I have never played the Ratchet & Clank games before so when I saw that I could get the first game for free with my Playstation Plus I got it to try it out. The game introduces you to a cute Lombax known as Ratchet and shows you a tutorial as you go on how the gaming controls work. You start out with only two weapons, an omni wrench which is your melee weapon and a bomb glove which launches grenades. The game also sets up the story for you; showing a little robot named Clank running away from a Blargian businessman named Drek who is corrupt and trying to harvest inhabited planets in order to make new planets for his race the Blargs. Clank meets Ratchet when he crash lands on his planet and they become friends and the game goes from there.
There are several different planets to explore each with its own unique area. You have to fight various enemies such as the Blarg and killer warbots while trying to stop Drek from destroying the universe. The fights are fun and fast paced with some puzzles thrown in. They're not terribly complex, but a few of them are a bit challenging. It's definitely rewarding when you solve a difficult puzzle.
Ratchet is not the only one who does things. The gameplay and story itself is like a buddy cop game. Clank rides on Ratchet's back like a small backpack. There are some worlds with areas that only Clank can go. For these moments you get to play as Clank solving puzzles that involve tinkering with various robots that make bridges, jumping platforms, and batteries for the purpose of getting specific items or unlocking doors for Ratchet. The teamwork between the two works quite well in the game and adds to the fun.
The voice acting in Ratchet & Clank are well done and the design for each planet and level are beautifully detailed. It's hard to believe this was a PS2 game which shows just how well they did at remastering it for the PS4. Exploring every corner of each area is a good idea because it offers unique rewards like collector's cards and specialized items for both Ratchet and Clank. There are levels that are designed for some of the new tools and equipment you get so this adds to the exploration fun as well. There are various space battles too and while there is a bit of a learning curve with them, they are still quite enjoyable very much giving off an excellent Star Wars space battle vibe.
There are some fun mini games in Ratchet & Clank also like hoverboard races which offer rewards such as extra money and collector's cards. The hoverboard races are a blast as you try doing different tricks while earning prizes. There are boss battles too of course and each one has its own unique style and rhythm. They're fairly straightforward, but they offer unique challenges and add to the story and fun of the game.
If you die in a level or fail a boss battle, don't worry. The game has an autosave feature and will start you right where you left off. I know I died quite a few times on challenging fights, so having that autosave was great. When you beat the game you can start over with a new game plus feature called challenge mode. This allows you to start the adventure all over again with all your weapons and upgrades. Be wary however because in new game plus the enemies have more health and are twice as difficult.
*Ratchet & Clank is available to play on the following platforms: Playstation 4
There are several different planets to explore each with its own unique area. You have to fight various enemies such as the Blarg and killer warbots while trying to stop Drek from destroying the universe. The fights are fun and fast paced with some puzzles thrown in. They're not terribly complex, but a few of them are a bit challenging. It's definitely rewarding when you solve a difficult puzzle.
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| Ratchet ready to take on warbots. |
Ratchet is not the only one who does things. The gameplay and story itself is like a buddy cop game. Clank rides on Ratchet's back like a small backpack. There are some worlds with areas that only Clank can go. For these moments you get to play as Clank solving puzzles that involve tinkering with various robots that make bridges, jumping platforms, and batteries for the purpose of getting specific items or unlocking doors for Ratchet. The teamwork between the two works quite well in the game and adds to the fun.
As the game progresses you get access to new weapons, weapon upgrades, and ammo which you can buy with bolts as currency. You can choose which weapons you want to use via an inventory wheel from the user menu. My favorite weapon was a robot named Mr. Zurkon because he wasn't just powerful with his lasers he was hilarious with biting one liners like, "Mr. Zurkon conducts a symphony of pain." When you fully upgrade Mr. Zurkon you also get his family Mrs. Zurkon and Zurkon Jr. and their one liners are just as hilarious. It is so much fun trying out all the different weapons and seeing what they do on your adventure.
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| Mr. Zurkon is one of the funniest and best weapons in the game. |
The voice acting in Ratchet & Clank are well done and the design for each planet and level are beautifully detailed. It's hard to believe this was a PS2 game which shows just how well they did at remastering it for the PS4. Exploring every corner of each area is a good idea because it offers unique rewards like collector's cards and specialized items for both Ratchet and Clank. There are levels that are designed for some of the new tools and equipment you get so this adds to the exploration fun as well. There are various space battles too and while there is a bit of a learning curve with them, they are still quite enjoyable very much giving off an excellent Star Wars space battle vibe.
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| Ratchet uses a zip line tool to get to an out of reach area. |
There are some fun mini games in Ratchet & Clank also like hoverboard races which offer rewards such as extra money and collector's cards. The hoverboard races are a blast as you try doing different tricks while earning prizes. There are boss battles too of course and each one has its own unique style and rhythm. They're fairly straightforward, but they offer unique challenges and add to the story and fun of the game.
There are some small technical issues with Ratchet & Clank such as the controls sticking a bit and the sound cutting in and out. These aren't a deal breaker, but when you're trying to win a boss battle the controls sticking are a little frustrating. It's a small thing so it didn't stress me out too much.
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| Ratchet and Clank take on a boss. |
If you die in a level or fail a boss battle, don't worry. The game has an autosave feature and will start you right where you left off. I know I died quite a few times on challenging fights, so having that autosave was great. When you beat the game you can start over with a new game plus feature called challenge mode. This allows you to start the adventure all over again with all your weapons and upgrades. Be wary however because in new game plus the enemies have more health and are twice as difficult.
Ratchet & Clank is a lot of fun to play with memorable characters, funny lines, and an interesting story. The game is a little short; about 10 hours if you don't get all the extra and about 20 hours if you do. That doesn't detract from how good the game is and I am glad I got a chance to play it as well as stream it because it was fun for everyone. See you at the next adventure!
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| Ratchet ready to save the galaxy. |
*Ratchet & Clank is available to play on the following platforms: Playstation 4
*I stream the games I love on Twitch. Come hang out with our community and say hi! https://www.twitch.tv/mothergamer
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