Pure fun the best in the series
Ratchet and Clank has become a something of a comfort food for me, each new iteration beaming with the same warm welcoming characters, the simple utterly enjoyable gameplay. Every new game bringing a new galaxy spanning adventure, evolving just enough and retaining the same entertaining world and humor. Insomniac’s latest episode in the venerable series is everything I wanted it to be, and is undoubtedly the most complete and meaningful of the series.
Separated at the end of the last game, Ratchet still searches for the location of his lost partner; Clank having been taken to the great clock by the Zoni at the behest of series villain Dr. Nefarious. The story is classic cartoon adventure fair, as Ratchet hunts for clues, and Clank attempt to unravel the mysteries of the great clock. It doesn’t stray too far from series tradition and remains very light and exciting throughout. Only nearing the end does the story begin to show a touch more meaning than I initially expected. Both Ratchet and Clank come face to face with their past, havening long searched for his people Ratchet must balance his partnership with Clank and his desire to save his own kind. Clank himself desires for a link to his own creation and purpose, the symbiotic team of Ratchet and Clank is threated. I was quite surprised as the story neared it conclusion, growing into something much more than its predecessors. Told both in game and through frequent and highly impressive pre rendered movies; bordering on Pixar quality animation.
All the great platforming and shooting gameplay has returned, it toke me all of 8 seconds to master the easy fluid controls. Combat is fast and completely satisfying; once again the creatively insane weapons take center stage, each being fully upgradable, and some using the new mod system allowing user customizable upgrades. Shooting is simply fun, each crazy new device fitting into a required niche, from saw blade launching guns, to the always dependably groovatron, there is a gun for everyone and every situation. Ammo is always in just short enough supply to force a constantly changing armament, allowing for more experimentation in firearm tactics. Action segments are broken up with quality platforming, from hovershoe racing and rail grinding, all as solid as is to be expected.
Sequences played as Clank on the other hand have added a few new time based skills. Clank can slow time allowing for platforms to be surmounted or projectiles avoided. Some extremely enjoyable time based puzzles make up the most of Clanks adventure, providing quite a bit of challenge as Clank copies himself to preform task concurrently. Recording your movement and playing it back as a copy attempting to coordinate with your past and future selves. These puzzles are great fun and later on become very perplexing with four version of Clank all having to work together. Overall the puzzles are fantastic but are for too infrequent.
Between missions Ratchet fly’s the galaxy in his starship, there are many moons to explore, and side missions; aiding other ships in distress or other odd space jobs. The flying is a bit to simplify for its own good, perhaps adding full 3 dimensional flight would have been asking too much, for a game with as many different gameplay types, space flight lacks the level of polish present in other sections.
A visual feast for the eyes with environments filled with vivid, explosive color. Every world is brimming with character and life. Massive worlds and vistas are a beauty to behold, water and smoke effects look great, with a very cartoony style. During large scale battles the sheer number of onscreen effects is at times overwhelming, from hundreds of bolts drawing to ratchet; each casting a show, to every matter of brightly painted opponent and weapon fire. So bright and rich, it is quite a thing to see in action, never once anything but silky smooth.
Year after year Insomniac as proven once again to be supremely reliable, how they can pump out an expertly crafted game every single year without fail is beyond me. Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time is the best Ratchet yet; some surprisingly deep story elements, moments of genuine humor, and more fantastic weaponry put it at the top of its class. There is something hard to explain about playing a Ratchet and Clank game, a simply underlying feeling of amusement. Pure fun, an absolute joy to play from beginning to end.
