Ratchet: Deadlocked

"An excellent, if short, addition to the series."

Ratchet: Deadlocked

Ratchet: Deadlocked is the fourth game in Insomniac's critically acclaimed Ratchet and Clank series. The series started primarily as a platforming game with some combat elements, but the focus has since shifted almost entirely to the battling aspect of the game. Deadlocked is the most combat-oriented R&C game yet, with a totally revamped weapons system and a campaign mode that revolves around Ratchet fighting hordes of enemies.

Introduction

The premise of Deadlocked is that Ratchet has been kidnapped and is being forced to compete on a live television arena combat show, known as Dreadzone. If Ratchet doesn't agree to perform various mission objectives, he will be promptly terminated through the use of an explosive deadlock collar fastened securely around his neck. For the first time in the series, Clank will not be with Ratchet to aid in his platforming; he now functions behind the scenes as Ratchet's mission coordinator. Instead of Clank's support, Ratchet has been equipped with two robotic allies, supplied by Al the computer geek. These two can turn bolt cranks (introduced in Up Your Arsenal), hack security orbs, toss electromagnetic pulse grenades, and defend you in various other ways. Over the course of Deadlocked, Ratchet can purchase new weapons, upgrade existing ones, acquire new gadgets to aid in his platforming, upgrade his battle robots, and ascend through the Dreadzone rankings.

Gameplay

Deadlocked took the combat gameplay that was already well-polished in Up Your Arsenal and shined it to as close to perfection as was possible. Several issues in former games, such as Ratchet's virtual weight in platforming and loose camera control in combat, have been addressed in Deadlocked to great effect. The weapons are, in general, fairly well-balanced and are used well in miscellaneous combat situations (more so when the game gets increasingly difficult.) The most striking new feature in the weapons system is the addition of a modification system. There are two types of mods in Deadlocked: Alpha and Omega. Alpha mods increase basic functionality of a gun by increasing its maximum ammo capacity, refire rate, explosion radius, accuracy, etc. Each weapon can hold a maximum of 10 Alpha mods, gaining one slot for each level increase it receives after repeated use. After a weapon levels up, it gains an Alpha mod which can be transferred from one weapon to another provided the receiving weapon has an available slot. Omega mods, on the other hand, can radically alter the way in which a weapon works. The Napalm mod, for example, creates pools of lava after an explosive weapon causes a detonation. The Shock mod causes electricity to leap from enemy to enemy, damaging more enemies. There are a total of 10 Omega mods, which must be purchased before they can be equipped. The Alpha and Omega mods allow for an incredible level of customization, enabling weapons to be tailored for use in specific situations by specific players.

The enemy differentiation in Deadlocked is not so great as in former R&C games, though this does not detract greatly from the game. The level design across various worlds provides sufficient variation in the gameplay to keep the action fresh that a few similar enemies go relatively unnoticed. There are few boss battles in Deadlocked, most of which are relatively short and simple.

Deadlocked has four vehicles: The all-terrain Puma; the quick and slightly weaker Hoverbike; the high-powered, mortar-launching, tank-like arachnid Landstalker; and the aerial Hovership. While the physics for all the vehicles is excellent, most of them are only used for specific mission objectives and have a small presence in missions where use of a particular vehicle is mandatory for the mission. All the vehicles are useable in Deadlocked's multiplayer.

The multiplayer in Deadlocked is far more robust than in its predecessor, Up Your Arsenal. There are now five gameplay modes: Deathmatch, Assault, Juggernaut, King of the Hill, and Capture the Flag. The levels in Deadlocked's multiplayer are the same as in its single-player, which means that overall they are far larger and more immersive than UYA's. Deadlocked offers split-screen offline for up to four players and online for up to ten players, though it does not provide for multiplayer bots in either mode.

Story

Deadlocked doesn't have as much storyline as some of the previous R&C games. The majority of the story is simply Ratchet's advancement through the rankings of Dreadzone, with small segments of conflict between Ratchet and the proprietor of the show, Gleeman Vox. The story is told extremely well through a number of humorous, well-choreographed cutscenes. To the disappointment of some fans of the previous games, a few of the staple characters were not present in Deadlocked, such as the Plumber and Qwark. Still, the story is engaging and serves its purpose of moving the gameplay along quite nicely.

Graphics/Sound

The graphics in Deadlocked are excellent. The character models and environment are all wonderful, with smooth and high-detail textures. The animation is always smooth, from the characters' faces to the firing sequences of Ratchet's various weapons. Deadlocked also keeps a solid framerate, only slowing down when combinations of processor drains occur (lots of enemies, weapon animations, and bolts flying in.) The music in Deadlocked is what you'd expect: a delightful meld of classic R&C techno with energetic arena combat music.

Play Time/Replayability

Deadlocked is extremely short compared to previous R&C games as well as most action/adventure games currently, with a first play through the campaign generally lasting seven or eight hours. However, the game has a high replay value beneath its initially short campaign: myriad skill points to achieve, lots of unlockables to locate, weapons to upgrade in repeated playthroughs, and an engaging campaign that lends itself well to multiple playthroughs. The game's co-operative and multi- player modes also greatly enhance the replay value, which means that Deadlocked can provide enjoyment for an extremely satisfying length of time.

Overall

Ratchet: Deadlocked is an excellent addition to the R&C series, which I would strongly recommend purchasing if one has friends or if one is prone to attempting to fully complete a game. For those who enjoy playing a game once and then dropping it, a weekend rental would be completely appropriate to the length and difficulty of the game. If you desire a game that can last for much longer if one plays with friends or plays the campaign repeatedly, Deadlocked is well worth a purchase.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/05