The newest Ratchet & Clank is a game based on a film based on a game, and it knows it. #Media #Crossover #Ratchet #Clank
What happens when a notoriously difficult art of video game film-making gets based on a much-loved series and converted back to a game again? Something rather nice, apparently. Ratchet & Clank is the newest adventure of the platformer buddies with the titular names. The series have always been about less that pixel-perfect platforming, light puzzles and wacky weaponry and this game delivers on all accounts. The universe is yet again endangered, but Ratchet ain’t quite there yet to save it. Since the storyline goes all the way back to the beginning, he is still a lowly mechanic’s apprentice without his future trusty robot sidekick.
The gamepad controls feel smooth and responsive already during the trademarkedly humorous tutorial section. Ratchet handles majority of the action while Clank provides handy gadget-like functions like helicopter-booster jumping. From time to time the heroes’ paths separate and Clank gets a more active role. The levels are rather linear with a few notable side paths to explore and exploit for additional loot. There’s even a hoverboard race circuit for those taking a break from all that blasting.
The starting weapons are nothing to write about – a pea-shooter and a grenade, basically – but the arsenal expands into unexpected variations of “push button, shoot bullet”. The corporate goons and space monsters will burn, shock and even dance to your tune soon enough. The upgrade system keeps even the old items fresh. It provides the player the motivation to smash absolutely everything to collect the shiny bolts that act as currency.
Colourful and vibrant, Ratchet & Clank is a joy to behold. It might not tax the system to the fullest, but provides impressive vistas of future-retro cities and nature alike. Voice-acting is top-notch with familiar actors in all the key roles fans expect them to be at.
Ratchet & Clank is not the easiest of action-platformers. Getting swarmed by goons while low on ammunition is a sure way to get killed especially during the opening hours. The last checkpoint is usually not far, so huge amounts of backtracking is rarely required. The game has some of the hallmarks of a film adaptation with noticeable set-piece moments we’ll probably witness on the big screen later. It’s not the deepest of games, but certainly a lot of fun for old and new fans alike.
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: Playstation 4
Release date: 20.4.2016 (PAL)
All images courtesy of Sony Interactive Entertainment and Insomniac Games
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