Thomas Roach reviews Ratchet & Clank…
Ratchet & Clank is a soft reboot/remake to the game of the same name that was released back in 2002 on the PlayStation 2. Whilst many will shake their head at the thought of reboots, this game certainly makes a great effort to provide something new. It is not just a HD remaster of the original game; it retells the story from a different perspective and has clearly been made from the ground up. People who played the original will certainly have a different experience than they had all those years ago.
Ratchet & Clank has some of the best gameplay in the entire series. Mixing 3D platforming with combat certainly provides a great deal of fun. The controls of the game are quite easy to master which is very useful to anyone who is new to the franchise. Combat is probably the most fun thing in the game, using a variety of colourful and sometimes outrageous weapons, vanquishing enemies is certainly an entertaining affair. Whilst levels do not feel as vast as other games, there is certainly plenty to explore on each planet with different terrains you need to traverse.
The game is gorgeous visually. Many people have compared it to a Pixar movie which isn’t an unfair comparison. The cutscenes from the game that appear in the movie are very impressive but the gameplay out does the cutscenes. There are moments where you can stop playing the game and admire the beautiful world that Insomniac has created. There always appears to be a lot going on in every frame, especially in combat. This game shows that when creating a world, photorealistic graphics which the industry appears to strive for is not necessary. There are increasing amounts of games going for a more cartoonish look and Ratchet & Clank proves you can make that look stunning.
Sadly the story is the weakest point of the entire game. It appears that the game is being aimed at a new generation of young gamers and children when it could have been aimed more at fans of 3D platformers. I do also feel that a more comprehensive story would not be lost on a younger audience so I wish more effort had been put into telling the story. The relationship between our two main characters is also somewhat lacking. Several hours into the game it feels that the protagonists Ratchet and Clank have barely spoken to one another. As this is a tie in to the movie of the same name, there may be more character development in the film. It is a shame that this is a tie in because games are very good at telling stories and not just delivering fun gameplay. The game however does have some great comedic moments from a range of their cast of colourful and larger than life characters.
The game doesn’t just end with one play through, with lots of collectibles and upgrades to add to your weapons you will need to replay the game, though this certainly will not be a chore for players. Many games after one play through are easy to toss aside and never play it again. Even after obtaining all of the PlayStation trophies you will probably still come back to it for its rich gameplay and stunning visuals.
If you can overlook a weak narrative then Ratchet & Clank will provide you with a thrilling experience with great gameplay. Whilst this may be one of the weakest stories in the franchise it certainly has one of if not the greatest gameplay of all the games released since 2002. Whilst I admit this game won’t appeal to every gamer out there, I do recommend that any owner of the PlayStation 4 pick it up and take a chance. I guarantee it will be a fun experience. It does have me excited for when Insomniac develop a brand new story for Ratchet & Clank on the PS4.
Pros:
+ Visually stunning
+ Incredibly fun gameplay
+ Variety of levels and weapons
Cons:
– Basic storyline
Rating: 8/10
SEE ALSO: Buy Ratchet & Clank on AMAZON UK or AMAZON US
Thomas Roach
Originally published April 30, 2016. Updated January 23, 2020.
