As the Clankmeister himself, your mission is to find out just why the dickens your buddy Ratchet has been sent expressly to prison for snatching the ‘Eye of Infinity’ gem from the Galactic Museum. You saw him do it, security footage shows him doing it and retinal scans prove it was him, but something just doesn’t add up. The Interstellar Spy Agency agrees, so you’re sent in to suss out just who’s doing the framing. This involves various elements of gameplay ranging from the usual run around collecting bolts while kicking the living daylights out of all manner of baddies with a view to a-killing you (OK, no more crap Bond references, we promise) romp ‘n’ blast of the series, with an array of over-the-top weapons and upgradable ‘Clank-Fu’ moves, through to a softly, softly stealthy approach that adds a new element of strategy. Avoid searchlights, or tiptoe (erm, do robots have toes?) up behind a robo-sentry and unleash your super-spy whopping force upon the unsuspecting dope - that kind of thing. Yep, Secret Agent Clank has diversionary tactics at play; it’s not all havoc on a little plastic wedge with a screen in it. Variety is bolstered further by a mixture of mini-missions, ranging from simple rhythm things (stab at the triangle, circle and X buttons in various combos), to dodge ‘em games and really basic jewel-encrusted puzzles. If this isn’t enough, Clank gets to take a robo-siesta at regular intervals as Captain Qwark, Gadgebots and even Ratchet (beating seven shades of shite out of fellow inmates trying to make him their Lombitch) take over.
This is where Secret Agent Clank goes a little bit ‘CLUNK!’ While some mini-missions – in particular the wonderful puzzles of the Gadgebots – are an entertaining and seamlessly integrated break from the main objective, others are jarring and often just a case of going through the motions as you try to get all zen with the buttons to shimmy your way through laser security or mash your PSP into bite-sized bitty-bits belting up another onslaught of black and white clad potential soap droppers in fairly monotonous arena combat. Frequently, flat-out frustration finds the fun-factor fizzling. Ultimately, the whole thing just feels a bit all over the place, rather than a slick, coherent, captivating addition to the Ratchet & Clank legacy. This being noted, despite some frustrations with the extremes of gameplay styles, and the often kill-worthy camera system, Secret Agent Clank is still a polished product with depth and much in the way of those Perinaise-like addictive qualities that keep you coming back for one more stab, despite the potential for aggravation.
It just needed a touch more buffing before it left the factory.
Pros:
Clank's witty bon mots, gadgetbots!
Cons:
Clunky camera system, graphics quality fluctuates, too much variety in play styles
Verdict:
Clank's moment to shine lacks some polish
Rating:
4/5