Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando Retrospective & Development Deep Dive

[@TheGoldenBolt]

Keep the marathon going with the Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal retrospective next! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2aYdoqHjLCEq9E Thanks so much for taking this journey through Going Commando with me, I hope you've had as much fun watching as I did making it. If you did, please consider sharing the video with friends, enemies, or Dana Carvey, and make sure to subscribe so that you don't miss future parts of this series and other future videos! I think like, 5% of you are subscribed - seriously! You can also give me money if you're feeling especially supportive, but liking, sharing, and subscribing is already more than generous. In case you didn't catch Part 1 of the Series Retrospective, you can find that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eH-2k4uQnNd3mbs (9:28 It wouldn't be a video without a mistake that wasn't in the test render, whoopsie!)

[@mehmetjj9163]

Really really awesome but you forgot something that's important (my opinion) the unused weapons 58:00 appeared again but not ratchet used them the mines were used by clunk in secret agent clank (nefarious suit) the boots used by the eye (quarks space level) i know it's just a small detail but it would be a very nice addition and i also know that secret agent clank is not made by insomniac

[@literalcharlie4171]

One problem there. If I share them with my enemies, they’ll no longer be my enemies haha

[@cliffturbo2146]

I truly appreciate that you go all out with the retrospect for Ratchet & Clank. It was really good!

[@superrittna6453]

I don't get what you don't like about the story. Why don't you? I personaly like it. At the ice and water puzzle on the planet where Ratchet and Clank break the fourth wall, I think you might be worse than me at that, since I don't have that much trouble with that puzzle personaly.

[@tytris203]

Angela is a bit of an airhead. She probably really forgot her wallet and meant for the thugs to cover for her. I don't think she meant to destroy the facility and kill its workers.

[@Rokabur]

Considering the dude had only 3 DAYS to program the entire yeti level, the man deserved an award for getting it even working as much as he did.

[@maxwellkowal3065]

That level was a nightmare to finish

[@TheFoxFromSplashMountain]

It's impressive that he was able to program it in such a short time, but man. Screw that level. Worst part of the game, lol. Oh well, at least you get a ton of bolts for finishing it.

[@Whoeverthatis-g5t]

I'm not gonna complain, a nightmare of a level is always nice every once and a while

[@canontheory]

Honestly I thought the level was pretty well designed playing it as a kid and even replaying it recently, it’s insane to think he did it in 3 days only.

[@feder373]

​@@TheFoxFromSplashMountain Yeah, but the amount you have to spend constantly just to recharge ammo makes the earnings less impactful than they should, especially in the first playthrough. There needed to be more ammo crates in the landscape. The combat arenas have the same problem.

[@kingkebo3960]

This game slapped so hard. I’ll never forget exploring that massive desert, hunting for platinum bolts and giant bugs.

[@florianp1283]

The desert is great. The ice tundra is annoying. I hate the yetis...

[@john45227]

@@florianp1283 who doesn’t.

[@Firguy]

My oldest brother hated this game because you can't circle-strafe like in Max Payne (even though this game's gunplay was designed around volleys and dodging enemy bullets with side-strafing). He even got into a heated argument with my second-oldest about it.

[@colbythibodeau1081]

@@florianp1283 Ice tundra is a necessary evil if you want that badass looking armor suit tho

[@florianp1283]

@@colbythibodeau1081 I get the Armour in challenge mode. I complete the 60 rounds challenge and it's mine. I focus on buying weapons so that I have at least 2 to level up every time.

[@roonkolos]

You gotta respect both the audacity and absolute confidence of having a sequel already prepared before your first game is even released. Especially knowing with hindsight with how monumentally risky a choice that was

[@PitifulSap]

Definitely made the snowbeast award sound a lot meaner than intended :) Thanks for the kind words though! Look forward to seeing the next one, which is the actual best game in the series :)

[@TheGoldenBolt]

Hey, I know that name! I was hoping your "badge of honor" comment from the Developer Commentary series brought it back around a bit, but I didn't want to get too much more into the weeds on the longer, more wholesome explanation for the award when we were already 90 minutes into this behemoth of a project. I'm sure you've heard it before, but a huge thanks to you for all the work you put into bringing the best out of these games, it hasn't gone unappreciated!

[@PitifulSap]

@@TheGoldenBolt Thank you for putting in all the time to remind people of this old game. I was really lucky to work on something that people seemed to enjoy. And it’s always nice to see people talking passionately about these old games.

[@sanjum2475]

@@PitifulSap Do you still play these games from time to time?

