With the first game being such a success, Insomniac was ready to go even bigger with the sequel to Ratchet and Clank simply titled Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando. Coming out just a year after its predecessor, this game promises everything we loved about the original while also upping the adventure and gameplay while fixing some of the little issues from before. While I admit the first game was better from a storytelling perspective, Going Commando delivers on everything it possibly can to create a worthy sequel that expands upon the world and brings on the comedy and adventure that we’ve come to expect.
Taking place after the events of the previous game. Ratchet and Clank are hired by Megacorp president Mr. Fizzwidget to track down a thief that has stolen a protopet creature from Megacrop's testing grounds. However, the two later realize that there might be something suspicious going on and that Mr Fizzeidget might have other plans that may put the galaxy in jeopardy.
Once again this game is a showcase for its over the top cartoonish humor and its themes in consumerism. The interesting character dynamic between Ratchet and Clank may not quite be as interesting as in the last game, but it nevertheless still works and it's great to see the duo working together to save the galaxy. The story of the game is adventurous and keeps you invested. There are many characters both old and new that you come across and their personalities and sense of humor are just as fun as they were the last time. If I did have one nitpick, I would argue that the twist villain is not super hard to guess, but the creators don’t cheat on us either. The end result is still entertaining but it would have been better if they could have made the twist villain much more shocking.
Insomniac did a great job of creating a unique sci fi environment to explore in the first game. The second game expands upon its world building by adding new planets to explore and introducing new and creative weapons to destroy your enemies. The game plays exactly like the first and many of the controls and techniques you learned from the previous entry are carried over to this game. Many of the gameplay issues from the last game have been drastically improved such as the weapon select which feels much better compared to last time. Each world you visit can be explored for hours and you may be able to find many bolts and other items that can be used to buy weapons and upgrades for your ship. The game also features new gameplay modes such as controlling your ship to shoot down foes in space and competing in stadium challenges to earn more bolts and even new weapons. These new features help to give new things to do and to make the game stand out from other entries.
The graphics are still just as immersive in its presentation as they were before. It may be a PS2 era game, but the level of detail is still very impressive and the new places we get to explore have great color palettes and are plagued with interesting character and enemies designs. I would even argue that it still holds up for how cartoony it presents itself which makes the game a lot more timeless when compared to games that try to look realistic.
It's rare for a sequel to do just as good if not even better than its predecessor. Ratchet and Clank Going Commando delivers on its familiar but engaging gameplay, great graphics and an adventurous sci-fi storyline. If you loved the first Ratchet and Clank game, then chances are you’ll most likely enjoy the sequel as well. Pick it up and play it if at all possible and get ready for another exciting adventure.
(Final Grade: B+)