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| | Title:
Ratchet: Deadlocked
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System:
Playstation 2
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Genre:
Third Person Action
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Publisher:
Sony
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Developer:
Insomniac Games
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Release:
October 25, 2005
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Online:
Yes
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ESRB:
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The Ratchet and Clank series never ceases to amaze me. Just when you think the formula has run its course, that there is no way Insomniac Games can squeeze another title out of the franchise, they do it. Not only do they do it, but they do it so well and so creatively that more videogame companies should use Insomniac Games as a guide on how to handle a gaming franchise and ensure its continued existence through sequels. They are just that good at it. Insomniac Games somehow manages to make each of their Ratchet and Clank series unique enough that each one could stand on it’s own in the series. Sure there are some similarities between the three (soon to be four), but there are enough differences too.
Ratchet: Deadlocked is going to be the latest in the Ratchet and Clank series and also takes the biggest steps away from the formula that has worked so well in the past three games. Now purists don’t get upset; it’s not going to be a bad game. Insomniac Games knows what they are doing and it looks like they are crafting the best Ratchet and Clank yet (which is pretty hard since Up Your Arsenal was practically flawless). But let’s get the biggest change out of the way right now so we don’t have to worry about it:
The eagle eye might have noticed the title of the new game, Ratchet: Deadlocked, and the absence of Clank’s name.
This is for a very good reason; Clank is not going to be playable. Now, I know a lot of R&C fans out there loved the Clank levels (I know I did), but with a much more violent and darker theme dominating this game, the inclusion of Clank does not make much sense. Clank will probably take a back seat, only showing up in cut scenes and what not. How involved Clank will be in the game is really unknown, but the lack of screenshots of him and the fact that all the screenshots of Ratchet don’t have Clank in them lead many to believe he won’t be as active as he has been in the past.
Right away, veterans of the series will notice the distinctly different look Deadlocked has from the previous R&C titles. Again there is no Clank, but also the fact that Ratchet is now outfitted completely in a suit of power armor. This armor is more tied into the storyline than the gameplay. From what little details there are about the story, the best way to describe it is that Ratchet and Clank get kidnapped by a powerful being known as Gleeman Vox. Vox runs a reality combat show (oh boy even in video games), and wants to use Ratchet and Clank as his next contestants. Ratchet is the one forced to fight and has no real choice since his friend's and his own life will be compromised if he doesn’t. This is thanks to the Deadlock collar Vox has fastened around Ratchet’s neck (hence Ratchet: Deadlocked). How long Ratchet will be forced to fight and in the "games" and shift to bringing down Vox really hasn’t been said and probably won’t be. Overall, though, the story is much darker than in past R&C games, and it’s evident just by the small summary above.
But the changes just aren’t in the story. The gameplay is also taking a very big step away from the previous. Accompanying the absence of Clank is the addition of a squad of robots that will be under the player’s control. They will defend Ratchet, attack enemies, and probably be involved in solving some of the platforming puzzles within the game. These robots will definitely be a breath of fresh air in a sequel that is said to be even larger than Up Your Arsenal, not only in how much game there is, but in the huge amounts of replayability. No doubt there will be a challenge mode after the game is beaten the first time. Also, the quest to find every single last Platinum bolt as well as earn those challenging skill points will likely keep the player glued to his or her chair for a long time. Insomniac Games knows how to get the most out of their games and knows there are gamers out there (like me) who want to finish every single last bit of the game for it to feel complete. The outlook of a much larger game is a great.
But in a game where everything seems to be constantly expanded, there is in fact a section of Deadlocked that is being reduced purposefully --the number of weapons. It’s not just a loss of one or two; the count is officially down to ten. The Ratchet and Clank series is known for its huge list of pain givers and it honestly does not seem to make much sense at first glance why Insomniac Games would reduce the number to only ten. But never fear, Insomniac Games is said to be designing a very elaborate customization process for each of these ten weapons, giving players multiple branches to choose from and ultimately making the arsenal they are packing one that reflects their style of gameplay. If this is a wise alternative or not is still up in the air. I know for a fact that after I upgraded every weapon in the previous Ratchet and Clanks there were only a select few that I would come back to. Maybe having only ten weapons is a clever choice; only the public and time will tell.
In Deadlock’s prequel, Up Your Arsenal, the Ratchet and Clank series was taken online for the first time. Surprisingly, the venture was a success offering up some memorable battles against friends. Multiplayer is a big focus for Deadlock and it shows in two very good examples; the inclusion of a Co-Op mode within the single player as well as an expanded multiplayer experience. The Co-Op mode is something new to the Ratchet and Clank universe and should offer up some interesting gameplay moments. Basically, Co-Op will follow the single player story with two people playing a Ratchet looking character. How ammo count, experience, and upgrades will be handled is really not been mentioned as of yet. However, in previous Co-Op games, the lack of ammo has always been something that has hurt an experience. The multiplayer of Deadlock seems to be pulling a lot from the successful formula that Up Your Arsenal put in place and this isn’t a bad thing. There will probably be the standard modes of Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture The Flag, ect. Vehicles again will be useable online. What we can look to expect from Deadlock’s multiplayer mode will probably be around the same experience of playing UT2004 after playing UT2003. Fundamentally, the game was the same, but it was tweaked and polished to such a high degree that it became ten times more fun. Here’s hoping Deadlock follows suit.
Ratchet: Deadlocked looks to be well on its way to be another stellar hit from the studios at Insomniac Games. With a much darker storyline, weapon customization, larger levels, online multiplayer and, finally, a Co-Op, things have never looked better. Look for it to be released this October.
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