Ratchet: Deadlocked
| Ratchet: Deadlocked | |
|---|---|
| File:927167 65866 front.jpg | |
| Developer(s) | Insomniac Games |
| Publisher(s) | SCEA |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Release | October 25, 2005 (NA) November 18, 2005 (EU) November 23, 2005 (JP) |
| Genre(s) | Action, Shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer, co-op |
Ratchet: Deadlocked, known as Ratchet: Gladiator in Europe, is a platform/shooter video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony. It is the fourth game in the Ratchet & Clank series and is the sequel to Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal. It was released on October 25, 2005 in North America.
Story
Template:Spoiler After saving the galaxy once again, Ratchet and Clank are given the job of running the Starship Phoenix, as well as Al for back-up if need be. When Sasha, the new mayor of Metropolis, phones in and informs the crew of the death of Captain Starshield, robots approach the Phoenix and overrun it, taking Ratchet, Clank and Al captive. They are transported to the Shadow Sector, a lawless region on the fringe of the Solana Galaxy and Ratchet is forced to compete in the reality holovision show, DreadZone. The runner of Dreadzone, Gleeman Vox, puts Ratchet and his new combat bots Merc and Green in various tournaments that range from turning on lighthouses to finding an escape pod to survive an Ace Hardlight Merchandise Factory. He battles against DreadZone's army of robots and fights the Exterminators, four gladiators that destroy other gladiators for fame and fortune. Ratchet soars to the top of the DreadZone rankings and after getting past the "mathematically proven 'unbeatable'" Ghost Station, Vox puts all of the heroes, gladiators and even the audiences' life at risk by threatening to blow up the DreadZone Station. Ratchet rescues the everyone and destroys Gleeman Vox, yet again saving the universe from peril.
Gameplay
The game includes many of the same modes of gameplay as Up Your Arsenal, such as online games with nine other people (ten people max to a game), and many similar weapons. New modes and attributes include co-op gameplay in single player mode (better named, "story mode" now), and newer, more devastating vehicles. Also, the game includes a vastly more RPG style in the form of custom armor and weapons (through the use of "mods").
The single-player campaign also features a co-op mode in which a partner will replace the two combat bots. The story mode is fully playable in co-op much like Halo: Combat Evolved and Doom 3 for the Xbox. The players will be bound to each other within a certain distance by the game's "Deadlock collars" which will detonate if the players become too far apart. There are unlockable skins that can be chosen as well in co-op mode. The second player can unlock a Jak skin from the Jak and Daxter series.
This game is notable in the series for two reasons. First, Insomniac has removed Ratchet's sidekick, Clank, as a playable character. In addition, many of the platforming elements from the previous games, including gadget-based puzzles, have been removed, as the game became focused more on "shooter" elements than earlier iterations in the series.
Online play
The game is the second in the series to make use of the PlayStation 2 Network Adaptor. The online mode features five modes: A completely revamped version of Up Your Arsenal's "Siege" (in which players captured nodes and attacked the enemy base) called Conquest. This new mode features nodes which players must capture and vote upon upgrades to sustain their lead. Points are awarded for taking and defending nodes as well as several kill variations (Sharp shooter for a sniper kill, road kill for running over an enemy, and a Humiliation kill for defeating a foe with the series trademark default weapon the wrench). Other modes are classic multiplayer modes such as Capture the Flag (CTF), Deathmatch (Team Deathmatch is also part of this), King of the Hill, and Juggernaut. Each mode is changed to fit with the Ratchet and Clank universe, but still retain their main objectives and play styles.
Weapons and gadgets
The main difference between the weapons used in Deadlocked and the previous games is that they are more customizable. There are two kinds of mods: Omega and Alpha. Omega mods add secondary abilities to weapons, such as acid, freeze, and napalm. Alpha mods upgrade the weapons statistics, and include auto-aiming, larger magazines, and higher rates of fire. However, there are not as many different weapons as in the previous installments.
Armor
In the armors of previous games, Ratchet's arms and legs were not as heavily protected, and his ears protruded from his helmet. In Deadlocked, however, he is completely encased.
- Marauder: This is the armor you start the game with. Its only defining features are the short spikes that adorn the shoulder plates.
- Avenger: After defeating Shellshock, you have access to this armor. It is a deep army green. There are more armor plates, and the pieces resemble those of the Master Chief from the Xbox game Halo: Combat Evolved. The shoulder spikes are removed.
- Crusader: Facing off against and defeating Reactor earns you this light-blue combat suit. It is quite similar to the Avenger, but the plates are more concentrated on the chest and shoulders rather than the limbs.
- Vindicator: Snuffing out The Evicerator allows you to don a mustard-yellow armor with enhanced leg plating.
- Liberator: Finally taking down Ace Hardlight gives you access to a black-hued cross between the Avenger and Marauder armors. It has the most complex plating of all the armors, and the shoulder spikes return.
- No Helmet: This isn't exactly an armor, but 30 Skill Ponts earns you the ability to take off Ratchet's helmet. When this cheat is activated, Ratchet wears the leather hood that he does in the original Ratchet & Clank.
Power ups
There are two powerups only accessible through multiplayer online and local play.
