Ratchet and Clank 2 PS2

After becoming rather bored with their lot in the aftermath of their victory in the last game, the now not-so reluctant heroes are hired as bounty hunters to track down the stolen Protopet, which looks like the world's cutest pet but is actually something more sinister. Well, not really sinister, because it's still cute as a button, but definitely dangerous.

Although the graphics and controls have had an overhaul for this sequel, the developers have wisely realised that the thing everyone enjoyed most from the first game is the huge number of weapons you get to use. There are 20 new ones to play with now, but interestingly nearly all of them can be upgraded and customised for different features and more power. Not only that but the new role-playing element even extends to Ratchet himself--he can improve his own abilities as he goes.

As well as all that the game has got even more variety than before, with tons of mini-games including hoverbike races and spaceship dogfights. There are also a lot more levels in which you get to control Clank in his gigantic killer-robot mode. It might not be all that original but it's fun and good looking and has a surprisingly witty script. All in all, it's top stuff. --David Jenkins

In Ratchet & Clank 2: Locked And Loaded, the two unlikely pals team up again for an all-new sci-fi adventure combining action-platform, exploration, adventure, puzzle-solving, strategy, role-playing and racing into one compelling experience resulting in plenty of explosions and devastation.

Mr Smiles, the head of Megacorp, has come up with a fantastic new product! It's a super cute creature called the "Protopet" which he wants to sell to every house in the galaxy. When the prototype is stolen, Mr Smiles hires in Ratchet and Clank to help him get it back. Slowly they begin to realise that maybe the thief isn't necessarily in the wrong, and maybe the Protopet isn't quite as sweet and innocent as it seems... It's all going to go horribly wrong and only Ratchet and Clank can put it right and find out who's really behind all the mayhem.