[@fonyon3]

Don't listen to these pansies, man. Grelbin is one of my favorite levels in the game and those Yetis are rad enemies

[@takatamiyagawa5688]

@@fonyon3 1:23:20 Yeah I'm not seeing what the problem is with this level. It's blatantly optional post-end-game content. Of course it's going to require a high level. It's something that I thought was a good fit for the RYNO, which is a rarity across all 4 PS2 Ratchet games. Usually, using it feels kind of wasteful, but I guess that award goes to the Zodiac for this game.

[@PatoGuzmanAd]

I am a therapist who gives psychotherapy to people who are going through very hard problems in this pandemic context, and let me tell you that for me, this video is my therapy time. Thank you for your time making this!

[@meggomyeggo431]

Thank you for all the work that you do!! We need more people like you in the world ☺️

[@venator104th3]

Honestly man I feel like you know the world gets to me and stuff like that and I can sit down and tune everything out and just play this game for a little bit and I always feel very refreshed and clean in my mind if that makes sense to you it’s like I can go back to my childhood and be worrying about nothing no problems just wanting to play the game and I never find myself getting bored of it either what a fantastic game.

[@graffitionthefloor]

You don't have a therapist of your own??

[@PatoGuzmanAd]

@@meggomyeggo431 thank you so much!!

[@PatoGuzmanAd]

@@venator104th3 I totally feel you, I play this game at least once a year, like a tradition, just to relax and have a good time

[@mickeyzer0725]

Angela didn't actually feed them to the swamp monsters on purpose. If I remember correctly, she forgot he wallet and asks the thugs "Will you... take care of this?" as in to pay for it, and they misinterpret it and throw the cashier into the wall instead of paying

[@Killjoy2521]

I caught this too, and I was looking to see if someone else already commented. Yeah, when its revealed that the thief is actually Angela, its supposed to be a realization point that she didn't really do anything inherently evil, but Thugs-4-Less did unintentionally on her behalf.

[@4ortKnox]

I could see Angela having an embarrassing or "girly" wallet and pretending like she didn't have it just so they didn't see it😂

[@jamesdow211]

The way in which she delivered that line definitely meant she intended on having the thugs bruteforce the cashier

[@takatamiyagawa5688]

​@@jamesdow211 Yeah, I'm sure she intended for the thugs to help her rob the store rather than for one of them to pull out their wallet. The line and the way she delivers it ("could you... take... care of this?") suggests that she's ashamed to do it, or say out loud what she's asking of the thugs, but them being thugs, they'll understand.

[@takatamiyagawa5688]

10:48 Eh... I don't see a ton of idle defense systems on Oozla. I just presume the placement of a store in an inhospitable swamp is an indication of Megacorp's omnipresence, and their employees drowning in the swamp just an indication of poor workplace safety. Serves the capitalism critique theme I guess. Same for the exploding toaster at the testing facility, and the release of the unsafe protopet to the public.

[@lexij2159]

I never made the connection between Angela's lack of a tail and her lack of balance until now, but it makes so much sense I'm ashamed I never thought of it sooner. I do wish the writing around her was more competent and she got more chances to return in the series because honestly having her as this anti-hero with somewhat looser morals and concern for legality, I think she'd be a fun ally to see from time to time. Ofc she'd have to be more about corporate sabotage and less about murdering her coworkers.

[@lexij2159]

honestly the whole oozla thing can be easily remedied since it's kind of implied she was more suggesting that the thug pay on her behalf, rather than straight up brutalize the poor dude. Having that bit be made more obvious and in general leaning in more to the whole sense that she's not used to being this criminal and is kind of bumbling her way through would have made her eventual good guy reveal far more easy to believe.

[@nullspaceindustries]

Not sure if it's already been said but if you stand in a specific spot at the Thug HQ you can use the Sheepinator on the boss's mech through a wall and skip the entire fight, it's very funny to pull off

[@TheGoldenBolt]

OH MY GOD, I've always wondered if anybody was ever able to do that, that's amazing!

[@emilythedragon]

@@TheGoldenBolt to add to the alternative methods, I would spam the Tankbot's bomb attack at the robot's feet. Anything to not have to do it the "expected" way

[@BugsyFoga]

The sequel that changed everything for the absolute better .

[@Cykelpump33]

And made the enemies dumber lol.

[@ulfberht4431]

@@Cykelpump33 Because it’s a sci-fi comedy game series. Sure it has action and drama, but it even makes fun of its own logic at times, like how Qwark can breath in space, let alone hold his breath in space for 6 days with no protective suit. Basically, the series demands you suspend your disbelief to enjoy them.

