A perfect ending to a great series.
The Ratchet & Clank series has long been a model of excellent action-platforming. With the exception of the lackluster Ratchet: Deadlocked, all the Ratchet games have featured a perfect mix of exploration and intense action sequences, capped off with great characters and hilarious dialogue. The follow-up to 2007's Tools of Destruction (and the downloadable episode Quest for Booty), a Crack in Time opens with Ratchet still searching for his robotic friend Clank, who has been missing since the end of TOD. Players switch control between the duo during the course of the adventure, all leading up to a great conclusion of to the current plotline, while leaving just enough room for continuing adventures.
Ratchet's segments stick close to the formula established by previous installments, as a mix between light platforming, high-octane firefights, and space exploration. The weapon choices in the game are just as excellent and satisfying to use as always. Choices range from simple dual laser pistols to the Groovitron, a disco ball grenade that compels enemies to dance. Leveling up of your arsenal is done simply by using different weapons, encouraging varied strategies for battle. Unlike past installments, none of the weapons you receive seem boring or unhelpful to use. As far as space exploration goes, all ship segments are controlled on a flat 2D plane, making controlling the vessel far less complicated than in the past. My only qualm with these parts is that a lot of the side missions in space feel repetitive, but they're worth doing for the extra cash.
Clank's gameplay consists of some great puzzle segments that ended up being my favorite part of the game. These puzzles all consist of learning how to manipulate time to press various switches to open doors to the next area. There are recording pads in each room that give you 60 seconds to record your actions. To progress, you must work with these recordings of yourself to move around obstacles and get to the next area. These segments never get too hard, and there is always an option to skip the current puzzle if need be. You will not recieve the cash bonus from finishing the puzzle if you skip it, but it's a nice option put in to avoid game-ending frustration.
The game lasts around 10 hours, and lets you go back to finish any extras you missed during your playthrough. Extra difficulties and a special challenge mode after you beat the game add tons of replay value. A Crack in Time succeeds on nearly every level, making it the best Ratchet & Clank game, and a must-have for any PS3 owner.
