It's June 17, folks - the day High Impact Games' Secret Agent Clank officially makes its way to the stores and, with a little luck, to your PlayStation Portables. That said, you may want to read up on Everything You Need to Know for the game, just to give you an idea of what to expect (in case you haven't tried the demo yet).

This game is set after the events of Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters (PSP), and right before Tools of Destruction. As a twist, you'll be playing through the game mostly as Clank, with Ratchet currently behind bars. What would a hero like him be doing in the slammer? More on that as we tackle the game details.

Clank

Clank....Agent Clank. Ratchet's long-time robotic buddy will be stepping into the spotlight, donning his super spy persona from Up Your Arsenal on the PS2. The mission - if he chooses to accept it - is to uncover the mystery behind the stolen Eye of Infinity and to clear Ratchet's name.

As compared to the past Ratchet & Clank games, the missions in Secret Agent Clank will be a transition from explosions to espionage, with a premium being placed on stealth and coordination. And it's not just evident in Clank's new tux either: he'll be getting some new tools and tricks to help him along on this adventure. We'll discuss more of that later. In any case, Clank's definitely come a long way from being a glorified backpack.

 

Ratchet

"...being a hero really doesn't pay." Those were the last words this ex-Galactic Hero uttered before being carted off by the authorities after his failed attempt to steal the Eye of Infinity. So, did Ratchet really turn to a life of crime? If those little red electrodes on his noggin imply anything, it's that there is more to this heist than meets the eye.

While Clank's off to solve this caper, Ratchet's segment of the game will have him trying to survive a maximum security prison which, unfortunately, also houses the previous villains he defeated.

Much like the previous games, expect plenty of straightforward blasting for this Lombax's side story, with each level set as multiple stages featuring wave after wave of thugs and other nasties. A bit overwhelming perhaps, but that just means more opportunities to test out your new toys, and to save up those ever-essential bolts.

Qwark:

Guess what - Qwark finally gets a slice of the hero pie. Well, sort of: his segment of Secret Agent Clank will have him narrating his past adventures. Given this is Qwark we're talking about, expect him to add his own self-glorifying twist to the events, which will actually tie into your gameplay, with humorous results. Here's a teaser video of one of his boss battles to give you an idea of what we mean.

Godzilla and ninjas. Giant robot ninjas. That explode. Yup - feel free to throw historical accuracy out the window here folks, though admittedly, it makes for good entertainment.

Stealth

Much like some other sneaky operatives we know, Secret Agent Clank will require the player to master the art of staying to the shadows. While you've got tons of neat gadgets and moves working in your favor, it's best to avoid conflict whenever possible to save both your health bar and ammunition.

One neat way Clank can sneak around is by using his surroundings - certain objects such as statue pedestals and potted plants (a spy classic) will allow you to conceal your presence from the guards.

 

Clank-Fu
Not that Clank's completely unarmed. While Ratchet's got his tried-and-true wrench, Clank will be using "Clank-fu," a strange mix of karate chops and flying kicks that'll leave even the toughest of thugs down and out. Clank-fu can be upgraded by purchasing new moves, much in the same way you buy new weapons.

Of course, not all of your most damaging attacks are done head-on. If you can successfully sneak up on your target, you can also initiate a quick coup de grace by way of a button combo. Think Kratos' kill sequences from God of War, minus the gore.

Another new stealth-based game mechanic that's getting introduced is the rhythm-based obstacle courses. Here, players are prompted to activate a long series of Guitar Hero-style button combos to allow Clank to successfully clear certain challenges, which can range from dancing around laser grids, to taking out unsuspecting sentries.

Dressed to Kill: Agent Clank's bag of tricks

  

 
Clank's getting a whole new retinue of gear for this game, most of which are disguised as seemingly harmless parts of his tuxedo. For example, there's the Tie-A-Rang, a shuriken-style weapon that can be used to either assassinate foes from afar, or to slice plot-related objects, such as cables. As for the rest or Clank's weapons (via the Ratchet & Clank wiki):

• Cuff Link Bomb
• Tanglevine Carnation
• Tie-A-Rang
• Blowtorch Briefcase
• Holo-Knuckles
• ThunderStorm Umbrella

Aside from gear, Clank will also be getting several important upgrades as progresses through the game. They're not exactly for combat use, but they are no less important than your hardware:

• Agency PDA
• Blackout Pen
• Bolt Extractor
• Bolt Grabber
• Box Breaker
• Holomonocle
• Hypnowatch
• Jet Boots

For his part, Ratchet's going to be getting most of his old gear back, thanks to several cakes via Clank. Seriously - we're wondering why the guards haven't caught on:

 Ratchet's weapons:

• Lacerator (Size Matters)
• Shard Gun
• Walloper (Ratchet & Clank)
• Shock Rocket (Size Matters)
• Bee Mine Glove (Size Matters)
• Pork Bomb Gun
  
• Plasma Whip
• Mine Launcher (Ratchet: Deadlocked, aka Hunter Mine Launcher)
• R.Y.N.O. (Ratchet & Clank)
  

That's the lowdown on some of the new features that will be arriving with Secret Agent Clank. The game's arriving today, though we hope this EYTK has been helpful in giving you a teaser of what to expect. Check back again for our own review. This article will self-destruct in 3...2...1...