Snazzy Suit Clank for the PSP!

Unco-ordinated

Completely out of the blue, Gametrailers just unveiled Secret Agent Clank for the PSP.

High Impact Games are apparently developing it and it looks pretty neat. The gameplay is obviously a bit different from what Ratchet fans are used to, but I really think it's a better option than just making 'Ratchet & Clank Lite' like they did with Size Matters.

urahonky

I've always like the Ratchet and Clank series. But after the 2nd one, I can't seem to get myself to play through them anymore. What's the video about? What's new about this game? Can anyone give me any additional information? Bueller?

Unco-ordinated

urahonky wrote: »

Can anyone give me any additional information? Bueller?

Sure thing (though this thread certainly bombed ). 1UP have this preview up:

Daxter, the wise-cracking sidekick of Sony's first big American-developed PS2 platformer franchise, starred in his very own (and very good) PSP adventure last year, happily free of his partner Jak's tyranny. So it only seems fair that the wise-cracking sidekick of Sony's second American-developed PS2 platformer series would eventually enjoy his own shot at fame; Ratchet's robot pal Clank, long a supporting character, is going spy-guy on PSP next year. Sony showed off his first solo outing tonight at a pre-Tokyo Game Show event at the company's headquarters, and while we only experienced a glimpse of the game, it looks excellent.

As well it should -- Secret Agent Clank is the work of High Impact Games, who put together this year's portable Ratchet spin-off Size Matters. As you might expect, Secret Agent Clank has a heavy emphasis on platforming and fighting -- but unlike a normal Ratchet game, shooting is seriously downplayed -- otherwise, we're told, it would basically just be Ratchet with a different skin.

Clank plays differently, with an emphasis on melee fighting rather than target shooting. Three- and four-hit combos are the bread and butter of the game, and as the diminutive hero collects various upgrades he gains new techniques and finishing moves. For instance, the rocket boots that enable the double-jump also let him perform a rocket stomp with a touch of the X button at the right moment.

And, of course, he has access to an arsenal of special weapons, accessed by bringing up a circular menu in the heat of combat. Unlike Ratchet's heavy artillery, though, Clank's tools play up the "secret agent" part of the game. He's running around in a tuxedo, after all, so in James Bond style his accoutrements are his weapons. His bow tie can become a boomerang capable of hitting multiple targets; the rose in his lapel can be dropped to become a carnivorous flower that devours monsters.

To further play up the spy theme, Clank will also tackle a number of "sneaking" missions. These function rather like a rhythm game, with players pressing buttons with the proper sequence and timing to successfully complete various series of evasions. Press the buttons correctly and Clank ducks past guards, leaps to hide in the ceiling's shadows, ninja-style, and weaves through a laser grid like a metallic Catherine Zeta-Jones. The results of each flurry of inputs play out automatically, but they're entertaining enough, and these levels are simple diversions.

Finally, you have the boss battles -- which, curiously, Clank doesn't tackle himself. Instead, the series' bumbling secondary character, Captain Quark, performs these sequences instead. The rationale: Quark is being interviewed by a biographer about the time he followed Clank around the galaxy, always a step behind, and the captain embellishes his stories somewhat. The idea here is that Clank beat them, off-camera, but Quark is taking the credit for it.

The one boss battle on display, a fight against a guy named Jack of All Trades, was fairly tough, especially since Quark's weapons are somewhat limited. Rather than having access to Clank's spy gizmos, Quark can melee and shoot. Midway through the battle, Quark switches to a vacuum gun that can collect various weapons from around the arena and fire them back at Jack. Fortunately, the aim in these portions is fairly forgiving, with a very generous lock-on feature...something of a necessity given the PSP's interface issues.

Secret Agent Clank is slated for a summer or fall 2008 release date, which means High Impact should have plenty of time to refine the already-solid-looking gameplay.

Link

Glal

urahonky wrote: »

I've always like the Ratchet and Clank series. But after the 2nd one, I can't seem to get myself to play through them anymore.

You should give #3 a try, it's IMO by far the best in the series. Best humour, best character and cinematic direction, and the most polished gameplay. My only complaint with it is that they removed the rail grinding.

I think I'll be steering clear of the Clank game though; didn't much care for the Clank parts of the series, they tended to feel linear and the combat not fun.

Kaseius

Demo of this is up on the Playstation store.

135 MB Required

Ratchet has been accused of stealing the galaxy's most valuable gem, The Eye of Infinity, and only Clank's undercover alter ego, Secret Agent Clankâ„¢, can discover the true mastermind behind the caper. Luckily for Ratchet, he's got Clank on his side!

Local H Jay

Hopefully it's better than Daxter.
Bug collecting? Come on.

maximumzero

Kaseius wrote: »

Demo of this is up on the Playstation store.

135 MB Required

Ratchet has been accused of stealing the galaxy's most valuable gem, The Eye of Infinity, and only Clank's undercover alter ego, Secret Agent Clankâ„¢, can discover the true mastermind behind the caper. Luckily for Ratchet, he's got Clank on his side!

Sweet. I only wish that the PS Store was Mac-compatible.

Kaseius

That was a very enjoyable demo, and quite lengthy too.

In it, you play as both Clank and Ratchet (they are seperated and have their own levels in the demo), Clank's levels want you to sneak around which can be quite amusing because you can do stuff like pose as a statue so that the guards ignore you; guards can see you via their spotlight, or if they're a tank guard, they'll just tear your shit up if you get too close, and they don't have a spotlight.

There are QTEs as Clank when you perform an assassination move on enemies (4 buttons total), and there is a rhythm minigame for a certain part of the stage. Clank also has nifty little gadgets instead of massive weaponry; things like a bowtie shuriken and an ink pen to take care of cameras/lasers.

Ratchet has big ol' guns like I remember from the first 2 PS2 games. It's quite enjoyable blowing stuff up.

I'll probably try to buy this, but not for 40$