Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (Sony PlayStation 2, 2003)

Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (known as Ratchet & Clank: Locked & Loaded in Europe, Australia and New Zealand) was released on November 11, 2003 in North America for the PlayStation 2. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando was the first Western game to be bundled in with the PlayStation 2 hardware in Japan, but there were a few changes made to make it more popular. Ratchet's eyes are more of an anime style, and he was given large eyebrows. This game uses the 'leveling' system that appears in every other game. Rather than collecting platinum bolts to upgrade weapons to more powerful, Platinum Varieties, Weapons have nanobot technology that, after gaining enough experience, causes them to evolve into a more powerful form with new abilities. These nanobots also apply to Ratchet, and his health will increase once his own personal experience rises high enough. Going Commando also introduced regular strafing to gameplay, whereas Ratchet could only strafe with the thruster pack, and he would only hover in the first game. Plus, Instead of an improbable "bomb glove" like in the first one, the game uses a bazooka-like gun which shoots bombs. The game takes place in a different setting than the first installment, this time in the Bogon Galaxy. In Going Commando Ratchet competes in hoverbike races and engages in spaceship battles. The story in this chapter has Megacorp boss, Abercrombie Fizzwidget, hire Ratchet and Clank to retrieve the "protopet", a new invention stolen by a masked thief. The duo retrieve the protopet and confront the thief, but "he" turns out to be a female, Angela, who helps them investigate the protopet's true origins. They find out Abercrombie Fizzwidget is Captain Qwark in disguise and he created the protopet to spread disaster across the galaxy. He plans to frame Ratchet, Clank and Angela, and then destroy the original protopet to restore his reputation as a hero. Qwark then films himself attempting to "cure" the original protopet using a device made by Angela. The device backfires, and turns the protopet into a huge mutant monster that the duo will have to defeat as a final boss.

The Ratchet & Clank sequel shows this series has a permenant place in gaming. It's even better than the original and that is really good. The controls are improved, graphics are still great, and there are so many more things to do thanks to arena combat and spherical worlds to play around with. Oh and Giant Clank is back and better than ever. And the guns are back and bigger. That's what this is really all about, right? Upgradeable weapons increase power just by using them and you will have to use them a lot to get maximized capabilities. There are several side quests to keep you busy besides the single player campaign and you will want to play this more than once to find all the secrets. This is a true gem and a must have game. 5/5

Second of the Ratchet & Clank PS2 games. This one is by far the best. Ratchet and Clank are recruited to recover the stolen "proto-pet" experiment, only to discover that things are not as they seem.

Many excellent levels and tasks. Two hoverbike race courses, a variety of grind rails, fantastic graphics, and a wonderful variety of new weapons and gadgets -- plus you get to keep your old gear from the first Ratchet & Clank game if you've played it. The weapons upgrade as you use them, and many of them are worth the effort to upgrade (the spider-bot is the best, trust me).

They story line is fun and the characters are great. This one is by far the best of the Ratchet & Clank games for the PS2

I decided to purchase Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando on the basis of my "psychosis." (Meaning to say that although I wasn't all too impressed with Ratchet and Clank, I decided that since I started the series, I may as well finish it.)

If you thought Ratchet and Clank was fast, then you've definitely got another thing coming. This game is much, MUCH faster. A plus to the game play is that they've generally kept all the same controls so there's no need to really memorize different combos. (Also, if you have a Ratchet and Clank save file, then at some point in the game, you'll be able to get a good couple of the weapons from that game for free.)

Since speeding up the action in the game, I think it's become a lot more interesting. With all the other games, it should be a good storyline. At certain points, it become infuriatingly difficult, but it's nothing good old perseverance (and maybe a little help)can't take care of.

It seems to be taking somewhat after the Jak and Daxter series, as in it gets more teen to adult as the story goes on.

Just a note about Jak and Daxter: When you start up the game and just let it play though the beginning sequence without hitting the Start button as it tells you to, Ratchet will begin playing the first Ratchet and Clank game as well as the Jak and Daxter games. I thought it was a neat idea since they were supposed to be each other competition.

I just recently discovered the awesomeness of this saga and Ratchet & Clank Going Commando doesn't disappoint!

This second fun filled adventure takes Ratchet & Clank on a mission thats bigger and better than the first. Better graphics and a new "Ratchet" attitude makes this game well worth the money.

With hoverbike racing & ship battles, the ability to destroy more stuff that makes Ratchet stronger and your weapons bigger and better you can't go wrong. Ratchet's spaceship can also be modified to your specifications as well.

The story takes place with a Megacorp boss, Abercrombie Fizzwidget that hires Ratchet and Clank to retrieve the "protopet" stolen.. Ratchet & Clank find the protopet and confront the thief but he turns out to be a girl named Angela who helps them find out the protopet's true origins.

They find out the Megacorp boss is Captain Qwark in disguise.
You have to play the game to find out the rest of the story!

Like I said Ratchet & Clank Going Commando will never disappoint.