The digital delights of Sony’s scrumptious PlayStation Network service know no bounds. Aside from letting punters compete in online gaming, stream films, browse the Internet and more, its premier attraction rests in the copious supply of downloadable games ripe for the picking. From PSN exclusives to PSOne Classics, minis and plain old add-on content, Sony’s online space is chock full of goodies battling it out for your hard-earned digital dollars.
Welcome back to another installment of Inside PlayStation Network, where every Monday – Friday we’ll pluck a PSN release—be it new or old—and put it in the spotlight for a thorough dissection. Fancy getting a new PSN game but don’t know what one to plump for? Perhaps this feature will help. Didn’t realize that a game was available in your region until now? We’ve got you covered. Or, perhaps you were musing over what those lucky Japanese folk were tucking into over in the Land of the Rising Sun? You can be sure our coverage will extend to those rare regional exclusives as much as those firmly embedded on the public consciousness.
Today, we shine the spotlight on pint-sized platformer Secret Agent Clank.
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Developer: High Impact Games
Region(s) available: North America, Japan
Players: 1
Ratchet & Clank remain perhaps one of the most iconic modern day game heroes to grace a PlayStation platform. Kind of like a gaming equivalent of Ant & Dec (minus the Geordie accents, naturally) the duo have bagged a series of celebrated platform romps under their belt, a trend that looks set to continue for some time. However, this PSP outing sees diminutive sidekick Clank stepping out of Ratchet’s shadow for some much-deserved time in the limelight in this stealthy Bond spoof, Secret Agent Clank.
The story kicks off as Clank clocks partner Ratchet pinching a prized gem from a museum. Incredulous that his mate could commit such a crime, Clank makes it his personal mission to prove that Ratchet is innocence, only to discover that the theft is part of a decidedly bigger picture. Fitting in with the Bond-inspired narrative, Clank comes equipped with a multitude of flashy gadgets that you’d half expect to find tucked into the British spy’s posh tuxedo. For one, Clank’s bowtie acts as a razor-sharp boomerang, while his cufflinks double as explosive devices. Oh, and the carnation on his lapel happens to be a man-eating tanglevine flower.
Extra trinkets can be purchased via vendors using the bolts you acquire throughout your adventure, as well as appropriately-named Clank-Fu melee upgrades. Unlike the core R&T outings, Secret Agent Clank affords players the opportunity to adopt stealth tactics to circumvent enemy patrols. Sure, it’s not mandatory, and you can quite easily enough go in all guns blazing if you wish, but the option is a welcome addition to a tired-and-tested formula. Furthermore, you’ll be rewarded with various bonuses if you manage to keep your head down, so it’s worth your time employing a more surreptitious approach to completing each stage.
Clank can also make use of Gadgetbots, namely pint-sized droids that boast skills such as combat, flicking switches and conducting electricity. Players can gain control of one of three, allowing you to dish out rudimentary commands to your teammates , such as ‘wait’ ‘repair’ ‘attack’ and ‘follow.’ These sequences are mostly tied to solving puzzles and overcoming various obstacles. Outside of the bread-and-butter action, you’ll also take part in various mini games (stealth takedowns, vehicular chases, lock-picking), in addition to unique stages where you take control of Ratchet and Captain Qwark. The latter is particularly amusing, considering Qwark narrates each level and essentially makes things up as he goes along.
Secret Agent Clank also packs a heap of extras to extend its 10-hour campaign. For one, you’ll gain access to the Challenge Mode after you finish the game, rendering enemies considerably tougher than before, though you’ll also have access to all your gadgets from your first trip. Then there’s the skill points – 65 in total, to be precise – which reward you with cheat options for accomplishing various tasks such as dispatching 20 foes with a single lawnmower or making it through a vehicle stage without crashing. You can also hunt down titanium bolts that are scattered in each level, unlocking fresh costumes and skins for playable characters.
That’s it for another week. With E3 2011 kicking off on Monday, we’ll be taking a break from nosing around Inside PlayStation Network until the following week. Still, with the PlayStation Store now up and running, perhaps it’ll give you a chance to consider your next purchase?