Name: Ratchet & Clank
Platform: Playstation 4
Style: 1-player Platformer/Shooter
Publisher(s): Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer(s): Insomniac Games
Release Date: April 12, 2016
Date of Completion: January 28, 2018
Along with their games, I have the utmost respect for Insomniac Games and their business ethics regarding teamwork and leadership:
“Insomniac Games focuses on maintaining its independence…Internally, the company’s developers are given much creative freedom. Uninvolved staff members can comment on the games’ designs.”
I swear if they connected with me after my graduation, I would have been going on my sixth year. Instead, I decided to take an alternate route as I have explained in the past. Even still, I will always have time for a game from Insomniac Games and Ratchet & Clank is my most recent completed game.
Let me start off by saying that this is the funniest game I’ve played to date. The tongue-in-cheek dialogue is something to appreciate, especially when it is done correctly. As a re-imagining of the first game of the series (Ratchet & Clank, 2002) that’s also based on the film adaptation, Ratchet & Clank basically improved upon already great system while, basically, reworking the storyline of the original.
See, the story revolved around the adventures of Ratchet and his newly befriended Clank being told by the imprisoned Captain Qwark. He counts the recruitment of Ratchet, his resentment of Ratchet “stealing his thunder”, his partnership with the game’s main villain to his path of redemption. And, because of time spent carefully developing the game, the storytelling was done flawlessly thus amplifying the charm tenfold.
As a platform/shooter, the gameplay mechanics are rather simple to master. You buy or acquire weapons for Ratchet via the shop or completing tasks, respectively. Then, almost immediately, you can upgrade them by a combination of Raritanium and frequency usage. Personally, I found myself enjoying the Proton Drum, Fusion Grenades, and the Combuster the most; it was great at my widen approach to dispatching enemies. Even better, you can even play as Clank on various parts of the games.
The only “problem” I had with this marvelous game was its main story takes only ten to twelve hours to beat. I mean…it’s to be expected from a platforming game. Luckily, Ratchet & Clank has ample replay value with the function to carry all of your acquired equipment from the previously completed game. In addition to this nifty little feature, you can further upgrade your weapon to a more powerful version of it -given you have the appropriate components (specific cards) to do so.
I’m going to give Ratchet & Clank a solid 10 out of 10 because of it’s easy to master controls, quirky weapons and immensely humorous dialogue and characters. Plus, the replay value and New Game+ option is an extra bonus.
