Video Game Review: Ratchet & Clank - Sets The Bar For All Reboots

Published May 5, 2016

Originally released in 2002 as a hybrid 3D platformer/shooter, Ratchet & Clank quickly cemented itself as one of Sony’s stronger PS2 franchises (along with Naughty Dog’s Jak and Daxter) and would play a role in Playstation’s ultimate domination. The combination of dazzling graphics, balanced gameplay, oddball humour, eclectic characters and imaginative weapons proved to be a winning formula that would go on to span a dozen more games across most of Sony’s consoles. I felt that Insomniac might have lost their way after the critically acclaimed ‘Future’ series on the PS3 (2011’s spinoff, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One was less ‘Better Call Saul’ and more ‘Joey’) but 2016’s Ratchet & Clank stands with the best of them. Here’s why:

Even though there’s an odd familiarity about the game, there are various story tweaks and changes to ensure it feels more like a reimagining and less like a remaster. Insomniac could have gone the lazy route and just upped the resolution, but instead, they rebuilt the entire game from scratch, using assets from movie tie-in to attain a visual fidelity that often blurs the lines between playing a game and playing an animated movie. Throughout my 11 hour journey I experienced no scent of slowdown even though there were moments where I had hundreds of bolts scattering, close to a dozen enemies closing in and a large stream of fire rushing out of my weapon. All this while the world continued to whir and ebb around me, oblivious to my attempts to save the galaxy.

The story, planets and collectables all act as a vehicle for the true star of the franchise, the weapons. The singular reason why I immediately restarted the game on challenge mode (after a 5 hour marathon) was to have one more go so that I could upgrade my weapons. Ratchet & Clank incentivises players to use as many weapons as possible so that you have the best possible arsenal for any scenario – it does this levelling up weapons as you kill enemies – this rewards system is unparalleled to other games in the genre in that even though I might have been overwhelmed with enemies, my weapons would always upgrade to the point where I would be able to defeat them organically (without any artificial cheap shots like weakening them once I’ve died a few times). This sense of achievement, coupled with the individual weapon upgrades (which only get better on the second playthrough) adds a replay value that is often uncommon in modern games. The weapons themselves are often bonkers, with series favourites like the Groovitron (a mirror ball that makes your enemies dance uncontrollably) sharing space with newcomers like the pixelizer, which turns enemies into 8-bit (think Golden China) sprites. This level of creativity is so rare in games, with perhaps, only Mortal Kombat X fatalities offering a similar level of imagination.

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When I reviewed Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare earlier this year, the major sore point was the price – I found it difficult to get over the mental hurdle of paying full price for a PopCap game (even though I enjoyed it more than most conventional releases). Ratchet doesn’t fall into this trap and the game is priced much lower than other new releases, dropping the barrier to entry, and ensuring that more people consider picking this up from their favourite retailer. If I did a swot analysis on whether to buy this game, the only weakness is that it’s over all too soon, which is less a slight on its length, and more an acknowledgement of its greatness.

I approach games like this with a level of reticence, fearful that my nostalgia will be trampled by a cheap cash-in that soils my childhood (case in point – Indiana Jones 4), but playing through Ratchet & Clank was like discovering ice-cream for the first time. I highly recommend this game, for fans of the franchise, and those who will undoubtedly become fans once they have played it. For more on the world of Ratchet & Clank, check out Metal Pangolin’s review ( http://www.geeknode.co.za/2016/04/movie-review-ratchet-clank-fans-will-like-it-kids-will-love-it/ )

Ratchet & Clank is a welcome return to form for veteran developer, Insomniac, and proves that reboots can appeal to both the jaded nostalgia-thriving 33-year-old and a new generation of gamers weaned on the grind of mobile titles and the twitch of online gaming. Originally released in 2002 as a hybrid 3D platformer/shooter, Ratchet & Clank quickly cemented itself as one of Sony’s stronger PS2 franchises (along with Naughty Dog’s Jak and Daxter) and would play a role in Playstation’s ultimate domination. The combination of dazzling graphics, balanced gameplay, oddball humour, eclectic characters and imaginative weapons proved to be a winning formula that would go on to span a dozen more games across most of Sony’s consoles. I felt that Insomniac might have lost their way after the critically acclaimed ‘Future’ series on the PS3 (2011’s spinoff, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One was less ‘Better Call Saul’ and more ‘Joey’) but 2016’s Ratchet & Clank stands with the best of them. Here’s why: Even though there’s an odd familiarity about the game, there are various story tweaks and changes to ensure it feels more like a reimagining and less like a remaster. Insomniac could have gone the lazy route and just upped the resolution, but instead, they rebuilt the entire game from scratch, using assets from movie tie-in to attain a visual fidelity that often blurs the lines between playing a game and playing an animated movie. Throughout my 11 hour journey I experienced no scent of slowdown even though there were moments where I had hundreds of bolts scattering, close to a dozen enemies closing in and a large stream of fire rushing out of my weapon. All this while the world continued to whir and ebb around me, oblivious to my attempts to save the galaxy. The story, planets and collectables all act as a vehicle for the true star of the franchise, the weapons. The singular reason why I immediately restarted the game on challenge mode (after a 5 hour marathon) was to have one more go so that I could upgrade my weapons. Ratchet & Clank incentivises players to use as many weapons as possible so that you have the best possible arsenal for any scenario – it does this levelling up weapons as you kill enemies – this rewards system is unparalleled to other games in the genre in that even though I might have been overwhelmed with enemies, my weapons would always upgrade to the point where I would be able to defeat them organically (without any artificial cheap shots like weakening them once I’ve died a few times). This sense of achievement, coupled with the individual weapon upgrades (which only get better on the second playthrough) adds a replay value that is often uncommon in modern games. The weapons themselves are often bonkers, with series favourites like the Groovitron (a mirror ball that makes your enemies dance uncontrollably) sharing space with newcomers like the pixelizer, which turns enemies into 8-bit (think Golden…

Video Game Review: Ratchet & Clank – Sets The Bar For All Reboots

2016-05-05

MJ Khan

A welcome return to form

Total - 9.2

92 9.2

Ratchet & Clank is an absolute joy to play and will leave you grinning like a fool

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MJ Khan

Gaming / Entertainment Author at Geek Node

A veteran gamer and award-winning strategist, MJ enjoys eating chocolate eclairs and watching WWE. He completed his Masters coursework on videogame theory and enjoys writing about representation in games.