Tag Archives: Ratchet & Clank

Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction (PlayStation 3)

Developer(s) – Insomniac Games

Publisher(s) – Sony Computer Entertainment

Director – Brian Allgeier

PEGI – 7

Released shortly after the PlayStation 3 console back in 2007, Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction introduced gamers and fans alike to the Ratchet & Clank Future series, telling a new story following the events of the original trilogy. It has all the hallmarks of the previous two games, whilst introducing new locations, new characters, new weapons, and a new villain, which speaking as a fan of the series, left a long-lasting and positive impression on me personally. The best of the Future trilogy would be yet to come, but this game was an excellent way to kick it all off.

Graphics – 8/10

The game starts off in the same system as the first Ratchet & game, but it later introduces players to the galaxy of Polaris; a distant star system currently under the tyranny of Emperor Percival Tachyon, the game’s main villain. The game’s various different planets and moons offer players yet another wonderfully varied and well-designed world, which on a technical level, also did extremely well to demonstrate early doors just what the PlayStation 3 was capable of on the graphical level. The game’s soundtrack also wonderfully adds to the whole atmosphere of the game, going along with the tableaus of each planet’s respective theme.

Gameplay – 8/10

The gameplay follows very much the same formula as Ratchet and Clank 2 & 3 with the same controls and style of combat with the additional side quests to undertake in between. But what makes this game stand out is the new weapons and means of subduing enemies, as is the main hallmark of what makes each game in the series stand out from one another. This was also the game in which the developers introduced the Mr. Zurkon weapon, which in my opinion, is the best weapon in the entire franchise, and has since featured in most games following this. New gadgets are also introduced in order to solve new puzzles along the way, which also does well to add to the variety of the overall series.

Controls – 10/10

The controls had been refined as necessary with the release of Ratchet & Clank 2: Going Commando, and as this game operates within the same principles, there are no issues with the controls as such, and really, there haven’t been any issues with the controls since. Tools of Destruction in particular, however, also makes use of the PlayStation 3’s six-axis controls, with players having to move the controller to instigate character movement, which in this game, is handled particularly well.

Lifespan – 8/10

To complete the game 100% will take there around 20 hours tops, which at the time was about the average for a Ratchet & Clank game to last. The average lifespan of games in the Ratchet and Clank Future series would go on to fluctuate from thereon, with the lifespan of Ratchet & Clank: Quest For Booty being a major insult, and then Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time’s lifespan being legendary, then finally with Ratchet & Clank: Nexus’s lifespan again seeming far too short. But Tools of Destruction definitely represents a middle ground in that respect; It’s not too short but is the reason why the best of the Future series would be yet to come.

Storyline – 7/10

The story of Tools of Destruction follows Ratchet & Clank in their adventure across the Polaris Galaxy in their bid to stop Emperor Percival Tachyon from taking over and bringing back his ancient race that once almost wiped out the entire universe. The game’s story is extremely compelling in that it focuses a lot on Ratchet’s backstory, and where exactly he came from, and the fate of his race and his family, which would be a running plot point in the entire Future series. There are a plethora of twists and turns in this respect throughout the story, but especially towards the end; without spoiling exactly what happens, this game ends on one of the most intriguing cliffhangers I’ve ever seen in gaming.

Originality – 7/10

In terms of every respect of this game, from the new weapons, new gameplay tropes, new characters, and stories to the introduction of a side of Ratchet that gamers hadn’t ever seen before, the game does extremely well to stand out from not only every other Ratchet & Clank game but most other games on the PlayStation 3 in my opinion. For a game that was originally aimed at kids, it does deal with some mature and deep-rooted themes, which gives the game a boost because it perpetuates the whole idea that video games can indeed be considered an art form.

Happii

Overall, Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction is by far a better game than what I gave it credit for after my first playthrough; it was a great way to kick off the Ratchet & Clank Future series and still holds up as a particularly enjoyable gaming experience.

Score

50/60

8/10 (Very Good)

Ratchet & Clank: Nexus (PlayStation 3)

Developer(s) – Insomniac Games

Publisher(s) – Sony Computer Entertainment

Director – Grady Hunt

Producer – Caley Roberts

PEGI – 7

Ratchet & Clank: Nexus, or Into the Nexus as it was called in North America, was developed to serve as an epilogue to the Ratchet and Clank Future series on PlayStation 3. Overall, I was entertained by this title, but it does indeed have its faults. It was loosely based on a canceled project of the same name, but interestingly, another working title was Into the Nether Regions, which would’ve continued the prolonged use of innuendo synonymous with the series. I think the gameplay is satisfying and the comedic element is ever-present, but it did ultimately leave me wanting more at the end.

