RATCHET & CLANK: UP YOUR ARSENAL (2004) REVIEW

Upping the game?

PS2 exclusive.

Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is a platformer published by Sony and developed by Insomniac Games for the Playstation 2, Playstation 3 and Vita.

GAMEPLAY
The introduction of multiplayer is great, however if you can't play online the experience is really neutered sadly, even if you have some friends round the game modes feel more fitting for more than four people, and there's no option of AI bots to bring up the numbers. Perhaps in an effort to remedy this there is some side content in the campaign seems like a single-player version of some of the multiplayer maps.

Levels are more linear and the game just feels tighter and much smoother than the previous games. The Hypershot is a good example, combining two gadgets together and allowing the game to flow much more nicely

Putting one big hub in the game was a nice idea

I'm glad Insomniac just stuck to Ratchet and Clank as playable characters and giving them a few new abilities, rather than putting in segments with playable characters that are one trick ponies or who have abilities that Ratchet or Clank could have easily made use of (Looking at you Sly 3).

More upgrades

Enemies take cover and seem more tactically aware than in previous games

Space sections have been removed, probably for the better. Instead they're replaced by a few vehicle sections which feel a bit better.

Only came across a single turret section!

The final boss is a good fight that's ruined by random enemies. It's hard enough to dodge the bosses moves, but when out of nowhere random enemies keep firing at you and doing most the damage, and while you can destroy these enemies you'd have little to no ammo left for the boss.

The Clank sections actually felt like a step back from Going Commando, removing the new robots they introduced and replacing them with a monkey. It's not really a big deal, as they're still alright, I was just a bit disappointed to see that nothing really improved here.

STORY
Funniest game yet

Better cast of characters, or in some cases makes better use of them

GRAPHICS

Looks pretty good.

SOUND
Best soundtrack of the series so far

VALUE FOR MONEY

OVERALL
Up Your Arsenal is like a Going Commando that went on a diet, trimming down the fat and improving upon what was already good. If you enjoy shooters, platformers or action-adventure games make sure to check this game out.