Secret Agent Clank (PSP)

For those who like their robotic sidekicks shaken, not stirred.
6/24/2008 5:41 PM | 0 Comments | Page 1 of 2

It seems as though the Ratchet & Clank and Jak and Daxter series share a strange sort of symbiotic bond. This can be attributed to the identical naming convention (Main Character & Sidekick) and the fact that many of the entries in both series were released within weeks (if not days) of each other. Not to mention the fact that both series have freely referenced each other in the past. When it was announced a couple years ago that Jax's buddy, Daxter, would be starring in his own PSP title, people began to ask the inevitable question -- "When will Clank get his own adventure?" I may have taken a while, but Clank gets his own adventure now.

Based on Clank's secret agent alter-ego that was introduced in Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Secret Agent Clank sends the intrepid robot on a quest to clear his pal Ratchet's name after the heroic Lombax is accused of stealing a priceless gem. Although the R&C series is typically known for its fast-paced action and wide selection of weapons, Clank swipes a few sneaking mission cues from Metal Gear Solid and requires a stealthier approach to the gameplay.

As you make your way through each stage, you're rewarded for getting past the many guards and traps without being detected. This can be done by simply staying out of a spotlight or an enemy robot's field of vision, but you'll occasionally have to use some more ingenious methods like disguising yourself as a statue or grabbing a disguise to conceal your identity.

Of course, super-spies always have a supply of gadgets at their disposal, and Clank is no different. By accessing the series' handy Quick Select menu, you can use such tools as a deadly boomerang tie, cufflink bombs, a monocle that allows you to assume the holographic form of other characters, and a flower blossom that quickly grows into a metal-munching plant of Audrey II proportions. These weapons are far more fun to utilize than Clank's selection of "Clank Fu" fighting techniques. When the little robot is forced to fight with his fists, the dull combat degenerates into "repeatedly hit the Square button until you win."

Occasionally, there will be lengthy sequences that Clank can only pass by means of a PaRappa the Rapper-style rhythmic button-pressing mini-game. Although these scenes are typically quite humorous (the deadly ballroom dance is especially great), they go on for way too long, and the notes you must hit often seem unrelated to the music that's playing. A few vehicle stages show up when Clank needs to make a hasty exit are far less intrusive.

Despite the starring role, Clank isn't the only character that you'll control during the game. Interspersed between Clank's missions are levels where you play as Ratchet, diminutive Gadgebots, and the obnoxious, space-faring hero, Captain Qwark. The Ratchet stages are arena battles set within the prison where the framed hero has been placed. Although Ratchet has his typically large arsenal of weapons to choose from, the arenas are dull and the game's controls make aiming a chore. It's also wise to spend the many Bolts that you collect throughout the game to upgrade Ratchet's weapons as opposed to Clank's skills. Ratchet's battles are considerably tougher than Clank's missions.