[@sebastiankulche]

Almost. The story in the first game i think is better.

[@queenindie8003]

While the gunplay improved with each addition the game got weaker each time in my opinion, the characters feel flatter, enemies less varied and even the graphics looking worse.

[@BugsyFoga]

@@queenindie8003 Gonna have to majorly yet respectfully disagree with that .

[@AtelierGod]

Angela is incredibly clumsy so when she said she forgot her wallet she more than likely actually forgot it and when she asked the merc to pay she actually expected him to pay and not beat him up or throw him into the defense system turn off button.

[@jamesdow211]

Her delivery of that line was very malicious in tone, and insinuated heavily that she was intending to rob the cashier. a failure on the writer's part to make angela not actually evil pre face reveal

[@takatamiyagawa5688]

@@jamesdow211 I thought it was more reluctant than malicious. She intends to rob the store with the thugs' help once she realizes she can't pay (maybe she's pressed for time to go back and get her wallet), but she is reluctant to directly say what she wants the thugs to do. It's the polar opposite of Darth Vader's strong delivery of "You have failed me for the last time".

[@GeorgisTrying]

@Atelier God nice name and pfp combo 😎

[@KalavinkaK]

@@takatamiyagawa5688 We're missing the possibility that she meant for the thug to pay for her. She felt embarrassed and went "Could you, uh... take care of it?" and then turned her back after she got a nod. So it's a case of hilarious dramatic irony. To her, "take care of it" meant "pay for it, and I'll pay you back later". To the thug, that meant to absolutely wipe the floor with the guy.

[@Judgement_Kazzy]

Here's a question. If she wanted to kill the protopet in the first place, why didn't she just shoot it in the face as soon as she got it?

[@TheScottymo]

I've watched these Ratchet Retrospectives enough times that yes, I do say it with you. Clank is always right. I'll even argue out loud when you say I didn't.

[@aaronmcchesney3345]

37:52 You did NOT just disregard my boys Jak and Daxter like that! 😤

[@cmanhanks1]

SHOTS FIRED! SHOTS FIRED!

[@cinematicpassages8884]

The jak series had better animation, graphics, better open ended worlds...it was ahead of the ratchet series on the ps2, i noticed that right away back then...the only thing lacking in jak was the amount of gadgets and guns the ratchet series had. Elsewhere the jak series still hold up better IMHO.

[@fizzrpg9961]

@@cinematicpassages8884 the only good Jak and Daxter game is the first one IMO

[@cinematicpassages8884]

@@fizzrpg9961 i can see that...even one jak game was enough to beat down any ratchet game on the ps2

[@electro740]

@@cinematicpassages8884 except you forgot one very important detail ratchet and clank plays and feels way better

[@Zodiac3107]

Finally! Someone is talking about the dogfight sections without sh*tting on them, and saying that they're "bad" just because they suck arse at them. Great retrospective mate!

[@ghostofmoredishesmorebitch1507]

They just flat out sucked lol they werent hard just annoying and stale

[@Stevengubler]

If I can defend the Meteor Gun for a second, sure it does suck that you lose the crowd-clearing utility of the Lava Gun, but if you look past that, the Meteor Gun is honestly pretty sick. The magma chunks do really good damage to single targets, and when you consider how fast the gun fires, its total DPS ends up being one of the higher ones in the game. I'm never sad when the Lava Gun upgrades. Instead, I immediately visit Slim to slap on the lock-on mod and start treating the Meteor Gun like a better version of the Lancer. It's pretty great in my opinion.

[@ultimaterecoil1136]

The question of if it’s sad or not the gun upgraded is entirely dependent on if you’ve done the ultimate arena battle yet. The lava gun is perfect for several enemy types common in the arena but as the game goes on things get healthier which makes it less effective

[@adognamedsally]

The therminator was fine. It was one of the few items that required you to pay attention and be precise. It wasn't fun to use, but doing it correctly made you feel a sense of mastery. You knew the potential failure states that you were avoiding by doing it properly. Also, did anyone ACTUALLY complain about having to pay bolts to access new levels? I hear this brought up in a lot of these retrospective things, but I can't relate to it at all. To me, at the time, it just felt totally normal that I would have to spend my resources to get to the next place. And I really liked the ice planet yeti hellscape. It was a challenge to overcome. I get that it wasn't balanced, but it was hard and stomping that challenge was fun. I don't want games to shy away from things like this.

