Official Website

Platform: PlayStation 2

Genre: Action

Number of Players: 1

What do robots, intergalactic weapons, and chickens all have in common? Well, nothing normally, but everything in the world of Ratchet and Clank, latest entry into the ever-growing 3-D platform market. But, f you think that it’s going to be just another platform game, think again. Insomniac Games has spent the better part of three years working on this title, and the end result has been nothing less than spectacular. What do expect though from the same company that brought you that lovable dragon Spyro?

A long time ago, in a galaxy far . . .

Wait a minute. Let’s try that again. The last thing I want is the suits from Lucas Film pounding on my door because of copyright infringement.

Somewhere in a forgotten solar system lives Ratchet (a lombax) who happens to have the fortune (of misfortune is you ask him) of finding Clank, a tiny robot that escaped for the factories of the vile Chairman Drek. You see, Drek has polluted his planet (Orxon) and he and his people (the Blarg) have come up with a plan: they have schemed a way to make a new planet, using the most desirable pieces from other existing planets. Clank is trying to find a savior to stop Drek from making this patchwork planet, and he convinces Ratchet to take him to find Captain Quark, galaxy super-hero and spokesperson for many a franchise. However, the two will soon learn the Quark has switched sides, and Ratchet and Clank soon find themselves as quite possibly the only hope to stop the annihilation of the solar system.

It may sound like the typical reluctant hero and sidekick routine, which may immediately bring to mind other recent titles like Jak and Daxter, and in fact Ratchet and Clank plays very similar to that title. However, Ratchet has so much more to offer in just about every aspect.

First off, R&C isn’t in some centralized location and in fact, there are plenty of planets scattered across the course of the game for you to explore. Most the of the levels are enormous, and there’s some amazing attention to detail and environment in each of them. For instance, a visit to the bustling planet of Kerwan places players in the city of Metropolis that, in many regardless, has some resemblance to what film buffs have seen in the Fritz Lang film of the same name. But high tech cityscapes aren’t the only type of terrain players will encounter, and with nearly 20 different locations to visit, you can expect to find planets chocked with pollution, space stations, forest covered worlds, and the ever popular ice planets each with their own unique hazards. One of the better graphics challenges comes however, once the player gets the magnetic boots. What these allow you to do is walk on a few metallic surfaces, and once you do, expect to see some great rotation going on, as well as a bit of disorientation.

The story progresses by the use of cut scenes that aren’t done in typical CG fashion, and blend in extremely well with the rest of the games graphics. Players will find or be given Infobots throughout the course of the game and these little guys hold a wealth of information. The cut scenes presented with them will are presenting in a fashion that resembles a television broadcast, and there’s plenty of humor contained therein, as well as from the occasional smart quips from both Ratchet and Clank. Once you get an Infobot, a new planet will become available on your map and you’re free to pay a visit. You can visit planets in any order once you know about them, and also return at any point, which becomes essential if you want to get everything that the game has to offer.

Platform games have come quite a long way over the past few years, and we’ve thankfully gotten away from just running, jumping, and smashing odd looking enemy with your butt. R&C brings many different game play elements to the table to create the ultimate game play experience. Of course, you have the standard 3-D platform play style, but there’s more than that. There are plenty of weapons and gizmos that can be picked up on way or another (we’ll cover the weapons a bit later) and aside from being able to run around in third person mode and create a destruction path, you can jump into first-person mode. Although you can’t run around like you could in other FPS titles, it does help tremendously with targeting some of those elusive and troublesome enemies.

It’s no real surprise when a racing mode is added to a platform game, but R&C has races that will immediately remind gamers of SSX Tricky. Obviously, your first task is going to be to get a hover board to get into the race, but once you’ve got that secured, you’re set. Pull of nose grabs, flips, and a few other tricks to build your turbo meter, and try and leave the competition in the dust. However, racing isn’t just a fun little extra, it’s essential to progressing farther in the game. There are also a few stages that offer up some flight simulated combat. These particular stages aren’t too tough, but definitely a nice change of pace.

Ratchet isn’t the only focus in the game however, and you know that Clank has his importance as well. There are instances where players take control of the little guy to help make life a little easier, especially in those places were lack of oxygen is a factor. Unfortunately however, Clank isn’t quite the powerhouse that Ratchet is, and he lacks the firepower of his friend. Enter the Gadgetbots, small robots that Clank can take control of and call in to help in times of need. Not only do these little guys fight when asked, they also help to open certain locked areas that are obstacles. However, a later planet does introduce us to Mecha-Clank, but sadly, eh doesn’t stay in that form.

Clank also gets various upgrades through the course of the game, but don’t expect to get these for free. Along the course of your journey, you’ll pick up bolts that can then be used for upgrades and weapon purchase. Clank can be upgraded first to heli-mode, later jet pack mode, and then there’s the nice underwater variation that allows you to swim against currents. Despite the fact that Ratchet and Clank don’t always get along or see eye-to-eye, having Clank along is an important.

What’s more important however are the weapons and extras that you’ll find scattered amongst the games various planets. You start out simple enough with just a simple wrench that can be used to bash enemies, or even to work some of the games mechanical devices. Each planet though has a Gagetron Vendor where you can buy new weapons including anything from a simple blaster, to a flame thrower, or even the Visibomb Gun, an extremely cool weapon that gives you visual control over the missile in a fashion similar to those seen in Metal Gear Solid. Of course, the most elusive of all weapons is the Morph Ray, which turns your enemies into chickens and the extremely expensive RYNO (Rip Ya a New One) a highly expensive little firearm that happens to be the most powerful weapon in the whole game. Weapons aren’t all you will collect however, and there are a number of gadgets that can be used. There’s a simple metal detector that allows you to find buried stashes of bolts, the O2 Helmet that will let you breath in polluted or underwater environments, and the trespasser (the greatest of all electronic lock picks.) With 36 different weapons and items, there are plenty of things to uncover through the course of the game.

Then there are the golden bolts that are hidden in the various stages of the game. Find these little beauties and you can purchase yourself a golden weapon that is merely an alteration of the games existing weapons. So, what’s the point of them? I’ll leave that one up to you to discover.

The controls for the game are fairly simple to master, and the game will give you hints and information along the way, so it never gets too complicated. The camera follows our heroes decently, although does have a tendency to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But, by using the right analog stick you can rotate tour view, which helps in some of those tight situations. Also, the game is fairly lengthy, and offers enough of a challenge that it can be enjoyed by just about anyone of any age. And, with the infinite life system in play, you don’t have the fear of wasting all your lives trying to get past a certain point and having to start over again.

There are a few set backs with the game though. You can’t save at any point, which is maddening at times, especially when you’re in a position where you really need to do essential things like go to work or even sleep. The cut scenes can’t be skipped either, and after seeing Ratchet fly through space so many times, it definitely gets boring, as does watching him and Clank get into and out of their ship. It’s just a minor annoyance but one that could have been eliminated.

Overall though, Ratchet and Clank is absolutely a phenomenal game a shows exactly what the PS2 is capable of when the right team of designers is brought in. With its blend of gaming style, sly wit, a fantastic appeal, it’s easy to see that this is going to become one of the next big platform franchises, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of this dynamic duo in years to come. This is definitely a top-notch game with everything taken to heart and gamers would do well to pick it up. There’s one word that comes to mind with Ratchet and Clank, and that word simply put is fun.

- mike -