Replaying the original trilogy [some thoughts/short review]

This week I've been replaying the original trilogy on steam deck and these are my thoughts in no particular order. Going Commando was peak gameplay and comedy, having the best elements of the others. UYA is the least charming, least visually stimulating, and comparatively feels like Ratchet&Clank 'painting by numbers'. Some new features like the allied robot squads, the objective-based combat missions and the starfreighter hub, while not uninspired, didn't age well. Somehow, having a hub makes the 'galaxy' feel smaller compared to GC. Still I love the Quark Vidcomic games and Secret Agent Clank concept. I remember playing in 2004 and being so impressed with the vidcomics (especially the graphics, which still hold up today), getting a whole second game inside the game was so cool, the narration was funny and the way it tells the backstory for DrNefarious was just awesome exposition, definitely my favorite part of UYA. I loved the theme of the 'Robotic Space Pirate Ghosts' so much and it makes me excited for when I play Quest for Booty again.

Going Commando definitely had the worst ending, it's very abrupt and with little in terms of closure, but I still disagree with those who say the story is worse than the first. GC story had multiple plot twists and all around felt like a more thoughtful narrative compared to the first game which was basically a Bigbad Drax from start to finish. Granted, the ecoterrorist capitalist plot of the original was for sure the high point of the series in terms of social commentary.

Oddly enough, now that I'm on the third game, I find myself looking forward to the shinier more polished PS3 games more than revelling in the current experience, since the charm is already diminishing anyway.