GameWorm Plays!- Ratchet & Clank (PS4) Review

GameWorm Plays!

Ratchet and Clank 

(2016 Edition) 

Produced by Insomniac Games

****

The Story: 

• A new Ratchet & Clank adventure based on the movie (based on the 2002 PS2 game)

• A deeper version of the origin story, with over an hour of cinematics, including footage from the feature film

• All-new visuals showcase the power of the PlayStation 4

• Collect a massive arsenal including new weapons and fan-favorites from across the entire series

• Several new planets, new and updated gameplay segments, all-new flight sequences, all-new Clank gameplay, and all-new boss battles

The Review: The Ratchet and Clank Series by Insomniac Games is one of GameWorm’s favorite game series of all time. He owned all of the Playstation 2 games including Ratchet: Deadlocked and Size Matters. Ratchet and Clank: Future: Tools of Destruction was his main motivation for purchasing a Playstation 3. When this game was announced, he knew that a Playstation 4 would be on his wishlist soon. 

The story is spectacular and actually better in a lot of ways compared to the original. Ratchet’s original motivation for joining Clank was a bit vague and so was his character. In this game, his personality is more fleshed out. He is a young mechanic on a backwater world who dreams of adventure and glory. 

Another notable evolution of the character’s is the one of Captain Qwark. In the first game his character was not well developed. He barely appeared at all in the first two games, and personality wise was very one-dimensional. He was just another cartoony villain. GameWorm knew right away that he was going to betray the heroes. It steadily improved in following games but it was here that the Captain Qwark character was really developed to its fullest. This Qwark retains the original arrogance but it feels authentic. The motivations for his betrayal are more fully realized. 

Chairman Drek is good as well, he’s funny, but he is a bit of disappointment. The original Drek was funny but genuinely threatening in his own cartoony fashion. This one just seems like a goofball. Not giving anything away but his character arc was very predictable. 

There are many other characters too such as the other members of the Galactic Rangers, which are interesting visually but they are glanced over so quickly that as far as personality goes we only get surface value. Hopefully, sequels will expand them more but the fact is…depending on sequels is a sign of a weak story. Every story should be able to stand on its own. 

The gameplay is spot-on. A triumphant return to the platforming, running and jumping action, once so beloved by the video game industry. After playing first-person shooters with adult themes and deep lore for a long while now, it felt really good to Bookworm to return to something a bit more light-hearted and faster paced. Every world the duo visits is unique and full of personality. What is particularly great is how the development team took special care to match the original game levels with the new ones. This is readily apparent on worlds such as Novalis and Gaspar. 

While the whole game experience is excellent, some fans may be disappointed by some directions taken by the development team. 

GameWorm himself was disappointed in how two of his favorite levels from the 2002 version, Planet Eudora and Gemlik Base, were ultimately cut out of this version. Their music in particular was extremely distinctive.

Also: while this game is a remake of the original 2002 version none of the guns or other gadgets were used. All of the guns were from the Future series. From a practical standpoint, it makes sense. The original was made in 2002. It is unlikely that any work files from that era are even extant. Not to mention the challenge of integrating them into a console a full two generations from the original. Still- tidbits beyond trading cards would have been greatly appreciated. 

A minor nitpick here, but Gameworm was slightly disappointed by the way the planet Batalia was redesigned. In the original 2002 video game, it a was a dark, brooding planet with constant rain. Here it was transformed into another generic ice planet. The original one had a distinct atmosphere that was absent in this version. Not to mention that some of the funnier original characters were cut as well. 

That is the main problem with this game from the perspective of someone who played and loved the original series, this game feels smaller. GameWorm has already mentioned two planets but many other planets and settings were left on the cutting room floor as well. Perhaps that made it better in its own way though. Trimming down the excess fat in order to make more easily packaged. The whole purpose of this game was to celebrate Ratchet and Clank not recreate it pixel by pixel. 

Final Verdict:  At the end of the day though…these are all just nitpicks from a longtime fan who, much like trekkies, will never be fully satisfied with whatever new product comes out for our beloved franchise. It is okay if we voice our concerns, we are an important factor, but let us celebrate that Ratchet and Clank has returned to delight a new generation of gamers all the while writing a love letter to those whose journey began in 2002. 

A love letter that reads: “I may have gone through some changes, perhaps not all of them good, but I am still the game you fell in love with” 

One final question: Remake of Going Commando!? 

Five Wrenches out of Five!

Buy One Now!!!

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