Ratchet: Deadlocked Review (PS2)

Wow, how impressive has this series gotten over the years? When Ratchet and Clank got introduced years ago for the PlayStation 2, they inched Insomniac Games away from their previous hit franchise (Spyro the Dragon, now in the doldrums of boring games) and created a brand new niche that would not be denied by either action nor platforming fans. Since then, each game has gotten progressively better, with Going Commando presenting an insane new challenge level and Up Your Arsenal incorporating multiplayer gameplay and catapulting it into the status of "damn near legend".

Now we come upon the fourth chapter in the series, and this time Insomniac Games has decided to shake up the formula a little bit, keeping a smooth-flowing story going but shifting the game from straight-forth actioner to gladiatorial combat machine. The result may be mixed for some, but there's no doubt that Ratchet: Deadlocked packs as much excitement as the previous games, if not a little more thanks to its focus on kicking ass and taking names.

In the game, Ratchet, Clank, and their mechanic buddy Al are celebrating their recent victory over the nefarious forces that plagued Up Your Arsenal, but soon are swept into capture by the vicious Gleeman Vox, a show man who'll do anything for ratings. In fact, he does- he hosts a TV program called Dreadzone that brings in all sorts of viewers. The show focuses on a "fight or die" formula, in which battles happen in real time and the best of soldiers can fall under the simplest of ambushes. Ratchet is forced into this combat with the snapping of an explosive collar around his neck, and soon finds himself with his hands full through a number of battles. Fortunately, Clank is able to lend a hand through a radio transmitter, providing tips and advice, and Al gives Ratchet a couple of support robots that come to Ratchet's aid.

The support bots add a degree of strategy to the game, keeping you thinking as well as shooting. They'll provide a number of options for the player, including keeping cover in certain spots, throwing an EMP at an otherwise impenetrable enemy, screwing in a bolt that would otherwise leave you vulnerable, or activating pods in certain sectors to open doors or keep some areas from closing in on you. However, it's also your responsibility to keep them active, so if one falls, you have to be quick with hitting the "revive" option to bring them back into play. These functions are assigned to the D-pad and work remarkably well, allowing you to hit options on the fly without straying too far from the analog sticks that control your main character.

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