- Quad Damage: A temporary powerup giving you 4x the power to all of your weapons which usually results in a 1 hit kill. The name and behavior is taken from the Quake series of games.
- Allied Shields: A temporary shield that will surround you for a minute and protect you from heavy damage.
Shadow Sector
- Containment Suite, Dreadzone Station: This area is where you can reach the Battledome. Al has robot upgrades for Merc and Green and the Pox Transportation Cruiser will take you from the arena and back. Clank is stationed here as well.
- Battledome, Dreadzone Station: This is the place where Dreadzone Tournaments are held. Can you scale the Tower of Power? Will you be able to defeat the Exterminators? All answers will be revealed right here in the Battledome.
- Control Level, Dreadzone Station: After gaining the blueprints for the jail shields, Ratchet and Clank overide the PTC to take you to the control deck where the shield generators are. Eliminate them and then go on to defeat Vox and the game!
- Catacrom Graveyard, Catacrom Four: This is the first "real" planet. Built on a robot burial ground, the Catacrom Graveyard has some tricks up it's sleeve. Reach the Landstalker then use to infiltrate the Catacrom Arena.
- Sarathos Swamp, Sarathos: Sarathos is where the Leviathens roam! The aim is to whipe out the native wildlife and reach the Puma. Then, capture all nodes around the environment and enter the awaiting King of the Leviathen's lair.
- Dark Cathedral, Kronos: Being the last planet of the Avenger Tournament, this city would be hard. And it is! The main objective is to get inside the Cathedral, but to do so would mean to fight hordes of Dreadzone's finest, grind through the largest grind rail section in this game and hack numerous orbs. After completing that, you will be instructed to destroy Shellshock!
- NOTE: You will return to the Battledome to complete the Avenger Tournament and conquer the Tower of Power.
- Temple Of Shaar, Shaar: Aside from graveyards, swamplands and skyscrapers this place will take you to the frozen tundra planet of Shaar. Facing new enemies such as Laser Backs and Lanstalkers this ancient temple will test your strength and brains to survive.
- Mining Facility, Orxon: This planet was featured in R&C 1 and was home to the blarg and quite a lot of toxic gas and waste. Well that pollution seems to have disappeared, and a Raritanium Mining Complex is where you'll be situated. Destroy the big drill at the front of the facility and be proclaimed a champion!
- NOTE: You will return to the Battledome to complete the Crusader Tournament and defeat the radioactive Reactor.
- Valix Lighthouse, Valix Belt: After being dubbed the "Crusader" of Dreadzone you will be taken to the Valix Asteroid Belt which is the area responsible for the Gamma Energy Beam that powers the galaxy. Vox has switched off the facilities that make the Beam work and it is your job to turn it back on.
- Torval Ruins, Torval: You will be stationed at an abandoned Ace Hardlight Merchandise Factory that will hold plenty of foes to deal with. Find the escape pod before Dreadzone's army of robots finds you!
- NOTE: You will return to the Battledome to complete the Vindicator Tournament and defeat the Eviscerator.
- Tempus Control Station, Stygia: Someone has disabled Stygia's shield that defends the planet from being bombarded with asteroids. Get the forcefield back up and become a hero.
- Maraxus Prison, Maraxus: Merc and Green are being held captive. It's up to you to infiltrate the prison and set your mates free.
- NOTE: You will return to the Battledome to complete the Liberator Tournament and defeat Ace Hardlight.
- The Gauntlet Of Doom, Ghost Station: This is the last campaign of Dreadzone and it's going out with the bang! You have been sent to the "unbeatable" gauntlet of doom at the Ghost Station and your task is to destroy it and escape. Capture all the nodes and annihilate all power nodules to win Dreadzone!
Bosses
- King Leviathan
- Shellshock
- Reactor
- Eviscerator
- Ace Hardlight
- Gleeman Vox
Cameos
- Courtney Gears: Seen on one of Big Al's computer screens, and mentioned by Dallas and Juanita. She is recovering after the Up Your Arsenal boss battle and she appears alongside Reactor in the Reactor: Introspective cutscene.
- Dr. Nefarious: Makes a brief cameo at the end looking for the Dreadzone station. He is still stuck on a meteorite, and still has that head radio flaw, revealing a hilarious voiceover with Lance and Janice.
- Lawrence: Makes a brief cameo along with Dr. Nefarious and is still wearing a ridiculous mullet while playing some funky bass.
- Captain Qwark: Makes a small voice cameo at the end of the game, in which he says to Ratchet that the whole "heroes being kidnapped" rumor is false, because nobody came to capture him, and "who could make a series about galactic heroes without Captain Qwark?". His cameo is only heard, not seen, for he is talking to them on a phone.Also, by unlocking the epilogue, you see Quark still has Skruch the monkey and works every day. Except Wednesdays.
- One of the vehicles in the game, a buggy with a rear-mounted turret, is called the Puma, the name given in the machinima series Red vs Blue to the Warthog in Halo, a vehicle that performs a similar duty.[citation needed]
Trivia
- Ratchet: Deadlocked was referenced in the Dead Zone season 4 episode, A Very Dead Zone Christmas