[@takatamiyagawa5688]

16:01 Also, I thought the tendency to charge you for every little thing was one of the thematic strong points of the Ratchet and Clank universe. It can be seen as satire of a society obsessed with obtaining money, or of nickel-and-diming business practices. I'm surprise d the presenter didn't tie this to mentions of the capitalist critique theme.

[@lollllloro]

I actually really liked the required precision of freezing of those pools, among with the scary fishes that would be left floating when frozen it too low heh.

[@nathanwhiting5475]

I always thought the constant pay walls was just a part of the whole joke. That all the characters are so damn greedy that's it reaches comedic levels. Every time I randomly had to pay to progress I was always like "LOL, of course" like in that part in Going Commando where ratchet says "now even the COMPUTERS are charging us???" Or something like that

[@pilot3605]

Using bolts to access the next level wasn't anything rage inducing but it's kinda of a kick in the balls when it comes to the rpg elements, namely purchasing weapons and armors. I didn't hate but I sure didn't miss it in 3 and the other sequels

[@TheScientist408]

I only found this channel because of the Rift Apart hype, but I’m glad I did. This is a great retrospective for my favorite Ratchet and Clank game.

[@HoodoHoodlumsRevenge]

This retrospective was just as good as the one on the first game and I loved watching through it all! Fantastic work, can’t wait for the retrospectives of the other games coming up!

[@ph34rbucket91]

I remember when I had tried the first Ratchet and Clank game and didn't even know that Going Commando was out. When I saw that it was indeed out and for sale, I managed to go through the allowance I had saved up and bought it. Absolutely loved it and my dad enjoyed it so much that he ended up buying Up Your Arsenal not long after that launched.

[@shanenspitaler5790]

Oh you weren't kidding when you said put an hour aside for this

[@TheGoldenBolt]

My life is pain

[@shanenspitaler5790]

But hey 🤷‍♂️ it's worth it for the entertainment of me... eh I mean the community... but mainly me

[@hamza361]

The best Ratchet and Clank game ever.

[@V-Jes]

Unless you count 3, Deadlocked and Crack in time...

[@pag4015]

@@V-Jes three was mediocre

[@pag4015]

i’ll drink to that

[@V-Jes]

@@pag4015 not really, especially if compared to 1 and 2 it's simply superior.

[@pawlogates]

@@V-Jes why ?

[@gingerbreadmannnn]

I'm floored by the amount of genuine talent that's obvious in this content. Some of the highest quality stuff on this site. Can't believe you have as few subscribers as you do. Don't worry that'll change soon I'm sure. Great job dude, keep up the good work.

[@jhdthomas4854]

58:26 The effect returns in Size Matters when you equip the fire boots

[@skyflyer20002]

One of the best games in this series if not one of the best of all time, thank you for being a fan that dedicated so much time for this I couldn't do a video like this at all hopefully the community enjoys this man

[@MatteoVitello216]

Did I literally just think of this at the perfect time? 🍿🍿🍿🍿

[@DaerkciwLuxa]

Fuckin right!?

[@Bakuham]

I don't know if you will see this but there is a theory that Angela in the beginning Oozla cutscene was being genuine that she forgot her wallet and was innocently asking the literal thugs to "take care of it" by paying for it as if they would understand what she meant

[@TheGoldenBolt]

Absolutely, that was the intent I've assumed until recently! But even still, she's absolutely in earshot when the Thugs do their thing, and she violently threatens the Thug Leader at one point, so her allies clearly are on the chopping block if necessary. Of course we're also talking about a kid's game, so none of this really matters anyway, it's just a funny interpretation to point out!

[@Bakuham]

@@TheGoldenBolt Thanks for the reply, I definitely agree with you I just wanted to throw it out there in case you hadn't heard it before. I am in no way disagreeing with your take on Angela, I have always thought she was very out of place/forced. Your analysis is spot on in this video as well as the previous, I only disagree with like 0.1% of what you say. It's insanely well done, thank you for the content

[@tonystank3091]

I like to think the act structure of this game is based on the wrench. Act 2 begins on Tabora, where you find the second wrench. Act 3 begins on the flying base *again,* where you find the *final* wrench. All the wrench locations seem to coincide with a shift in the game's tone and general feeling.

[@CompleteAnimation]

An hour and a half?!?!? You sir, are a complete madman, and totally devoted to your craft. I tip my hat to you!

