Secret Agent Clank
In Secret Agent Clank for the Sony PlayStation Portable, the pint-sized metallic companion dons his tuxedo and sets out on a James Bond-esque adventure to save his buddy Ratchet. The whole affair comes about when Ratchet is framed for a crime that he didn't commit and Clank is the only one who believes he is innocent. This leads to Clank whipping out his alter ego and setting out on an adventure to prove his buddy is not guilty. Along the way Captain Qwark pops in and it's revealed that Clank's nemesis Klunk is actually the mastermind behind everything. The plot gets kind of ridiculous but as is the case with every other Ratchet and Clank title, it's the gameplay and personality that makes the experience worthwhile.
Gameplay
Clank's presence on the center stage isn't held throughout the entire affair and you'll actually play as a few other characters before it's all over. For starters Ratchet is available for prison missions where he has to fight his way through some of his old enemies. If you think about how many foes Ratchet has defeated then it should be no surprise that the Lombax is in for a rough time. Also serving as a way of breaking up the flow of the story is Captain Qwark's moments; goofy retellings of events for his biography. These bits are charming but kind of distracting as well. Then again playing through a musical with Qwark singing about how he saved a village with his butt is amusing on some level. Clank also has a trio of little robots that help solve puzzles and get the hero through tough spots.
Going back to the main attraction, Clank more or less controls like Ratchet as you'd expect though there are some notable differences. Towards the beginning of the game and early on in some missions Clank's focus is more on stealth than actual combat. It fits into the Secret Agent theme well enough but as a Ratchet and Clank game this component fails. Sneaking up behind enemies and making your way through sections without being spotted simply isn't what this franchise is known for. The worst part is that these bits are mostly frustrating and simply not enjoyable when you get right down to it. The joy of this series is breaking out a beastly weapon and wreaking havoc on a room full of enemies not skulking about the shadows.
Thankfully Clank's time to shine comes soon enough as the little guy breaks out all kinds of spy weapons. Some good examples of these armaments include a monocle that allows him to take the enemy's appearance, a tie that doubles as a spinning blade of death, explosive cuff-links, a portable plant that devours foes, a briefcase that spews fire, and an umbrella that shoots lightning. Clank also has his own hand to hand fighting style now similar to kung fu.
When you play as Ratchet you'll also notice some familiar elements and all around the game becomes just as fun as Size Matters after a while. Getting to that point takes some patience and along the way there's a lot of frustration to be had but thankfully it's worth it in the end. As you play with weapons they'll get more powerful and you'll be able to upgrade just about everything by the end of the game. This leads to Clank slowly powering up and the progression of the character is definitely felt through the gameplay. It's just a shame that the game takes as long to get going as it does because the core design of the title is built around what we've grown to love about the franchise.
Now taken as a whole experience Secret Agent Clank is rather unbalanced. The Clank as a spy elements have their own charm and as his story progresses things actually become very fun. The inclusion of Ratchet and Qwark really break up the pacing that this game enjoys and these missions are very distracting. Why craft such a heavy spy focus if you're only going to abandon it just when things are getting good? The title becomes less about Clank and it feels more like a side story within the series rather than a full-fledged outing for the sidekick.
In the end the gameplay in Secret Agent Clank isn't bad; it just doesn't feel quite as polished as it should have been. The camera system is also still cumbersome thanks to manual control so if you're looking for an improvement in that department you're going to be left wanting. Despite its flaws, if you enjoyed Size Matters then this is a worthwhile handheld adventure with plenty for fans to latch on to. Newcomers to the franchise may want to start out with the PS2 offerings before coming here because most of the nuances will be lost on the uninitiated.
Graphics
Secret Agent Clank isn't the greatest looking entry the series has enjoyed. Earlier PlayStation 2 efforts look better and even the prior PSP outing, Size Matters, outshines this one. The problem here is the lack of details in environments which makes most stages simply bland by anyone's standards. There are a few moments scattered here and there where the title does look very good and the characters are represented perfectly on the handheld which is quite the feat. For a PSP title the game looks nice but it could have looked better and certainly doesn't take full advantage of the system's abilities.
Sound
Full of familiar voices from the series Secret Agent Clank is a charmer. The voice actors in this franchise have always been solid and this one is no exception (though Qwark is as annoying as ever). Likewise the sound effects are unmistakably Ratchet and Clank which is a nice tie-in to other installments. Unfortunately the music isn't quite as good or memorable here and there's very little that will make an impression. All around this is a good sounding game.
Conclusion
Secret Agent Clank is a fun diversion for fans of the franchise looking for something else to sink their teeth into. Clank's moment in the driver's seat isn't quite as solid as one might expect given the reputation of the Ratchet and Clank series but it's decent enough. Sadly the inclusion of Ratchet and Qwark really detracts from Clank's adventure and I can't help but feel the game would have been better without them in it. As it stands this is another good hand-held version of the series but it's not going to win over any new fans.