[Timgt5]

Ratchet and Clank Future Tools of Destruction.

Released: November 2007
Developer: Insomniac
Type: Action/Platformer
Genre: Science-Fiction
Platforms: PS3 Exclusive
Rating: E10

The Ratchet and Clank series on PS2 was part of the great triumvirate of Sony’s PS2 platformers (along with Sly Cooper and Jak and Daxter). Developed by Insomniac games this series provided deep gameplay, slick mechanics and great writing. Now Insomniac moves their great Platformer to PS3.

Highs: Pixar-Like visuals, smooth mechanics, great dialog and writing. Excellent Soundtrack, huge array of cool weapons and gadgets.

Lows: None really, this is the best platforming game, so far this generation.

The Plot: Our dynamic duo, the last Lombax, Ratchet, and his longtime little robot companion, Clank are making last minute adjustments to their hover car when the city comes under the assault of a massive armada. The armada is lead by emperor Tachyon, last of the evil Cragmite race who is out to bring back his race and exterminate the last Lombax (who were the enemies of the Cragmites and were responsible for making them disappear from the universe) Rachet and Clank escape Tachyon, and set off on a quest to stop him from bring the Cragmites back and save the universe.

The Game Play: Ratchet and Clank is a hybrid action game with RPG and Platforming elements. Ratchet is a Lombax, a sort of anthropomorphic cat with a lion’s tale and a great affection for all things technical. His companion, Clank, is a small robot who is Ratchet’s best friend. Clank rides on Ratchet’s back most of the game and provides Ratchet with the ability to reach difficult places, Clank has a built in Roto-Copter, Wings, and propellers for moving underwater. Ratchet’s primary implement is a large wrench which can be used as a club or to turn strategically placed bolts to operate various machines. As the game progresses Ratchet acquires more and more weapons and can upgrade them periodically at the “Quilnet” weapons shop found on every planet. As Rachert destroys enemies, they become “bots” which Ratchet can “buy” more weapons, armor and gadgets. The weapons are inventive and some are quite devastating. The gadgets are even more outrageous, my personal favorite is the “Grovatron” when this is tossed at a group of enemies a disco ball floats over the enemies and techno music plays, the enemies are compelled to do a thriller style choreographed dance which leaves them vulnerable to attack. I addition to jumping, blasting and finding boxes, the game makes extensive use of the PS3 sixaxis motion controller. One mini-game requires you to use the controller to move a circuit board around to open certain doors. In some areas Clank can leave Ratchet and do some solo adventures with his new found friends, the Zoni. In addtion to the other platforming elements, there are "on-rails" space battles as well. Overall the mechanics are executed very well with smooth movement, easy to use controls and effective use of the sixaxis controller all add up to fun gameplay.

Graphics and Sound: If you like the look of late Pixar Films such as Wall-E, UP and Cars, you will love this game. This game comes closer to matching those films than any other of a similar genre. The environments are simply gorgeous, colorful with fantastic visual effects and nicely scaled. The character modeling is a bit reminiscent of “The Incredibles” movie and works very well. The sound track is also excellent and the character voices are perfect. All in all the presentation here is simply miles ahead of Nintendo’s Mario Galaxy.

Kids Corner: Should be no problems here. While Ratchet is heavily armed, no actual character deaths are depicted. The enemy NPCs turn into “bolts” when destroyed. The game does not have fowl language or nudity. The dialogue is written for kids to understand and for their parents to have a few good chuckles, again reminding me of a lot of the better Pixar movies,

If you have a PS3 and like platformers grab this one!! It is a terrific game. It totally anihilates the Wii's Mario Galaxy.

Below is the intro scene: