Clank Calls

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday November 20, 2004

Jason Hill, Bennett Ring

Grab your tools and buckle up, this favourite is now multiplayer and has many new twists and turns, writes Jason Hill.

Ratchet and Clank 3

Runs on: PS2

Price: $99.95

Classification: G8+

Rating: * * * * 4 1/2

Classifying games into strict genres is increasingly unhelpful. In the past, Ratchet 3 might have been called a platformer, but the game's wonderful variety ensures players spend little time actually leaping.

In this action-packed romp you will blast enemies with dozens of upgradeable weapons, solve puzzles, unleash firepower from gun turrets, wear disguises, command helper robots and monkeys, drive vehicles, collect countless bolts, battle huge bosses, strap on armoured suits, swim underwater, skydive, pilot planes, hack computer systems and more.

Better yet, the huge solo adventure is complemented by exciting multiplayer games for battling against friends (and turning them into sheep).

Standard deathmatch and capture the flag modes are joined by an engaging siege mode in which players constantly wrestle for territory.

Anyone can play thanks to the simple, responsive and flexible controls. It's arguably the most fun you can have with PS2 online, and you can also play split-screen on one console.

The various crazy gadgets and weapons are terrific, including: the goo-firing Infector which brainwashes enemies into attacking each other, the spectacular plasma whip, and the duck-creating QuackORay.

New technology is purchased by collecting bolts and weapon capabilities are upgraded after frequent use.

It's not just about having a powerful weapon - you need strategy against opponents, who use cover effectively.

The game will keep you smiling. The dialogue between the space-ace mechanic and his robotic chum is frequently hilarious and there is a big cast of crazy characters and amusing cutaway scenes.

Missions offer plenty of variety, there are bonus quests and fun diversions. You can even play hilarious and addictive Captain Quark retro-style video games on your Starship.

Wild fun for everyone, it would be a tragedy if Ratchet 3 became lost among this year's many blockbusters.

Endgame: A very entertaining action game with fun characters and you can now go nuts with your friends.

Killzone

Runs on: PS2

Price: $99.95

Classification: MA

Rating: * * *

Hailed as the PS2's answer to Halo, Killzone has more expectations to live up to than the number of corpses littering its levels after a brutal fire fight.

While it's similar to Halo in that it's a first-person shooter, Killzone favours a much grittier, more realistic style of warfare than the colourful battles of Halo.

From the moment you pick up your first impressively designed weapon, it's obvious that Killzone is a feast of eye candy. The PS2 has once again been pushed above and beyond the graphic capabilities of which gamers thought it capable.

Unfortunately, this has come at the cost of smooth performance, with regular frame-rate hiccups and stutters. Texture and object pop-ups mar the otherwise excellent presentation.

Tight controls are crucial for a console shooter, and Killzone's are usually up to scratch. However, the innovative controls for the sniper rifle don't allow the player to pull off precise headshots when they're needed most, which leads to rising frustration.

Killzone stumbles to its bloody kneecaps due to the repetitive nature of its battles. The majority of the player's time is spent running from one point to another, taking out hordes of Helghast warriors along the way. Target variety in shooters is crucial to keep player interest, but most of the bad guys in Killzone all seem to be clones of each other.

The behaviour of both friend and foe is sporadic at best. These troopers have the intelligence of a bag of wheat, although their continual taunts initially help to mask this.

Thankfully, strong online support for up to 16 players helps to redeem the game somewhat but Killzone isn't quite the killer title many expected. It's by no means a total dud, but in the crowded shooter genre being average just isn't good enough.

Endgame: Halo 2 has nothing to be concerned about.

Bennett Ring

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Runs on: GameCube

Price: $99.95

Classification: G8+

Rating: * * * *

Mario games always feature paper-thin plots and have our favourite plumber flat out rescuing the princess, but Paper Mario takes the concept literally.

Presented like a child's pop-up book, even the moustached marvel's rotund girth has been flattened for this charming adventure. Mario can fold himself into a plane to glide over gaps, squeeze sideways through cracks, roll himself into a tube, and even tear off backgrounds to reveal secret passages.

It is a role-playing adventure but there is plenty of action, and Mario has not forgotten many of his famous platforming antics. Players can leap across blocks, stomp on foes, use warp pipes, push switches and hurl turtle shells. Unusually, the turn-based combat is interactive, demanding well-timed button presses to increase damage, defend against onslaughts and repel attacks.

The combat system is elegant and satisfying. Battles can become repetitive, but there is scope for customisation thanks to multiple team-mates with unique skills.

Players learn more attacks and special moves by acquiring badges.

It is a lengthy journey filled with entertaining scenes and a clever, self-referential script. Players battle countless foes, dance with a computer, guide over hundreds of lemming-like critters, slay dragons, reunite loved ones, chase thieves and listen to brother Luigi spin improbable yarns.

Each chapter has a distinct style and there are fun diversions to add variety. One of the most delightful sections lets players guide the massive Bowser in a tribute to the original Super Mario Bros.

The biggest grumble is backtracking. The level design often makes players trudge back and forth through the same environments. The game also gets off to a slow start, which sadly might turn some players away prematurely.

Endgame: A lengthy and entertaining adventure with ingenuity and charisma.

Jason Hill

© 2004 Sydney Morning Herald

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