The shooting is satisfying, the story has some fun spots... Thats all the things I like.

Really big shift in focus this time around. No platforming, no exploration, just shooting, shooting and more shooting. There are linear levels to shoot through, combat arenas to shoot through, and brand new missions arena things to shoot through. It's fun enough but lacks the variety and depth of the previous couple games.

The level and world design is a huge step down. Without any branching paths or exploration they feel completely lifeless, and that means there's no real thrill in unlocking new worlds and progressing through the game.

There's also an overall lack of polish to a lot of it that's hard to ignore. Lots of basic looking menus, janky vehicle sections, and reusing the same maps over and over.

I really didn't vibe with this one!

The first Ratchet has some pretty big and obvious flaws, so Going Commando gets to make some big and obvious fixes up front. You can strafe! Auto aim is way more generous! The puzzles aren't as slow and annoying! You have way more health! Ammo is cheaper! Within the first ten minutes you can immediately tell this is a huge step up.

There are also a number of other smart design tweaks that aren't just fixes. Weapons gain exp now, which really encourages you to use everything in your arsenal. There are new optional challenges which means if you're stuck you can earn bolts to upgrade your character or get some new weapons.

Okay now the stuff that sucks.

The story is a complete mess. Character arcs aren't set up properly, or go nowhere, or don't exist. There are a number of twists that just don't land. It's hard to even discern what the overall narrative is. It very much feels like the thing has been hastily cobbled together into something resembling a complete story, but it doesn't feel cohesive. This is a shame because the characters and world on the first game were so strong, and it makes the sequel feel a little meandering and aimless.

The environments here are lovely to look at but feel a bit less lived-in. They rattle by so fast and there are very few characters to meet, so you don't get a strong sense of the world.

The game is really, really fun. All the design additions and fixes make this a really fantastic game to play, but it also feels more incoherent in its overall construction. Had a great time with it but like it less than the original.

Great game with very obvious flaws. No strafing means the shooting is tedious and annoying. Some of the puzzle mechanics are slow and shallow - the hydrodisplacer may have been a huge technical feat on the PS2 but it feels awkward nowadays.

BUT!! The world, the characters, the environments, the music, the animation... Everything is stellar. This game has a certain je ne sais quoi that the immediate sequels or the more recent remake just can't capture. This game is special and has impeccable vibes, and so it remains one of my favourites.