[@TitanGuy]

"The only way to go from here, is up" PERFECT ENDING

[@edmundwoolliams1240]

1:10 “...a few feathers are bound to fall off” *CRUNCH of glider* Subscribed.

[@LupercalRising]

The best Sequel ever. This review is everything I want from these videos keep it up bro.

[@Pupppeteer]

You absolutely smashed it on these retrospectives. Can praise the effort enough.

[@Robloxinsanegaming27yeaburger]

Going commando speedrunner here. Since this is the only game I play I kinda know a lot about it or something. I think you did a great job talking about this game, especially when considering you dont play this game every day of your life, serious dedication, this is some really nice work!

[@ralfsstuff]

The Chain blade and b2 brawler boss fights are some of my favourite memories from playing the original trilogy back in the day. I loved quoting the announcer's introductions and still do.

[@BAIGAMING]

1:19:40 It always makes me wonder though why there's no final cutscene with the Thugs-4-Less Leader...

[@jmc4975]

The Ratchet & Clank games in UK had all different names, the 1st 4 games were the highlight of my young teenage gaming days! P.S. Some of us don't mind you saying "Locked and Loaded" as it was the name of game where we were

[@ChicaneMedia]

What was so fun about these old games was that they were still challenging at times. Many games nowadays are babied downs and just feel like material grind simulators. I just hope rift apart isn't completely like that.

[@Rachebart]

Yeah games got easier and easier. And friendlier and friendlier. Not only games.

[@arcaedonluminos666]

Wow, you're really quick with these monoliths! Wonderful retrospective of my favorite video game! It seems the story really does have a bunch of cracks, but even so, I absolutely adore the writing. The comedy is hilarious, the characters lovable, and the worldbuilding so compelling. The atmosphere is gorgeous and the gameplay is incredibly fun and rewarding. Also, this game probably has the best bonuses out of any game I've played. Perhaps more than anything else, Going Commando introduced most of R&C's staples, so regardless of its quality, its impact is undeniable!

[@LodatoGaming]

Playing these PS2 games on Vita for the first time and tbh the strafing with the touchpad actually works super well IMO. It’s amazing how well 2 holds up, it’s great. Looking forward to playing 3!

[@Wolfkaosaun]

It. Is. Finally. Here.

[@weenieh23]

Man, this game was my childhood. I was late to the party as i was born a year before it's release. I remember looking through my step moms basket of games in 2009 and seeing this game. the first level had me hooked. This was the first story game i had ever played and for about 10 years it was the only ratchet and clank game i knew existed until they announced the newest one. I played every game during the pandemic a hundred time and to this day nothing comes close to going commando.

[@matthewcorrie3324]

Man I can't wait for the 3rd games retrospective as you have a lot of talent for this stuff.

[@tarazard1457]

This is literally my favorite game of all time. I think ive 100 percented it over 50 times. Magma gun is best gun, love the space levels and bike races.

[@Sam-yx9ry]

Yes, yes, YES! And the upgrade to liquid nitrogen gun, my absolute favourite. Or am I thinking of the lava gun? One and the same? Spent so much time on those bike races, so much fun.

[@Nebvlx]

@@Sam-yx9ry I think the liquid nitrogen one is in r+c3 iirc but it’s so cool I agree

[@Toilet_Goat]

The first game that I ever bought. Still one of my top 5 favourite games ever. Fantastic video, can't wait for the retrospective on 3

[@tekno4blood]

I actually found a hidden way to get into the insomniac measeum when I was in 7th grade. While messing around on the power lines on the level before you're kidnapped, you can let yourself hit the power node. You'll detatch from the rail and start falling. By pressing and holding jump, you can activate the helicopter pack to slow your fall and glide to a random building on a small piece of land (I think its right before the glass walled construction site) i thought I was just out of the map and ran to check it out thinking I'd fall through the level but you can walk through and under the sidewalk of the buolding where there 2 T4L guards blocking a teleporter. One triangle press later and I was in. Told my buddy Mark and he didn't believe me for 5 years until we were playing metroid prime one day and I turned it on to show him and he was blown away!

[@ultimategohan1551]

I love the meteor gun. Its really great woth the lock on mod(really good range) and only 3-5 shots for the tougher enemies late game which is really good when other upgraded weapons take even more shots.

[@QuantumTelephone]

I thought the lava gun was better for the continuous flow.

[@gundamkaizer6947]

Holy crap... almost 20 years with this game and I've NEVER noticed that Gadgetron sign at the start of Barlow until you focused the camera on it!

