Ratchet & Clank 2: Locked & Loaded previews

There has been many heated debates about which is better, Jak & Daxter or Ratchet & Clank. The answer is simple, BOTH. However, since this is a review of R&C2, I will explain why this game is so great.

First off, if you havnt played the first game in this series, there is no real need. The two stories are completly unrelated and the controls and interface of the game are easy to learn.

You can blast, destroy, annihilate and nuke anything and everything you want, and while that might sound a tad violent to all the parents reading this considering whether this is an appropriate addition to their childs arsenal of console software, all the violence in the game is exhibited in a comic/half-hearted fashion (as opposed to games that take it more seriously, ala Grand Theft Auto).

In this game, story comes second to gameplay. The story isnt bad, just simple (which makes it a better purchase for the young ones than Jak2 would be). The gameplay is where the game really shines. Youll just have so much fun blasting everything around you that after a while youll wonder where the last week went. Add to that the huge amount of extras and mini games Insomniac managed to put into the game, and youve got pretty much an essential purchase.

Finally, for parents who cant decide between getting their child R&C2 or Jak2, get R&C2, Jak2 will just be far too complicated for them.

Sony have stamped their authority on the platforming market, beating Nintendo to a pulp. If youre reading this and love platformers, and dont own a PS2, you should be crying. Mario was nothing compared to these games and I beleive never will be.

This game outdoes the first. I didn't think that possible, as RnC has for over a year been the adventure title by which I judge all others. They've added RPGlite elements – stamina and weapons experience, gameplay additions, fantastic new weapons, and wonderful new planets. The glider and bike replace the hoverboard, and a mining machine is added.

Insomniac haven't fixed what works. The travel paradigm and weapons interface are unchanged. They added games elements in – satellite planets and battle arenas – which enhance play. The plot is really unchanged. This doesn't help, but certainly doesn't detract from play. The gameplay is what engages you, and the sheer joy of smashing/blowing stuff up. Humour is paramount.

Softness of enemies is made up for in numbers if needed, and many enemies are much tougher than in RnC. Design and attention to detail stun again, and simplicity is elegance. Everything is ramped up a notch in RnCII, and completists will get a LOT of value from this game. It'll take ages to realise the potential of your weapons, as they just keep showing more scope with use and upgrades.

Once again value is gained from the second play-through, whereby enemies toughen/increase in number.

When the end came it was too soon. As with RnC I could have played twice as long, despite them being large games, but this time it felt more abrupt, perhaps because of the degree to which I got hooked. I think the better the game the harder it is to see it end, and this time I just started a second game right away.

Buy this game, and if you haven't buy RnC also – it's cheap, so there's no excuse.

Like most game sequels Ratchet & Clank 2 is bigger and better than the original with excellent graphics and gameplay.

The new weapons and gadgets are just as imagitive as before and the ability to upgrade the weapons with continued use is a great idea. The new maxi games are also a lot of fun and mix up the gameplay.

If choosing between this and Jak 2 get both! Both are very different games and equally as good as each other.