Anna Sky Hulton has a shufti at the latest from the galaxy's favourite furry superhero and his tinny sidekick...

Ratchet, the loveable furry space marsupial and Clank, his tiny tinny sidekick are back with more weapons and upgrades than you thought possible.

For those new to the exploits of Ratchet and Clank where have you been for the last couple of years? Since the release of the first game less than two years ago the franchise has become more and more popular amongst young and old alike.

Ratchet and Clank 3 follows on from the previous games. After Ratchet and Clank successfully completed the previous game Clank now stars in his own TV series. To Ratchet's dismay the limelight is now on "Secret Agent Clank" who regularly gets recognised as an interstellar robot of mystery and intrigue.

This time the duo return to Planet Veldin, the location of the first game. There they find Dr Nefarious the robotic supervillain who wants to destroy all organic life in the galaxy with the help of the Tyhrranoids.

In usual Ratchet and Clank style - and they do have style - they jet from one planet to another completing missions in exchange for weapons, bolts and coordinates to the next planet in need of the duo's help.

Weapons

There are 15 new weapons in all, each with a new innovative way of destroying the enemies Ratchet and Clank come across. The weapons are bigger and better than before, each with up to four upgrades.

If you have previous saved games from the first and second Ratchet and Clank games you can take advantage of discounts at the Gadgetron Vendor. A selection of the old weapons are available for free such as the mini turrets and the lava gun, both upgradeable.

All nuts…

Captain Qwark makes his return to the world of Ratchet and Clank. This time Qwark has lost his memory and it is only after a quick play of a vid-comic ('old skool' platformer game, centred around Qwark's previous adventures) that he begins to regain his memory.

…and bolts

Fans of the game will be pleased to know that special bolts are once again hidden around the galaxy. This time it is Titanium bolts that are hidden or rewarded for winning battles.

Online and multiplayer

This time the developers have taken Ratchet and Clank to another level. Ratchet and Clank 3 is available to play in multiplayer mode through a multitap or online with a network adapter.

The multiplayer mode gives players the chance to battle it out using any of the weapons from the single player game as well as two vehicles from the game.

There are three different game modes and a variety of maps, however it is a little disappointing as you can't battle against computer-controlled opponents.

Those who have a USB headset can use it to chat or scheme with their teammates, both in game and in the lobby, when playing online.

Ratchet and Clank 3 is an excellent game for gamers of all ages. If you haven't played the first two games I strongly recommend playing them first, not just for an introduction to the characters but also to get the 'employee' discounts!