Chris-FaylorEarlier today, Sony unveiled new details on Insomniac’s Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal. This time around, the story begins with Clank starring in his own television series, Secret Agent Clank. However, when Dr. Nefarious, a robotic supervillain, begins to use the Tyhrranoids to destroy all organic life, Ratchet and Clank are asked by the Galactic President to restore peace and order to the galaxy. The most evil aspect of Dr. Nefarious' plan is perhaps that of the Tyhrranoids role, as they fail to realize that by destroying all organic life, they will inevitably cause their own destruction, though Dr. Nefarious understands this perfectly.
In response, Ratchet and Clank form the Q-Force, a special task force created to halt the efforts of Dr. Nefarious. Leading the Q-Force is series-favorite Captain Qwark, with other members including Helga, the robotic seductress; Big Al, the team's technician; and Skidd McMarxx, the former hoverboarding champ.
Q-Force headquarters are located at the Starship Phoenix, which will serve as the main hub. In the Starship, players will be able to receive new missions, train, purchase armor and weapons, gain access to new vehicles, and compete in races.
On the gameplay side of things, Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal will feature 20 weapons with four upgrade levels, new gadgets, smarter AI, and multiplayer modes. Choosing from a variety of player skins, gamers can choose from the offline multiplayer mode, which supports up to four players, or online multiplayer, which will allow up to eight players to go head to head. Team-based gameplay will be available in modes such as capturing an enemy's base. The game will feature six unique multiplayer levels, complete with vehicles and destructible obstacles. Players will be able to communicate with other team members via the USB headset. Meanwhile, the lobby area will support an online friends list, which will allow for balanced competition among players of equal skill.
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is currently in development by Insomniac, and is scheduled for a Fall 2004 release.