Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando

"Exploding sheep and killer furballs? Sign me up!"

Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando is the second installment in the Ratchet and Clank series. Focused on gameplay, humor, and some eye candy, this game is for everybody that has a Playstation 2. Let me start off by saying, many of the scores will be split into two categories. That being said, let's get into the ratings.

Story (7/10 normal, 10/10 curved)
Yes, the story. Normally a large part of a game, this one uses it to make you laugh between trigger-happy periods. You start off after the first game, and while being interviewed on "Behind the Hero" about your life after the previous game. Suddenly you're transported to a hologram of Fizzwidget , an odd fellow who recruits you for a mission to retrieve "the experiment."

Your journey will continue throughout the galaxy, taking place on land, in space, and...on hoverbikes. Constantly moving through this galaxy, you will find yourself just one step behind the person you're after. A few plot twists are thrown in, but almost all of them are entirely expected before the cutscene began.

By now you're probably thinking that sounds bad, and you would be right. This game is anything but serious. Your journey will take you around the galaxy, and everytime you visit a new planet you'll be laughing at the cutscenes. I would go more into detail, but why ruin it for you?

Graphics (8.5/10 normal, 9.5/10 curved)
This was a hard category to rate, but I stand by my decision. Though some games have a more real feel, this game benefits from the cartoony-ish areas. Many areas are full of bright colors and useless objects for you to destroy. Your weapons will annihilate your enemies with flashes and explosions that would normally seem like overkill, yet fit in this world. The style fits the game perfectly, and you will sometimes find yourself just looking at little pieces of the gigantic worlds in front of you.

Sound (9/10 normal and curved)
I can't say much about sound in games anymore. They all sound fabulous except for rare exceptions, and this one isn't one of those. Your weapons sound like you would think they should, the music (though fairly unnoticed) seems to fit the cartoony world around you. On a very rare occasion, sounds seem to cut out for things like collecting bolts. I never had this happen in my first time through, but it did happen once while in challenge mode.

However, when it comes to voice acting, this game shines. If you've played the game and you walk by somebody playing it, you could identify every character by their voice. They all match the character perfectly, making a believable performance out of an unbelievable game.

Gameplay (10/10, I wish I could go higher)
Perfection. Complete perfection. With simple controls that expand as you play, dozens of weapons, and customizations to them, you will find yourself having a lot of fun in this game. The game uses RPG elements like experience, which improves your health. Your weapons also gain experience, and eventually get upgraded, making them even more fun to watch. Weapons can also be modified to do things like making their target start to shock other enemies around them.

You will find yourself fighting through most the game, though fairly little skill is involved except in rare occasions. That being said, you won't find yourself bored the entire time. Once in a while the game slows down action and becomes a "pure platformer" while other times you find yourself in a hoverbike race. The game focuses on keeping the action fast, and throwing in a laugh whenever possible. The best example of which is the Sheepinator. Turn almost any enemy into a white sheep, which explodes in a puff of wool if you hit it. Upgrade the weapon and now the sheep are black, and walk towards enemies...then explode.

This is paired with the "Challenge Mode" after you complete the game, which allows you to go through and upgrade your weapons even more, and continue the havok with a slightly higher difficulty. This makes it very likely that you will go through the game at least 2 or 3 times to finish upgrading your weapons, and collecting the platinum bolts required for all the weapon modifications. You will almost always have something to do, even after completing the game. To get everything, you will easily be spending more than 40 hours attempting to do so.

Rent or Buy?
The elements all come together and make this one of the most enjoyable games I have played in years. The ability to shut down your mind for a while and just have some fun is something few games allow you to do anymore. If you're somebody who loves trying to get everything a game has to offer, I recommend a purchase as it will take well over 40 hours to do so. If you like to beat a game once and then never see it again, you will probably want to rent it over a 3-day weekend.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/11/05