Ratchet's Deadlocked in a Sequel
The going gets even tougher in Insomniac Games' fourth Ratchet & Clank title.
Published: April 11, 2005
So how do you follow up with on one of the year's best action/adventure games? Uhm, make another sequel? Such is the gameplay of developer Insomniac Games, who is currently hard at work on Ratchet: Deadlocked, the latest installment in the acclaimed R&C series, as announced today by Sony Computer Entertainment America. Veering away from the franchise's lighter run 'n' gun style, Deadlocked seems to be showing Halo influence, introducing cooperative and squad-based gameplay for more of a shooter feel.
"We are excited about the high standards Insomniac Games continues to set for the videogame industry," beams Grady Hunt, senior producer, product development, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "By continuing to add new gameplay elements such as co-op and squad-based functionality to their games, Insomniac is sure to deliver one of the most competitive and challenging games for PlayStation 2 this holiday season."
The dynamic duo finds themselves sucked into their latest adventure while in the midst of investigating the recent disappearance of many a famous hero in the galaxy. Sure enough, the two end up "missing" themselves and thrown into "DreadZone," a shady combat reality show from the underground, run by a media mastermind named Gleeman Vox. Executing his battle prowess as always, Ratchet is quick to impress Vox with his skill, who pits his new favorite contestant against the most intense of deathmatches and contests to the approval of a ruthless audience. Without much of a choice, the star lombax (that'd be Ratchet) must participate in these games to keep himself and his friends alive and drive up the show's ratings, at least until he can break free from Vox's control. Oh yeah, and that ticking time bomb of a Deadlock collar he's got around his furry neck.
In terms of gameplay, Ratchet: Deadlocked comes out fully armed, with new co-op play in both the game's single player and multiplayer story mode. On the battlefield, the addition of squad-based play will allow for the commandeering of allied bots, each with its own unique personality and nifty ways to be customized.
Speaking of customization, the series has taken weapon upgrading up a notch, as you actually now have the ability to choose how your arsenal levels up, such as functionality and capabilities. The results are damn near endless, as you can imagine (we lied, but there are still thousands of possibilities!). With game now playing out in much more of a mission-based style (not unlike those you took on in Up Your Arsenal with saving the Galactic Rangers' metal butts, we'd assume), where levels can be completely non-linearly in pretty much any order you fancy. Rewards will come by the truckload as you progress, including weapons, armor and the always-useful health. And heck, just for kicks, those stages you blast across in solo mode will be available for your bot-blasting pleasure in multiplayer.
Ratchet: Deadlocked (apparently dropping your sidekick's name from the title is the latest trend, eh?) has its sights set on a fall 2005 release, but E3 2005 will serve as a proper debut for the game this May. We certainly don't mind, and will be there to deliver to you all the first-hand goods we can. Stay tuned.
"We are excited about the high standards Insomniac Games continues to set for the videogame industry," beams Grady Hunt, senior producer, product development, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "By continuing to add new gameplay elements such as co-op and squad-based functionality to their games, Insomniac is sure to deliver one of the most competitive and challenging games for PlayStation 2 this holiday season."
The dynamic duo finds themselves sucked into their latest adventure while in the midst of investigating the recent disappearance of many a famous hero in the galaxy. Sure enough, the two end up "missing" themselves and thrown into "DreadZone," a shady combat reality show from the underground, run by a media mastermind named Gleeman Vox. Executing his battle prowess as always, Ratchet is quick to impress Vox with his skill, who pits his new favorite contestant against the most intense of deathmatches and contests to the approval of a ruthless audience. Without much of a choice, the star lombax (that'd be Ratchet) must participate in these games to keep himself and his friends alive and drive up the show's ratings, at least until he can break free from Vox's control. Oh yeah, and that ticking time bomb of a Deadlock collar he's got around his furry neck.
In terms of gameplay, Ratchet: Deadlocked comes out fully armed, with new co-op play in both the game's single player and multiplayer story mode. On the battlefield, the addition of squad-based play will allow for the commandeering of allied bots, each with its own unique personality and nifty ways to be customized.
Speaking of customization, the series has taken weapon upgrading up a notch, as you actually now have the ability to choose how your arsenal levels up, such as functionality and capabilities. The results are damn near endless, as you can imagine (we lied, but there are still thousands of possibilities!). With game now playing out in much more of a mission-based style (not unlike those you took on in Up Your Arsenal with saving the Galactic Rangers' metal butts, we'd assume), where levels can be completely non-linearly in pretty much any order you fancy. Rewards will come by the truckload as you progress, including weapons, armor and the always-useful health. And heck, just for kicks, those stages you blast across in solo mode will be available for your bot-blasting pleasure in multiplayer.
Ratchet: Deadlocked (apparently dropping your sidekick's name from the title is the latest trend, eh?) has its sights set on a fall 2005 release, but E3 2005 will serve as a proper debut for the game this May. We certainly don't mind, and will be there to deliver to you all the first-hand goods we can. Stay tuned.