Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando

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Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
North American box art.
Developer(s) Insomniac Games
Publisher(s) Sony Computer Entertainment
Native resolution 576p, 480p (EDTV)
576i, 480i (SDTV)
Platform(s) PlayStation 2
Release date JP December 11, 2003
NA November 11, 2003
EU November 21, 2003
Genre(s) Platformer, Shooter
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) ESRB: Teen
OFLC: G8+
PEGI: 3+
Media DVD

Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (Ratchet & Clank 2: Locked and Loaded in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, is a 3D platform/shooter for the PlayStation 2. It was developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony in 2003. It is the second game in the Ratchet & Clank series. The subtitle is a slang term for wearing pants without underwear. Going Commando marks the beginning of James Arnold Taylor's tenure as the voice of Ratchet.

Like its predecessor, Ratchet & Clank, Going Commando was given high review scores, and has a 92% average on Game Rankings.[1]

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

See also: Gameplay in the Ratchet & Clank series

As in Ratchet & Clank, the player traverses the game in a third-person perspective, armed with various types of weapons to defeat enemies and explore areas. New to Going Commando are hover bike races, space combat missions, and two arenas, where the player can take on waves of enemies and mini bosses to earn bolts which can purchase a variety of weapons and armors.[2]

The weapon system in Going Commando is very different from its predecessor, in that weapons are now upgradeable.[2] Each weapon now has an experience bar, and when it is used to kill enemies, the bar gradually fills.[2] When the bar is full, the weapon levels up and becomes more powerful. Each weapon only levels up once, at which point the experience bar for that weapon ceases to advance. The game features a large assortment of weapons, including the standard mêlée omni wrench, a lava-spewing gun, rocket launchers, blasters,the Sheepinator, which turns enemies into sheep,[2]and the Walloper,which is a mêlée boxing glove.

In addition to the weapons leveling up, Ratchet himself gains experience with each enemy destroyed. Each time Ratchet's experience bar fills, he gains a new level of nanotech, awarding him additional health bubbles. Ratchet's health can also expand by picking up nanotech upgrade items.

Ratchet using the new Plasma Coil weapon in an early version of the game.
Ratchet using the new Plasma Coil weapon in an early version of the game.

In the game, there is a place where the player can use their save file from Ratchet & Clank to access a selection of "retro" weapons from that game.[2] All of the "retro" weapons are significantly reduced in power, and cannot be upgraded. Some gadgets from the original Ratchet & Clank, such as the Swingshot, appear again. Others, such as the Thermanator, which freezes water or melts ice, or the Glider, are entirely new.

In this game Ratchet can also wear armor with varying levels of protection. Also, Ratchet's space ship can be upgraded by expending raritanium. These upgrades improve the combat capabilities of the ship in the occasional space battles that occur when traveling to a new star system.You can also purchase new paint schemes.

After completing the game you may also continue into challenge mode in which the game is much more difficult. Also in challenge mode you can re-purchase all your old weapons in their "Mega" form, increasing their power and allowing them to be upgraded a second time. Another feature of challenge mode is the bolt multiplier, which multiplies the bolts you earn, the multiplier can go up to a max of 20 times by killing enemies but will be restarted if hit by an enemy.

[edit] Story

[edit] Characters and setting

Main article: List of characters in the Ratchet & Clank series

The main characters from the first game return in Going Commando. Ratchet's personality is very different, as he is more willing to do tasks assigned to him. Clank is given more control by the player than in the previous game. Going Commando also introduces a few new ones, such as Angela Cross. Throughout the game, the eccentric Megacorp C.E.O. Abercrombie Fizzwidget stops in to assign the player's mission, giving tasks to complete.

[edit] Plot

After defeating Drek in the previous game, Ratchet and Clank become celebrities. However, things start cooling down after a while. After an interview with Behind the Hero, Ratchet and Clank are suddenly teleported to the Bogon Galaxy by Abercrombie Fizzwidget, the founder and CEO of Megacorp, a company that makes everything from household appliances to heavy weaponry. Fizzwidget asks the duo for their assistance in recovering a stolen biological experiment, called the Protopet.[3] Then, Ratchet receives weeks of training to prepare him for the missions he will be assigned. (This training includes Martial Arts, Heavy Weaponry, Survival Skills, Stealth, Macrame, Ballroom Dance and Origami.)

