“A game, about a movie, about a game? My head hurts.”
Anyone that has owned a PlayStation 2, 3 or 4 has played a ratchet and clank game. Spanning over 10 years with 15 games (including one clank spin-off and 2 mobile games), Ratchet and Clank has proven just one thing outlandish stories (and weapons) will keep a franchise going. This is no different for what appears to be a reimagining of the original title with a movie (comes out 4/29/16) depicting the same of our beloved Lombax and his quirky robot companion.
Story:
Ratchet and Clank is a reimagining of the original title with some changes and additions. The game starts out with Ratchet working at the garage on planet Veldin when Clank, a defective robot from Chairman Drek’s warbot facility escapes and crash lands on the planet is discovered by Ratchet which begins our tale of our two wayward companions on their way to being the galactic heroes we know them to be. As Ratchet you begin your lifelong journey of fulfilling your dream of joining Captain Quark (who narrates the story from prison, but more on that later) and the Galactic Rangers. Soon after the two meet, Chairman Drek’s number 1 thug descends onto the planet to recapture Clank and you begin to learn what Drek has in store. If you haven’t played this or the original SPOILERS!!!!
As you parade around the galaxy foiling Drek’s plan to decimate planets to forge a super planet for the Blarg (who are in need of a new homeworld), you learn that your favorite hero Quark is in fact on Dreks payroll (hence why he’s in jail and narrating your game) helping him cover up his true intentions. There are a lot of side story missions that take you back and forth to multiple planets to get specific gadgets to unlock the planet, so if you are just looking to complete the story and move on you can by visiting all the planets in the order they are unlocked. If you are looking to 100% the game, be ready for a lot of back and forth traveling.
I give the story a 9 out of 10. A nice homage to the original story with some fresh and funny dialogue with new elements.
Gameplay
If you have been a fan of Ratchet and Clank since the beginning then you know that the controls were horrific to say the least. But thankfully the team at Insomniac have refined their iconic system over the years to create a flowing work of art. Although there are some issues with selecting a weapon in mid combat but if you play it right, this should not be an issue. Like the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
I give the gameplay a 9 out of 10
Graphics
From the original look of a surprised Ratchet (look it up) to a Lombax with free flowing fur, Ratchet and Clank has continually changed for the better with bolder colors and smoother models. With their first major entry into the PS4 era, Ratchet and Clank brings some of the best looking graphics to date. From the vast landscapes to the smallest plants, it resembles what your childhood brain devised while watching star trek for the first time. Even the weapons have been given an overhaul with more exotic animations. There are a few minor issues within the game, more so with the transitions between cgi and in game cinematic but this pales in comparison to the vast detail that they gave this game.
I give the graphics a 9.5 out of 10
This is a great homage to a classic game with new new elements thrown in for a fresh take. I give Ratchet and Clank a 9.2 out of 10. Officially a Sexy game.
