The game based on the movie based on the game, Ratchet and Clank for the PS4 is a charming, beautiful, and fun shooting platformer filled with gorgeous environments, fun weapons, and clever writing. Based on the 2002 game of the same name for the PS2, Ratchet and Clank is a reboot built from the ground up. While the story beats are similar, there’s enough different for long time fans to enjoy and a perfect place for newcomers to jump into the fray.
One of the first things you’ll notice is how gorgeous this game looks. Everything from the characters to the environments to the lighting is simply beautiful and wonderfully detailed. It really is one of the best looking games I’ve seen to date. And that’s when everything is still and calm, when the action ramps up it’s literally an explosion of gorgeousness on screen. The explosions, the particle effects, tons and tons of bolts filling the screen while your enemies explode into bits… Truth be told it can sometimes be overwhelming. It didn’t happen too often but there were a few times that I could not make out what was going on for a second or two. But even with all this filling the screen, I never experienced any type of frame rate drops or stutter.
The story is a familiar one if you played the original Ratchet and Clank, with a few differences and twist. Told by Captain Qwark after the events of the story, he recants how our heroes met, banded together to stop the evil Alonzo Drek and Dr. Nefarious, and went from zeroes to heroes! (Excuse my Disney-ism) The writing and humor here are top notch and the characters are charming with a lot of heart. There are a few pacing issues with some of the cutscenes but it’s a very minor nitpick.
But what truly matters in a game… is the gameplay, and it’s great. There are very few platformers out there anymore, but Insomnia reminds us that there is a place for a well done platformer in today’s gaming world. Jumping and shooting feel great, tether swings, jet backs, and grind boots all feel tight and fun. Insomnia really put love and care into their long time mascot. Another mechanic they’ve always been great at is coming up with wacky and fun guns. The variety is good, however old time fans will only see a few “new” guns with the rest being returns from the first game. Each gun gains levels simply by using them more and upgrades can be unlocked, rewarding the player for their play style.
All that being said, there are a few small disappointments this game has. There are a few levels where you pilot your space shape and they are all sort of “meh.” Not great, not bad, just sort of middle of the road. The controls for flying your ship aren’t as tight as the rest of the game. Also, once you finish a level and clear it out, it tends to stay that way. Only very few enemies respond once you clear out a level, making revisiting them to level up your guns hard and simply boring. However the counter to that is the game’s challenge mode, which is pretty much a new game plus mode. Not only do you keep all your guns, though not your equipment since they are all mostly tied into the story, but your guns gain the ability to level up further and become more powerful.
All in all, it’s a great game. The action, the story, the characters are all fun and worth a play through. Whether you are a long time fan of the series or a newbie looking to jump into this universe, Ratchet and Clank is a game worth buying. And it’s only $40, it’s a full fledged game that has more gameplay than some $60 games out there for only $40. If you have a PS4, do yourself a favor and get this game.