Ratchet flies to a flying lab in Aranos, and searches for the Protopet. Eventually, he finds the Protopet in a cage only big enough to fit the biological experiment, on a pedestal. The thief reveals himself, and Ratchet attempts to lie:"Woh woh,hey now! I'm just here to fix the 'Transfluxer....Coil' ". The thief takes the protopet, and leaves the ship. Ratchet returns to his ship, and contacts Fizzwidget, saying that the thief escaped and he had no idea about the whereabouts of the thief.

Ratchet is given coordinates by Fizzwidget and chases the thief across several planets. Eventually Ratchet confronts the thief on the frozen planet Siberius. He defeats the thief, reclaims the experiment, and returns it to Mr. Fizzwidget. Later, after Mr. Fizzwidget "accidentally" ejects Ratchet and Clank from their ship, the thief approaches, demanding the experiment back, not realizing that Ratchet gave it to Fizzwidget. The thief's mask comes off accidentally, and it's revealed that he is actually a girl Lombax, Angela Cross(to Ratchet she is 'beautiful). After learning that the experiment has been handed back to Megacorp, she warns that it will ultimately doom the galaxy.[4]

On planet Dobbo, Ratchet and Clank discover that Angela's claims are true (the experiment turns out to be a dangerous predator), and try to persuade Fizzwidget to destroy the experiment, but their efforts are in vain.[5] The duo then stumble across an ad for the "Protopet" (the experiment), which is being prepared for mass release. On planet Boldan, Ratchet and Clank are captured for "attempting to bump off" Mr. Fizzwidget (at this point and time, Ratchet was threatening a poor-quality robot Fizzwidget look-a-like). They are sent to a prison, but escape and try to rescue Angela, who has also been captured by the Thugs.On Planet Snivelak,the Thug Leader leads him to Thug City,and then reveals his gigantic robot with Angela captured in it.After Ratchet defeats the Thug Leader and rescues Angela,they go to Megacorp HQ to end the Protopet menace once and for all. Strangely for the series, Ratchet seems to have romantic interest in Angela Cross, and Clank has a robot "friend" who follows him.

After they get there, the female Infobot (who then gets zapped by Qwark) reveals that Captain Qwark (the disgraced superhero from Ratchet & Clank) had disguised himself as Abercrombie Fizzwidget and planned the protopet menace from the beginning. Qwark was about to use the Prototopets to restore his reputation.[6] He takes Angela's Helix-o-morph (a gadget that will repair the fatal flaw in the Protopet) and zaps the original Protopet. But something goes wrong, and the original Protopet mutates into a gigantic monster. When Ratchet finally defeats the Protopet, Clank discovers that the batteries in the Helix-o-morph are in backwards. Angela corrects this, and after she zaps the original, amplifies the device with Megacorp's TV transponders to cure all the Protopets in the galaxy, ending the threat once and for all. The real Fizzwidget then appears, who was tied up in a closet the whole time. Ratchet picks up the smashed Infobot and repairs her. In the end of the game we see Ratchet, Clank, Angela (aka the Thief) and the Infobot back at Ratchet's home where they find out that Qwark is now paying back for his misdeeds at the Megacorp Testing Facility, unwillingly being a test subject for Megacorp's new Crotchitizer.

[edit] The Levels

Planet Oozla A Megacorp store sorrounded by swamp beasts and Mutant Flies and Muckdwellers.Before getting to the store, a gigantic Mutant attacks you by slamming into you with it's tenticles.When you get into the Megacorp store,you will win the Box Breaker if you defeat the "Mother Beast"that spawned all the smaller Swamp Mutants.

Maktar Nebula A nebula guarded by Thugs in the Wapush Nebula.Ratchet earns the Electrolyzer in the Arena and jams the Array.