[@RedFlameFox]

58:23 There's a similar effect in one of the armors in Size Matters actually. 1:14:40 There's something similar in the Italian dub of Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty, where Ratchet in Italian is voiced by the same voice actor that dubbed Guybrush Threepwood in Monkey Island 3, and the subtitles at some point were conveniently translated to say "Sono un temibile pirata" that was the italian version of the famous catchphrase of that character, it's hard to spot but it's there.

[@Ghost101]

When I visited my cousins in the early 2000s, he showed me this game. This is when I got into Ratchet & Clank series and bought the PS2 console. 😃

[@westonlewis379]

Playing this on Christmas morning 2003 as a nine year old kid still gives me the biggest memberberries. This franchise defined my childhood video game experience. Have beaten the first three games well over ten times each.

[@TripedalTroductions]

I always missed the sound of collecting bolts in the first Ratchet game. Different bolts made different sounds but then in Going Commando and after was changed to all bolts having variations of the same sound.

[@Official_MikeyT]

This game is easily my number 4 Ratchet and Clank game. 1. A Crack in Time 2. Tools of Destruction 3. Up Your Arsenal 4. Going Commando

[@CrashJakFan1994]

Another great retrospective, and when you talked about the zig-zagging difficulty, I was surprised as it was the first time that I heard of it. Anyways, I remember dedicating a lot of hours when I first played this back in 2010. It felt so fulfilling to complete everything in the game, and the Insomniac Museum was such a great bonus. The fact that there are three ways to access it is astounding. Also, I got a huge laugh out of you calling the Lava Gun "the most relatable weapon."

[@Tempestelterna]

Right. This made me revisit this franchise from the beginning at some point! I loved this franchise and sly Cooper as well growing up in the 2000’s as a teenager. Subbed because I love in depth behind the scenes stuff like this :)

[@ZanicaKnight]

This was quite possibly one of the most perfect reviews of Going Commando and as a diehard Ratchet & Clank fan since I played the demo of the 1st one all the way till now, I’m grateful for this review. Nice work, Golden Bolt!

[@likeWeird]

58:26 I have no Idea how I remember this, but those fiery boots actually did make a combat on the psp game Ratchet and clank size matters. It was part of a armor combo that made fiery tracks when running that dealt damage!

[@PubbyFur]

I can't wait for up your arsenal. That's my favorite one for so many reasons. Especially the multiplayer. Can't wait for your opinions on secret agent clank too. Great videos and I can't wait for more 😊

[@TheGoldenBolt]

Secret Agent Clank might be a bit further down the road, but I'm finishing up UYA as I type this - should be out either over the weekend, knock on wood, or on Monday if not!

[@edmundwoolliams1240]

1:07 “...a few feathers are bound to fall off” *CRUNCH* Subscribed.

[@triledink]

The few minor changes they did from the first game to the second is what made the game legendary. Speed and swiftness from the second game made it all the more fun. One of the best games from one of the best series on playstation or rather in my opinion the best.

[@MrJimBusiness]

That was the best video about furbys I've ever seen, great job.

[@greenapple4080]

If you want to bypass the Thugs4Less boss fight all together (on PS2 anyway) you can use the upgraded spider bots with the acid mod to sneak into the area and attack the boss bot without triggering the fight. It's kinda slow and tedious but eventually the acid damage indicator flash will stop and that means he's out of health. Trigger the fight and after the animated cutscene the bot will immediately blow up.

[@alexandrpeterberg390]

The first Ratchet and Clank was an iconic title, Going Commando while not a perfect game, is a perfect sequel. I do wonder if Going Commando was THE best Ratchet and Clank game in the franchise. Though I would probably argue that the original trilogy and Deadlocked are where Ratchet and Clank were at their best.

[@TheScottymo]

I somehow enjoy watching these retrospectives almost as much as I enjoy actually playing the R&C games

[@theitalian456]

One of the few games that surpassed the original in everyway possible! Great video! Cant wait for Ratchet 3 and Deadlocked soon!

[@KingKong-ux3gg]

In my opinion, this has to be one of the best sequels of all time because of how perfect improves on the last game while keeping it similar.

[@waldevv]

You mentioning the fact that the swamp boss "forces you" to strafe brings back some memories. I had one of my childhood friends who absolutely could not figure out strafing and I had to tell him every time to just strafe to make the game way easier to play. And I vividly remember him struggling with the swamp boss Strafing is definitely one of the best additions the series got after the first game, playing the first game was pretty infuriating afterwards because of that Kudos for making these amazing retrospectives, incredible amount of effort must've gone into making these videos and it's so cool to learn all this stuff that I definitely wasn't paying attention to as a child as I barely knew english back then and haven't really given much thought to the story after the fact on later playthroughs either

[@racoononinternet2132]

I love these long reviews. Thank you random youtuber I just met c:

[@TheGoldenBolt]

I'm glad to hear it, because there'll be _many_ more to come!

