I guess I’m replaying every Ratchet and Clank now.   
At work a lovely colleague of mine passed away, so I’ve been self soothing with playing these beloved games I think. 

\+Going Commando is like… somehow an improvement in every conceivable way from the original game. It was obvious to me then, but now it just astounds me. It’s INSANE Insomniac did this in 10 months what the absolute hell. The combat, witty writing, pacing, EVERYTHIIINNGGGFF

\+ strafing, flipping, gun upgrades, and level variety skyrocketed here. I believe this is what has given R&C its staying power. 

\+ When I originally played this I noticed that there was less detail in the environments than the first game and found that to be a flaw. The reality is they optimized (brilliantly) in order to get that crisp combat the series is now famous for. And yet the worlds look so good, sometimes better. Less detail but a stronger sense of scale and motion (lots of moving background elements).

\+ The writing was quite silly but pretty good anti capitalist/corporate satire for its time. The major problem is the ending is rushed and ends up hollow, a problem with MANY games that generation tbh. It’s just especially egregious here. Still… holy shit is Going Commando a killer game. Its scope, variety, and mission design rivals modern games. Also what was Angela.

\+ the boss fight with the Thugs 4 Life leader is an abomination but I got through it with a podcast. 

\+Ratchet was kinda dumb in this one, and a lil too nice. Clank was great. 

Replaying Going Commando, observations as a fan since the beginning