Ratchet & Clank

 

So the original Ratchet and Clank remains one of my favourite games of all time. As far as new Ips go that I loved the first time I played it and still adore today, that game leaps above many newer and arguably better titles based solely on how much I enjoyed the characters and the interactions between them. The gameplay to me has not aged particularly well though so going into the 2016 reboot/remake I was excited to see how they could update the Ratchet formula, without crippling the original’s charm and humour. Strangely this year was actually the first time I had given Ratchet’s most recent adventure a go. I remember the game being liked a bit when it released four years ago but clearly just couldn’t find the time to fit it into my busy schedule (I imagine this was because I played a lot of Overwatch and Uncharted 4 back then). The fact the game tied into the upcoming film probably steered me away from it too given the poor track record of video game movies. However, after completing two full playthroughs of the game I can easily recommended it to any fans of the Lombax. 

It mirrors the first game fairly closely but throw in small plot alterations that do keep the player n their toes as the plot unravels. Ratchet, Clank, Qwark and Drek are all as humorous as ever with Dr Nefarious being added to the cast as a secondary villain for our heroes to conquer. The plot moves forward at a smooth pace, very rarely stuttering and granting the player ample opportunity to use Ratchet’s arsenal to its fullest. Some additions have been made to make the game better line up with the film which for me did not actually hinder the story. Qwark retells the story from his prison cell which gives him much more screen time than he would have had otherwise. Qwark is probably my favourite character in the series and his ability to play the complete hero and then immediately turn into the last super villain strikes an excellent balance between ridiculousness and inevitability. As a player, you know Qwark is going to betray you at some point but the avenues and explanations the game gives you perfectly climax with a fitting crescendo that makes all the second guessing and nonsense completely worthwhile. To me, the story is so much better with Qwark and with the sequel on the horizon, I hope to see more of my favourite big chinned captain. 

 

As a fan of the original who understands how outdated that game’s design is, the gameplay n the 2016 incarnation had t be newer, tighter, and frankly less janky. For the most part, I believe the developers did I good job of evolving the simple third person shooting and platforming from the older games and making the controls feel much more responsive. Ratchet moves really well, and he never feels as though he is sliding around the screen like he does in the original. The game also has a strafe mechanic that acts as an easier way for your to focus all your fire on a single enemy. This is a design choice that was not introduced until later games in the series and is completely welcome here. The nanowrench acts as it does in the original with the only new feature being Ratchet’s ability to move after the wrench has been thrown making his movement far less restrictive. Clank acts as he does in the original, picking up upgrades as the story progresses allowing him to reach new areas on previously explored planets, incentivizing some backtracking. To be honest, the only new feature are the holocards. These acts as a form of collectible that can either be found somewhere on the many planets or simply obtained randomly from defeated enemies. Some clearly are far more useful such as ones that increase the chances of holocards dropping. More important than those though are the RYNO cards which when collected give Ratchet access to the game’s best weapon which obviously makes the game incredibly easy but is still an absolute blast. Guns level up as they are used so a second playthrough will likely be needed anyway just to max out each weapon, giving you ample opportunity to collect every holocards, gold bolt and Ratchet’s own health bar which increases for every level that he gains. Admittedly, I felt quite disappointed with how the game plays. I needed more variation and new ideas to really sell me on the idea that the franchise is moving forward. There are a few flying sections which take no more than five minutes to complete, but the game lacks any other diversity. The platforming aspects are majorly simplified and perhaps this was done to keep the player running and gunning but to me, the constant loop of gameplay really exposed the lack of ingenuity. 

 

In summary, the game is really good despite the few flaws I have with it. It sounds great, looks great, tells an intriguing story with classic characters, and plays well enough to be enjoyable for at least a full playthrough. I went and got the platinum anyway and would recommend doing so yourself considering the game is not that hard even in challenge mode. My thoughts on the game though are more positive than negative, mainly thanks to an excellent cast of likable characters. It’s simple yet effective.

Rating: Galactic Ranger

8/10