Graphics – 8.5/10

In lieu of Ratchet and Clank tradition, the game’s settings are wonderfully and intricately designed; as indeed is the wide arsenal of weapons available to the player. Weapons added to the series include a gun that shoots enemies to fight enemies, grenades, which fire ghosts to scare enemies, and an amusing alternative on the classic Mr. Zurkon weapon that when fully upgraded doesn’t just deploy Mr. Zurkon, but also his wife Mrs. Zurkon and their son, Zurkon Jnr. But where the visuals lose marks is that in certain areas of the game, there was an intended element of horror; mostly in the various caves that must be traversed. But I wasn’t particularly scared. If anything, I was actually impressed with both the use of lighting in the caves and how Clank can deploy a new gadget, which acts as a torch to light their way through. The worst part about the visuals, however, is the fact that Ratchet & Clank: Nexus runs at 30 frames per second. This has also been done in the last two spin-off Ratchet & Clank games as well, and for me, it eliminates the feel of smoothness throughout the game and fluency during combat. I hope that they refer back to 60 frames per second for future games, because for me in particular, it is a pretty big setback.

Gameplay – 7.5/10

Although there have been new weapons added to the set-up and new gameplay elements put in to replace old ones to maintain variety (indeed, I very much enjoyed the 2D side-scrolling elements of Clank’s individual parts), I did still have a few issues with how the game plays out overall. I can deal with the fact that it does essentially play out like any other game in the series, but I couldn’t help but feel that newer gameplay elements added weren’t as elaborate or as enjoyable as ones they have replaced. For example, Clank’s 2D side-scrolling sequences, as enjoyable as they were, weren’t anywhere near as enjoyable as his sequences in A Crack in Time, which had much more variety and substance. Another Ratchet & Clank gameplay element I was sorry to see depart was the Lylatwars-like travel method, which has been replaced by a fast travel system, much to my dismay. That, in particular, would imply laziness on the part of the developers to me; coupled with the fact that there is a reduced number of side quests compared to other entries in the series.

Controls – 10/10

This game does essentially play out like any other in the series at the end of the day. By that token, there are absolutely no problems with the controls. In fact, the strafe ability has actually been improved by allowing players to perform double jumps whilst strafing from side to side. In the absence of 60 frames per second, whilst not completely making up for it, the improved strafe mechanics add more fluency in combat, and it’s something I would like to see a return to the series as a stable control scheme element.

Lifespan – 5/10

The worst thing about this game is how criminally short it lasts. I should think it would take the player a maximum of six hours to complete this game, which for a Ratchet & Clank game, is unacceptable; especially given the fact that Insomniac had four years to complete it after they released A Crack in Time. In my opinion, they should have aid off developing two spin-offs, and they shouldn’t have even bothered releasing Fuse, as truth be told, it is a wretched game. What they could have done was made Nexus into a full-length game and do with it what had been done with several other PlayStation 3 games, and make Nexus part of Sony’s digital upgrade program, allowing players to play the game on the PlayStation 4. That way, not only would this have boosted sales of the game and critical reception dramatically, but also raised the profile of the franchise and created more of a buzz amongst Sony’s fans, making them anticipate the next game in the series even more; indeed it does seem like there will be one, as the end of Nexus implies there will be another game.

Storyline – 7/10

I personally see the story in Nexus as a step down in the pretty high standards that Insomniac set with A Crack in Time. It’s nowhere near as elaborate and it only makes the game feel even more rushed overall. The story follows Ratchet and Clank who, whilst tasked with delivering the known criminal Vendra Prog, have their ship attacked by Vendra’s twin brother Neftin who springs her from prison. The duo embarks on an adventure to recapture the two siblings before they can carry out their plans of starting an alien invasion. The best thing about the game’s plot is that the quirky sense of humor eternally associated with the series is ever-present, with characters such as Cronk & Zephyr and my personal favorite, Captain Qwark. But although there are some particularly funny moments throughout, it just seems nowhere near as engrossing or as memorable as other Ratchet & Clank games, and I think there were ways which they could have expanded it to make the game last longer.

Originality – 7/10

With a fair few new gameplay elements added to the mix, the series is kept relatively fresh, but with them not being as elaborate as others found in the series, it doesn’t make Nexus stand out to any notable extent. The most unique thing about this entry is Clank’s new gameplay element. But although I’ve never played a game with anti-gravity 2D side-scrolling elements before, I still feel as if there was more that could be added to this as opposed to Insomniac focusing their efforts elsewhere over the last four years.

Happii

To sum up, Ratchet & Clank: Nexus is a satisfying game to play for how short it is, but I still think that it seems far too rushed and that a lot more could have been added to it to make it ever more appealing. Establishing all these opinions does make me thankful that I didn’t pay full price for it.

Score

45/60

7.5/10 (Good)

Ratchet & Clank (PlayStation 4)

Developer(s) – Insomniac Games

Publisher(s) – Sony Interactive Entertainment

Director(s) – Brian Allgeier

Artist – David Guertin

PEGI – 7

Developed in conjunction with a feature-length theatrical film, and intended as a reboot of the entire series and a re-imagining of the original game, Ratchet & Clank was released to a respectable level of critical acclaim from game reviewers, whilst they extensively panned the film. In the end, I was left with the opinion that whilst the reboot isn’t the best entry in the series by any stretch of the imagination, and I would’ve ultimately much preferred a continuation of the previous narrative in terms of new possibilities in the respects of both gameplay and story, this game also didn’t turn out to be the worst entry in the series either, and whilst it may be lacking in story, it certainly wasn’t lacking to any great extent in gameplay.

