Ratchet and Clank: It Made Gaming Fun Again

           

           Every three weeks I participate in this same awkward ritual, I sit on my couch, boot up a game, play it for a moment and quickly turn it off.  I do this about three times before turning to my roommate and complain about having nothing to play.  It has become this annoying cycle that is only occasionally broken by a certain game.  For a while The Division was the answer, until I lost faith in that typical MMO cycle.  The Witness held my attention for the game’s entirety, but for obvious reasons it lacked replay value. Since then I was longing for a game to grab me again, to really remind me why I am a gamer. Then out of nowhere I found Ratchet and Clank.

            I’ve always known about this game series, but I was a Ratchet virgin before this new reboot.  I bought this game on a recommendation (from Kinda Funny’s Colin Moriarty via PS. I Love You xoxo) and just as he declared, this is Playstation 4’s best exclusive.  There is something really special about Ratchet and Clank, while the game’s marketing has stated it’s a game based on the movie based on the game, it never feels like a remastered version of it’s 14-year old predecessor.  This game could have very easily been a rehash of the old game with just some nicer graphics.  Instead developer Insomniac went the extra mile (despite never playing the original, my roommate did and filled me in on what was there and what wasn’t) they remade and added to their already existing game.  They added new systems, like each weapon’s upgrade tree, they even parsed in a few extra missions and completely recreated the original story.

            According to my Ratchet and Clank guru the game begins in an entirely new way, with an extraordinary cut scene starring, my personal favorite character, Captain Qwark as he tells his side of Ratchet and Clank’s first adventure.  After watching just this scene I knew I was playing something very special.  It was like watching a Pixar movie and I was shocked as I started to control a character that was Pixar beautiful.  It’s a game that looks far better than anything I ever imagined, not only is every character precisely animated, each planet and little detail is something to be marveled at.  Along with the visuals the game’s writing is noticeably epic, it plays to both kids and adults.  It reminded me of watching Zootopia, where sure kids could laugh at the crazy animals and situations, but every little joke was crafted for people far older.  It’s a game I could sit with for hours and find something new to enjoy every thirty minutes.

            To me that is where Ratchet and Clank succeeds, it’s simply fun.  While every cut scene is beautiful and clever, nothing compares to the actual gameplay.  Insomniac has made a game that perfectly balances two genres: making a third person shooter fused with a 3D platformer.  Exploring the different planets is almost as enjoyable as an epic firefight.  Though nothing compares to shooting the endless hordes of enemies spread across each level.

            Every level is densely populated with enemies for Ratchet and Clank to obliterate.  This endless slaughter-fest is by far the most fun I’ve had in gaming in quite some time.  As with all other Ratchet and Clank games the true fun comes from the zany arsenal at the players disposal.  There are traditional blaster and rocket launcher all the way to a murder-hungry robot companion Mr. Zurkon that helps destroy enemies while spouting out hilarious one-liners.  My personal favorite weapon is the groovitron, a small grenade that makes any enemy (even bosses) dance uncontrollably for a short period of time.  That weapon tagged along with the powerful sheepinator, a gun that turns any enemy into a helpless sheep, quickly became one of my favorite gaming moments of the year.  The amount of weapons manages to make each level filled with challenging hilarious firefights that never get old.

            I think the reason Ratchet and Clank is a true gem is the amount of pure joy I felt every second I played it.  Despite the rare moments when you are forced in awkward ship combat or the few times you play at just Clank, it’s a game that has practically no downside.  It’s a game that leaves a smile on your face.  It’s stellar writing and zany gameplay make it a fun romp from start to finish.  Ratchet and Clank made gaming fun again, it made me feel like a kid that was just playing a game to have fun rather than a truly gritty experience that could change my life.

            I recommend what in my opinion is Playstation 4’s best exclusive as a must play.  Do yourself a favor and go have fun with Ratchet and Clank.