Hands on with the PSP's Secret Agent Clank

Bond had his martini, Clank has lubricating oil. The newest extension of the immensely popular Ratchet & Clank console series serves up a new twist on platform-action in Secret Agent Clank. Stealth moves and gadgets galore mark Clank's starring role debut as we discovered in a recent hands-on look at the game.

Secret Agent Clank opens with Ratchet's wrongful imprisonment, having been framed for a crime he didn't commit. Getting him out of prison means trusting Ratchet's robotic sidekick, Clank, to uncover the true perpetrator of the crime. Fortunately, Clank has secretly aligned himself with an intergalactic espionage agency that has trained him in the artistry of spying and stealth.

Saving Ratchet starts with a visit to the crime scene, then, where Clank must sneak past security guards and quietly nab key evidence to prove his partner's innocence.

The core gameplay retains the action-platform feel of last year's Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters with some stealth and lots of button-pressing mini-games thrown in. For a majority of the game you'll control Clank, although Ratchet and has-been hero Captain Qwark make playable appearances, too. Clank's diminutive stature doesn't keep him for getting a piece of the action, either – he's more than capable at tackling the various platform challenges and beating back any foes that come into his path.

Tapping the Square button enables you to punch enemies with Clank's metal fists. This is perfect for trading blows with an opponent, but you can avoid fisticuffs altogether by executing stealth kills and utilizing an assortment of gadgets.

Sneaking through the museum crime scene, for instance, it was easy to dispatch unaware guards via a simple button-pressing stealth kill mini-game. Punch the correct buttons as they appear on the screen and the guard goes down quietly; however, mess up and Clank takes a bit of damage and alerts the guard to his presence.

Here's where gadgets come to good use. Agency drop boxes throughout the game equip Clank with new gadgetry that simultaneously amp up his secret agent appeal and help him in his mission. The 'Tie-A-Rang', for example, pairs style and functionality in a convenient sharpened bow tie that can be thrown at enemies. Others include cuff link bombs and jet boots to access high platforms. With well over a dozen different gadgets promised for the full game, holding down the Triangle button opens a quick select menu from which you can pick an item for use with the Circle button.

Not all gadgets are intended for combat, however. The Blackout Pen, which is also gained by means of an Agency drop box, allows you to disable security lasers and temporarily blind enemies. Bypassing a room filled with bright red lasers meant shooting the dark ink onto their source, effectively blotting out the lasers from streaming across the room. Simple puzzles like this differentiate Secret Agent Clank from Size Matters, giving the game a fresher flavour.

Assorted gadgetry definitely lend a unique charm to the game, but the stealth kill mini-game is something that could get old pretty quickly. After just a few minutes with the game, we were already over the novelty of the timed button presses. Those sequences are likely to be tightened up before the game's summer release. Click 'Track It!' to follow any new developments in the coming months.