Graphics – 9.5/10

On a graphical level, this is the best-looking Ratchet & Clank game ever developed. The level of detail in character and environmental design is staggering, and it was interesting to witness how many levels from the original game had been either re-worked or re-structured in conjunction with how the series itself has been re-established. Also, whilst it’s very simple to see a majority of the game as being a simple carbon copy of the first Ratchet & Clank, the developers also added new levels, enemies, locations, weapons, and boss fights to keep the franchise relatively fresh in the process, so it left me with fewer complaints about the graphics than I originally thought that I may have had going into it after trying it out at Play Blackpool.

Gameplay – 8/10

Playing out like every other main entry in the series, this game takes a lot of stable elements from it that have made it great throughout the years and compresses them all into one single enjoyable gaming experience. There are a ton of weapons to buy and upgrade, a ton of collectibles and unlockables to find along the way, and a fair bit of replay value, as the traditional challenge mode, is also included. The biggest criticism I have towards the game’s style of play is that unlike most other entries it doesn’t really offer anything new beyond the trading card side quests, and I also think they could have done more to make the sequences of playing as Clank a little bit more unique and extensive. Otherwise, however, whilst it may be considered by fans (including myself) as a lackluster entry in comparison with others, it’s by no means a bad game.

Controls – 10/10

Incorporating virtually the same control scheme introduced in Ratchet & Clank 2, and having been working on a modified over a period of more than ten years, the control scheme naturally presents no issues whatsoever. Ever since the strafe ability was introduced with the second installment, playing any other main entry has been to experience a series of games with no unnecessary complications or annoyances attached to it in the respect of controls; and this game is no exception.

Lifespan – 6/10

The main story can only be made to last around 10 hours, but as I previously said, there is value in replaying it a second time, making the game last anywhere between 20 to 25, which whilst again may be short in comparison to A Crack in Time, isn’t anywhere near as fleeting as the average mainstream game. It could have been made to last longer given a greater amount of variety and the traditional inclusion of new ideas, which again is another reason why I believe a continuation of the previous events would have been preferable, but there is a fair amount to do to keep players busy for a decent amount of time regardless.

Storyline – 5.5/10

Having played the game, and going into it knowing full well it was based on the film, it’s easy to see why it didn’t work as a theatrical release. In an alternative series of the events of the first game Ratchet is a mechanic working on planet Veldin when Clank crash-lands and is found by Ratchet. After leaving the planet, and helping to save planet Kerwan from a fleet under the ownership of evil entrepreneur Chairman Drek, the duo is then inaugurated into the Galactic Rangers under the command of their leader, the famed superhero Captain Qwark. The rangers then undertake a mission to stop Drek and the commander of his fleet, former Galactic Ranger Dr. Nefarious. Having experienced the plot for me, I was left thinking of it as hugely watered down in comparison to almost every other entry in the series. The plot is pretty straightforward and uninspiring, and the comedic element was uncharacteristically weak too. On top of that, despite the fact that so many iconic villains of the series have been included in the same game, or perhaps because of it, it left very little room for characterization between them. None of them stood out to any great extent in comparison to when each of them had been portrayed as the main villain in previous games, and their abrupt actions and lack of personality or in-depth motives make the whole story seem that evermore rushed. It was certainly sad to see the likes of Chairman Drek and Dr. Nefarious reduced to what I can only describe as shadows of their former characters, with Percival Tachyon also seemingly forgotten about entirely.

Originality – 6/10

As stated, the game is ultimately a collection of previous features found in previous games and didn’t offer a great deal in terms of introducing new elements to the gameplay; particularly in Clank’s segments, which are more or less a carbon copy of the jobs he had to do in the original game of controlling mini-robots to solve puzzles and deal with larger enemies. The majority of where this game’s level of uniqueness lies is in both its visuals and weapon design. For example, I was particularly impressed with the Pixeliser gun, which turns enemies and characters into 8-BIT renditions of themselves when shot with it. Combined with added locations and new enemy designs along with re-mastered versions of old ones, the developers did a fairly good job of rebooting the series, but I do hope they can implement more variety and character development in the next game to re-establish it as one that innovates as well as one that entertains.

Happii

Overall, Whilst I don’t think this is the franchise’s lowest point (by far that honor would go to Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty), I initially had a hard time scoring this game in comparison with other entries, but ultimately, I came to the conclusion of it tying with Ratchet & Clank: Nexus. I like both games equally for different reasons; the re-vamp has a much longer lifespan, but Nexus had more innovation and new gameplay elements, as well as an arena mode, which was regrettably absent from the re-vamp. None of this is to say that the reboot is a poor game; to me, it’s a mediocre Ratchet & Clank game, but nevertheless much more enjoyable than many other mainstream games being released at the moment.