Ratchet And Clank – Sony Interactive Entertainment/Insomniac Games – Playstation 4 – 04.12.16 – $39.99 (9 out of 10)
A true platformer, is a tough sell.
During the shuffle from 2D to 3D, one of the first genres to make the jump to an all-new generation was the platformer. It had previously reigned supreme on 2D systems like the Sega Genesis and the Super Nintendo, and with Super Mario 64, it broke completely new ground and evolved into a whole new experience.
They dominated the landscape for some time, producing multiple takes on the formula and spinning into multiple sequels and other styles of games. Many characters became console mascots. Several games had their own rip-offs and bootlegged versions. It was a glorious, cartoonish time in gaming history.
Eventually, the 3D platformer went dormant, being adapted and made into character action games more appealing to a maturing audience than the goofy, tongue-in-cheek characters from before. But recently, there’s been something of a resurgence, a pushback on the bleak brown and grey shooters, a return to more light-hearted and fun games with an emphasis on exploration and collecting.
‘Ratchet and Clank’ first hit the scene way back on the PlayStation 2 in 2002. Over the years, the duo has explored their massive galaxy through a bevy of titles on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita and mobile devices. Along with their main series appearances, Ratchet & Clank have played their part with special guest appearances in other games as well (All-Stars Battle Royal, anyone?.)
I’m such an R&C fanboy that I’ve played them all.
Ratchet & Clank (2002)
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (2003)
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (2004)
Ratchet & Clank: Deadlocked (2005)
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (2007)
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (2007)
Secret Agent Clank (2008)
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty (2008)
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (2009)
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One (2011)
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault (2012)
Ratchet & Clank: Into The Nexus (2012)
Ratchet & Clank: Before the Nexus (2013)
And now, a new ‘Ratchet and Clank’ adventure has dropped on the PS4 (2016). Some are calling it the game, based off the movie, based off the Game. IMO, Insomniac has perfected the formula this go-round. It isn’t just a better-playing copy of a now classic action platformer game. It packed enough surprises to keep a decade plus fan like myself surprised and smiling. Insomniac Games always manages to create amazing looking games, And this one is no exception. In fact, it’s arguable that the R&C PS4 Up-Rez is one of the best-looking games on the console so far, quickly becoming the closest thing to a Pixar movie I’ve ever had the joy of playing.
This re-imagined reboot gets pretty much everything right. Without spoiling anything huge, timeline-wise the game is definitely at the beginning still. Any references to stuff from the other games that hasn’t happened yet are just cute throwbacks. It’s basically a re-telling of the first game with some new and tweaked details borrowed from the movie.
Gameplay is your standard Ratchet and Clank formula: fly to a planet, complete the mission by shooting up enemies and collecting bolts and use them to buy new weapons. Additionally, Insomniac has inserted what made Ratchet’s second and third iterations on the PS2 so good – an addictive and easy-to-use weapon upgrade system. The more you use each weapon, the stronger they become, and as a result, the deadlier they are. The weapon upgrade system works as well as it does because the weapons themselves are classic Ratchet and Clank. While some of the best weapons make a return, the new ones feel right at home in this twisted universe, especially the new “Pixelizer” that turns enemies into two-dimensional pixelated versions of themselves. It’s powerful and fun to use, which is the baseline for nearly every weapon found in R&C. On top of this, you can modify the capabilities of each one at every vendor using the Raritanium collected throughout your adventure.
In a nutshell, The first PS4 ‘Ratchet and Clank’ title is all just so impeccably balanced, as you never get tired or bored and nothing ever feels repetitive. Not only is each planet very distinct and compelling in a unique way, but exploring each area is a singular experience. This is not just a video game slash movie tie-in. It is perfect in just about every sense.
And now that the game has shipped gold and is getting better than favorable reviews, one wonders if it could pave the way for something like a ‘Jak and Daxter’ effort; either a remake or full-fledged sequel.
What if now is the time that something like a ‘Ratchet and Clank’ appeals both to long-time fans and a whole new generation of gamers? Might Naughty Dog see that success and reconsider tackling a Jak and Daxter idea? Sure, we know they’ll give us another ‘The Last Of Us’ but after ‘Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End’ is finally out the door in May, we know that’s Drake’s final adventure. Maybe now is the perfect time to test the waters. While it’s true that neither franchise in question is a “true platformer,” per se, that particular blend of action, adventure and platforming elements isn’t commonly found nowadays.
Which could be the very reason why Ratchet and Clank does exceedingly well. That style of gameplay was never “old.” It was never supplanted by something that was supposedly better. It was just sort of left behind and when done correctly (Like in this PS4 version), an up-to-date style of that particular gameplay is fantastic. And fun, A lot of fun. I think developers would be surprised at what gamers might respond to. It’s great no matter what the year or the era.
-Dagobot
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