Planet Endako A Megapolis that is a bit too perfect. After Every single robot goes rogue, Ratchet saves Clank by using the Electrolyzer. This is the first time you use Clank.

[edit] Weapons

  1. Lancer.
  2. Lava Gun.
  3. Zodiac.
  4. R.Y.N.O II.
  5. Bomb Glove.
  6. Chopper.
  7. Gravity Bomb.
  8. Decoy Glove.
  9. Hoverbomb Gun.
  10. Clank Zapper.
  11. Seeker Gun.
  12. Tesla Claw.
  13. Walloper.
  14. Pulse Rifle.
  15. Spiderbot Glove.
  16. Blitz Gun.
  17. Bouncer.
  18. Mini-Turret Glove.
  19. Mini-Rocket Tube.
  20. Sheepinator.
  21. Shield Charger.
  22. Visibomb Gun.
  23. OmniWrench 8000 v1
  24. Plasma Coil.
  25. Synthenoid.

[edit] Upgraded Weapons

  1. Heavy Lancer
  2. Meteor Gun
  3. Zodiac-N/A
  4. R.Y.N.O.II-N/A
  5. Mega Bomb Glove
  6. Multi Star
  7. Mini Nuke
  8. Mega Decoy Glove
  9. Teslabomb Gun
  10. Clank Shocker
  11. HK22 Gun
  12. Mega Tesla Claw
  13. Mega Walloper
  14. Vaporizer
  15. Tankbot Glove
  16. Blitz Cannon
  17. Heavy Bouncer
  18. Mega-Turret Glove
  19. Megarocket Cannon
  20. Black Sheepinator
  21. Tesla Barrier
  22. Mega Visbomb Gun
  23. Omni-Wrench 8000 v2&v3
  24. Plasma Storm
  25. Kilinoid

[edit] Reception

Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando was released to very positive reviews. IGN awarded it a score of 9.4/10, while Gamestats gave it a 9.1/10. Game Informer magazine awarded it Game of the Month when it was released. The game also received scores of 4/5 from Gamespy and 5/5 from X-Play. Overall, critics gave the game an average review score of 90%, according to Metacritic The only problems cited within the game were the cheaply handled space battles and the extreme level of difficulty, although some Ratchet & Clank fans have praised the difficulty level for the challenge it brings.[7]

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • The title screen showing Ratchet playing a game will not only cycle through scenes from both Ratchet & Clank and Going Commando, but also from Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II and Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus. Characters from all three series are generally considered to be part of the PlayStation 2's mascots.
  • Abercrombie Fizzwidget's name is a parody of Abercrombie & Fitch.
  • There are 3 posters of Jak and Daxter (from Jak II) hidden throughout the game. The first is in Clank's apartment on the TV screen, the second & third on planet Damosel around the bank's exit.
  • When Ratchet finds the last piece of the Hypnomatic, he and Clank imitate one of Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy's power cell dances, with Clank spinning around on the floor. The jingle made by Mutato Muzika is played as well.
  • The title of the game is based on one of the "Skill Point" achievements in the previous installment of the series.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Game Rankings. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando Reviews. Retrieved on 15 November 2006.
  2. ^ a b c d e (2003) in Insomniac Games: Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando Instruction Booklet (in English). Sony Computer Entertainment. 
  3. ^ Fizzwidget: A few days ago this, top secret, biological experiment was stolen from our testing lavatory, by this duplitheros criminal mastermind and I need you to get the experiment back. (Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando)
  4. ^ Angela: This changes nothing! Where is the experiment? Clank: We have returned it to Mr. Fizzwidget. Angela: Ugh. You've just put the whole galaxy in imminent danger. (Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando)
  5. ^ Ratchet: Mr. Fizzwidget, do you copy? Anyone handling the experiment must exercise the utmost caution. (Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando)
  6. ^ Qwark: Allow me to explain, I'm about to save the galaxy from the Protopets and you are about to be come public enemy number one! (Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando)
  7. ^ Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (ps2: 2003): Reviews

[edit] External links

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