was before. Presentation is always top-notch in the Ratchet and Clank series, and that trend continues with incredibly charming character designs, brilliant, witty dialogue delivered by superb voice-acting, and a scenario that is clever and intriguing.

And this presentation value is what keeps us coming back to this series, despite the relative lack of change in the single-player adventure. Sure, things have changed and have been upgraded since the first Ratchet and Clank game. The emphasis is so much more on shooting and strategy that it’s now difficult to call this a “platform” game. And the variety of game styles in Up Your Arsenal is mind-blowing. But without the ingenious way in which Insomniac presents the package to us, we suspect the game would have grown stale by now. Instead, we’re craving more Ratchet and Clank.

The question that some of you may be asking is “which is worth my money: Jak 3 or Up Your Arsenal?” Well, now that the Jak series seems to be back on track, We’d first like to recommend both. Both are 20+ hour games that are mostly fantastic from beginning to end (excluding a few tedious missions in Jak’s adventure), and both feature some of the best graphics on the PS2. However, if you must choose just one, once again it seems that Ratchet and Clank is the better of the two games, with its fantastic multiplayer and its slightly more enjoyable adventure.



Article By: John