[@Bartholomew3]

I played the buttons off this game. Holy hell. Even on the PS3 I am on challenge mode 86. Crazy game. Still love it

[@GumshoeGamer]

You really do put so much effort into these. Love it.

[@stfu_grimmi]

I am so happy and thankful for these videos. I grew up not understanding any english (not native english speaker) and nobody I knew played any video games or knew about R&C, so I never had anybody to gush about my love for the franchise with. Watching these videos feels like I finally got that friend who is just as excited to talk about every aspect of the games as I was

[@MykonosFan]

This game slapped me

[@CommanderClank]

I just found your channel yesterday when I stumbled across your R&C1 Retrospective video, FANTASTIC job showcasing these amazing games. I can't wait for the holy grail of ps2 game reviews!

[@BigHailFan]

Btw, little tip. You don't have to perfectly place the ice in the water complex for the pipes. Just freeze it when it's on it's way back up and high enough to get into the pipe, get to the other side, and then thaw it out. The water will raise you up high enough before the shark even notices you (I've even been right in front of it before. I think the thawing delays the AI or something?) Yeah, it's counter-intuitive, but it saves you the headache (though may give you an anxiety attack. XD)

[@YourFavoriteCommie]

So I'm not the only one that noticed the unusually sinister undertones of the Megapolis/Endako environment. It's a similar concept to Metropolis/Kerwan, a city-spanning ecuminopolis bustling with activity and massive skyscrapers, but it feels markedly different. Metropolis was like a city of wonder, a futuristic urban paradise that was begging to be explored. Megapolis had a lot of charm, but it felt...menacing, in a way. Especially considering the paths that Ratchet took. On Kerwan, you follow Ratchet along wide open pathways sidelined with greenery, brightly lit by sunshine and feeling as if they're like busy city sidewalks with lots of people. On Endako, Ratchet instead explored the guts of a city that functions like a gigantic machine. The paths are inside the walls of Megapolis, in loading docks and weird industrial areas that make you feel as if you're somewhere that you weren't supposed to go.

[@TheDanTheManShow]

Ok, that Patreon plug was genius.

[@REDRatchet]

Part 2 of best series ever retrospect here we go :D

[@skyflyer20002]

Can't wait til he gets to deadlocked

[@TyrannoNoddy]

This was a nice retrospective, it's understandable many cracks become clear when this game had such a short development time, but it's still probably one of my faves in the series. - My biggest issue with the last minute Qwark addition is actually that I feel like it undermines the game thematically. In terms of the larger trilogy it plays into it really well, but for this game specifically it's pretty clear Megacorp is NOT a good thing, and that's kinda just brushed aside when it suddenly is made to just be Qwark being the one causing the issues, not a larger corporate system. - Didn't know that Angela was revised that much, though I do think you're a bit hard on the backlash because the Future series made a big deal about lombaxes being rare, which basically created a really awkward situation. Like yeah some of the stuff like "is she a lombax" maybe was a bit much, but for stuff like why she never returned in the Future series I don't blame fans for being salty. Also with the Oozla thing I don't think she meant to kill that guy, even if that's what ends up happening. IDK if I'm just chill with this kinda stuff but I'm able to reconcile her and her thief persona well enough, though yes even if you can explain it they do both FEEL different. - I actually never realised how light the plot is for this game until you showed it here. I don't really focus much on plot for a game like this so it never bothered me, what I did get was fine by me even if it's not too thought out (except the Qwark thing). I think it's also because as you show a lot of the smaller and more environmental based storytelling helps flesh out this world and makes it feel more alive. - Gameplay wise, yeah with the gadgets they definitely went for quantity over quality, so some do feel like they don't get used enough. And yeah, the main bosses are kinda underwhelming (and whatever the Snivelak boss was). I didn't have as many issues though personally, for example I actually really like Smolg lol.

[@bartoltolic]

Every time when I hear planet Oozla’s theme i get pumped for this game, one of the top 5 planet themes imo

[@CocoHikari583]

Hot Take I actually like the Meteor Gun.

