Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal review

Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is the best platformer on the list and the most fun for a group on one TV. Sony's launch release describes Ratchet and Clank recruiting Captain Qwark and the Q-Force to stop Dr. Nefarious, a robotic villain who wants to wipe out organic life. The campaign covers 29 locations with up to 20 weapons, most upgradable through five levels, and seven new gadgets. Multiplayer offers Siege, Capture the Flag and Deathmatch on ten levels, with up to four players offline through split-screen and the Multitap. At launch it also supported eight-player online play over broadband, but that relied on Sony's servers, so treat local play as the real feature today. It is rated T. DKOldies lists the used disc at $29.99. If you have a Multitap and friends, this is the party pick of the set.

Who it is for

Players who want a colorful T-rated shooter-platformer with local multiplayer.

Price

Used PS2 disc from $29.99 at DKOldies (regular price, before sales).

Price: $29.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• 29 single-player locations in the fight against Dr. Nefarious
• Up to 20 weapons with up to five upgrade levels for most
• Seven new gadgets
• Up to four players offline in split-screen with the Multitap
• Siege, Capture the Flag and Deathmatch modes across ten multiplayer levels

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Rated T and full of humor
• Strength: Split-screen for up to four players still works offline
• Strength: Sony cited perfect scores from several magazines at launch
• Weakness: The online mode depended on Sony servers from 2004
• Weakness: Four-player split-screen needs the Multitap accessory
• Weakness: Costs $29.99 used, more than San Andreas

Key facts

• Developer: Insomniac Games
• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
• North American release: November 2, 2004
• ESRB: Teen
• Weapons: Up to 20

Where it ranks

Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is No. 7 in our Best PS2 Games of All Time verdict.