Rachet and Clank Review

So apparently the new Ratchet and Clank video game is a video game based on the movie, which is based on the game. Put your hand up if you're confused. Ha, well it's pretty simple. This new polished version of Ratchet and Clank has been remade using critical elements from the original game that was released back in 2002 which essentially make it a reboot. At the same time, a feature length animation movie has been created which runs in line with the new game. So if you're a fan of the original games that were released on the Playstation 2, strap yourself in for an intergalactic adventure with your favourite heroes Ratchet, Clank, Captain Qwark and a slew of new friends for the first time ever in a smooth 1080p.


The new Ratchet and Clank follows the original story from 2002, but it has been completely rebuilt from the ground up. This is no remaster or HD definitive edition by any means. On top of it being recreated from the original, it also steals some bits and pieces from the games that released later in the series. On top of that, there are also new weapons, locations and bosses that also appear in the game.

When playing Ratchet and Clank for the first time on the Playstation 4 there is one thing that has blown me away right from the beginning and that is the abundance of things happening on the screen. From nuts and bolts flying around the screen, to enemies jumping around and firing off their own weapons, there is just utter chaos almost all the time that you're playing. The best part about this is that there is no apparent hardware struggle at all. No frame rate drops, skips or tears to report back on. The game is solid and beautiful at the same time which is something that a lot of developers struggle with when making a busy environment.

I must admit that I never played the original Ratchet game for no other reason that it just never came across my desk. So for that reason a lot of this is new for me so it's hard to point out where the game was improved from the original. I am very comfortable however in claiming that it's all just so much better than ever. The guns are so amazing and fun to experiment with. If I had to choose a favourite I would have to go with the Pixelizer. This is a gun that has one clear message in mind, to kill fast and clean. Essentially it behaves like a beast of a shotgun, shooting a ray towards you enemies and turning them into pixel art which makes them a literal push over as they fall into little itty bitty cubes.

There is a large selection of weapons which will happily level up the more that you use them. As you play along and you get the ability to upgrade your weapons, you can attribute points to slots that will modify your gun. So for example you can add a bigger ammo capacity to your guns or increase the firing rate. There is a good balance to the ammo use and power of each weapon which instinctively makes a player want to switch up their weapons for different encounters rather than sticking with and old faithful that gets the job done.


There's also a healthy dose of mixed up game play here too. You won't find yourself playing through the whole game just doing the same thing over and over again. The game play mechanics are mixed up between flying, running, shooting, grinding, jetpack flying and even hoverboard racing. There's time trials, obstacle courses and a whole heap of fun with variety. So far the boxes are being ticked for a successful reboot to the Ratchet and Clank series. Oh, I almost forgot, you also get to play as Clank, the little robot side kick in smaller scaled puzzles to help out Ratchet when he can't fit into certain areas himself.

So in the end, Ratchet and Clank is a downright winner. The technology that has been poured into this gorgeous child friendly platformer is pretty much testament to the developers history of making Ratchet and Clank games over many, many years. It's obvious by the slick smooth game play that plenty of refining went into the final product and considering the game retails for a modest $52.95AUS, it's a must buy for all who enjoy a fun and friendly game.

Positives:

• Beautiful and colourful graphics
• Variety in gameplay style
• Large collection of fun to use weapons