[@theawesomeali8834]

Today I just finished R&C2 and got the platinum trophy, and this game is absolutely satisfying and incredible. It is one of my favorite games of all time, a very ambitious game that became very successful, fixing the first game’s flaws while going bigger and better. I love the use of RPG mechanics to upgrade your health and weapons, it encourages you to experiment and use all your weapons. There is so much more to do and I love the variety; my favorite maxi game is the arenas. I absolutely love the weapons in R&C2, super satisfying and fun with my favorites being the mega rocket cannon, blitz cannon, heavy bouncer, and the mega nuke, the soundtrack is awesome, the atmospheres for most planets are awesome. Ratchet’s character is improved and just so awesome, he is still badass, has that edge to him and wanting to face danger head on while being kind and protective of Clank. A nice, selfless commando not afraid to take down his enemies. Aside from a few hidden platinum bolts being not that great like the one in damosel under a spinning Megacorp sign, it was fun to explore and hunt for these bolts. Playing through the game again in NG+ is awesome because of making new discoveries of hidden areas you never knew about or how you never saw a simple yet subtle secret path to a platinum bolt because of being so focused on the main path and the satisfying combat. The unlockable extras are worth it and are so cool.

[@serbiancrusader7813]

Going Commando is the best game in the series imo.

[@georgefrankly]

Back in the mid-aughts, the only solution I could think of was to fly the entire glider course, turn around at the end, and do it all in reverse to get the upgrade. It seemed so mean that I assumed it was the point. I'm glad to find out I wasn't crazy when I thought the lava gun upgrade was a mistake. The moment you started describing that gun as "controversial" all the memories came back- The only weapon in the entire game that is actually disappointing to evolve.

[@banishedbary5239]

This was so interesting, I can’t wait for the UYA vid!

[@shujihar2410]

The snowbeast trophy I think shows why the team has always been a great dev team, sense of humor mixed with genuine love of the series and craft

[@fireassassin1688]

1:17:40 this system was also used in the original spyro trilogy

[@Thederanged1]

1:18:25 Actually Insomniac has had that in their games since Spyro 3 😊.

[@TheGoldenBolt]

Yep! That's what makes it more impressive, that it was kept pretty much completely hidden for over ten years!

[@RossHbn]

The game that got me into gaming, and damn it was/is good.

[@ericlemmon6297]

This was one of my favorites growing up. I didn’t have a memory card, definitely can’t forget those arena battles and traveling the desert for platinum bolts

[@Tyranniod]

These are fantastic. Will you be doing one for every ratchet game or just the mainline series?

[@solofox9426]

This is the first time I noticed how cute Ratchets tail animation is as he runs. Now I can't un-see it. Its hypnotic and distracting!

[@TheKijib]

best in the series

[@CheerUpCrewcut]

Despite having higher praises for this game it feels to me like there's more criticisms in this video than the last, which is probably a testament to for everything the first game did, this did even better. You mentioned at the end of the previous retrospective how many smaller things you didn't touch upon there were in Ratchet & Clank, with how much more you have to say for both better and worse here shows that this one does a good amount even better, it invested you even more into picking apart what you didn't like because what you did kept you so invested that you wanted to keep talking about it. Your retrospectives are awesome, I love seeing everything you have to pick apart with games you both love and games you've tried to but failed to appreciate.

[@FunvoltGunvolt]

Getting a reward for making the most toughest enemy by accident sounds absolutely amazing to me Also ironically enough the (probably) hypnotized dude was actually kind enough to give the hypnomatic to you for free but his sock puppet had to ruin everything Stupid sock puppet

[@braelhawke2189]

Dude... I started playing the entire mainline series for the first time to be ready for Rift Appart (since I loved the 2016 remake that was my intro to the series). I'm over halfway through Going Commando and find this. This is pretty awesome!

[@gavinnaicker6393]

This is my favourite game of all time, it was almost perfect in every criteria. The PS4 remake really disappointed me.

[@crabmannyjoe2]

I have played through RaC 2 multiple times and never realized the lock on showed the enemies health. Blows my mind.

[@michaellannes714]

F*cking love your work man. You made me understand why I loved this game so much and still love it a decade later. You won a subscriber, can’t wait to see the next one

[@carbonfibre_]

I made a meme on Todano yesterday and it took 5 HOURS TO MAKE, so watching this is a great way to cool off.

[@charlottepitt7808]

this game is what got me into the series we picked it up as a preowned copy without even the book and I loved it soo much and got me completely hooked

[@danielshamlian2800]

As soon as you mentioned a sniper rifle I got "1st time UYA online" war flashbacks Love the video, and your love of the series