Sony's cranked out a fair share of mascots in its day, but few have staked their claim on the action-adventure genre quite like Ratchet & Clank. Indeed, where there be acts of wanton destruction, wild and wacky weaponry, unique gameplay and cheeky sexual references, there be everyone's favorite Lombax and wise-crackin' robot.
So what exactly is a Lombax? Think Crash Bandicoot - only less of a wuss and more likely to give the keynote address at an NRA convention. Also think of it as one of the best things to happen to the PSP since, well, Sony's other furry platformer. Made up of former Insomniac Games members, High Impact Games has taken everything that's worked well with the Ratchet and Crank series, mixed in a few new elements and crammed it all into a highly enjoyable experience. The result is a title that's a blast to play but ultimately comes across as a collection of Ratchet & Clank mini-games. That said, a more appropriate title would have been Ratchet & Clank: Stuff That Worked Really Well in the Past Few Games Plus a Few New Cool Ideas to Hold You Over Until a Next-Gen Release. But to be fair, I guess 'Size Matters' was a better fit on the case..
In this, their fifth outing, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters pits the pair against an ancient race of pint-sized Technomites who've picked the duos' well-earned vacation as an appropriate time to launch a galaxy-wide Armageddon. Toss in a few twists and turns plus the obligatory Quark storyline and you've got a timeless tale of family, friendship against all odds and what it really means to be a hero.
Just kidding – it's pretty much another excuse to blow crap up.
Off-the-wall weaponry, big explosions and tons of collectibles have always been trademarks of the series and R&C:SM strays very little from this path. Players will once again lead a one-Lombax army across multiple planets, space instillations, advanced civilizations and (in an interesting change of pace) into both Ratchet & Clank's respective heads.
Whereas other sequels have a nasty habit of stripping you of previous spoils, R&C:SM equips players with a handful of the more ingenious gadgets like the Hypershot, Gravity Boots and shrink ray from the start. Not only is this a nice move for veterans, but it's also a great move for gamers in general as it opens the game up to inventive level designs and gameplay elements right from the get-go. In addition, High Impact Games has also managed to shoehorn a couple new devices into the mix such as the Polarizer and Sprout-O-Matic - each which end up being used at least a few times throughout the game.
Fancy gadgets aside, what's truly separated Ratchet & Clank games from other alien-thwomping fare in the past is its impressive (though sometimes useless) arsenal. Rest assured, R&C:SM has stuck to tradition and included many a means for some ESRB-sanctioned carnage. Expect the return of old favorites such as the Suck Cannon, Agents of Doom and devastating RYNO plus a whole whack of new items like the Bee Mine Glove, Sniper Mine, Shock Rocket and the Mootator (three points if you guess what that does). Suffice to say, there's more than enough ways to leave your mark; 13 to be exact. Factor in multiple evolutions per weapon, purchasable modifications and the expensive Titan versions of each, and its safe to say that Ratchet is packing some serious heat ... er, weapons ... packing some serious weapons. Heh.
Normally this amount of fire power is a good thing. I mean, how can it not be? If nothing else, Ratchet & Clank games are famous for their sprawling environments and endless cannon fodder – both of which have required ample ammunition and a virtual armory of equipment just to even the odds. Here, however, in a sequel that really only weighs in at about a fraction of those that came before it, R&C:SM's vast amount of weapons and gadgets feel a bit unnecessary and, dare I say it, like overkill.
Thankfully, High Impact games have balanced the fairly short platforming sequences with a carnival's worth of mini games and alternative modes of play. Some, like Giant Clank's space shooter sessions are integral to the plot while others like the Gadgebot Toss matches and Destruction Derby rounds can be completed if and when the mood strikes. For better or worse, your AI opponents have the combined intelligence of a Furby so don't expect much in the way of difficulty. Choosing a favorite is difficult as most mini-games have just the right amount of rounds to keep you interested, but not enough to leave a lasting impression. Still, if someone were to put a pair of double barreled Lacerators to my head, my pick would be the Gadgebot survival game – if not for the old-school lemmings style gameplay, but for the simple fact that it offers the most challenge out of the bunch. That and watching little robots explode has also been a thing with me.
Then of course there's Ratchet's hoverboard challenges which are easily the most fleshed out side-games of them all and reminiscent of the longer more difficult races that have become a series staple. If you've yet to launch PSP across the room in frustration, this may be a good time to invest in a wrist strap. Wonky controls and cheap crash zones make for a frustrating and slow ride. While players will only really have to play but one of these to progress, the more sadistic gamers can stretch out the experience with 2 different tracks each with a handful of races.
All in all, R&C:SM's diversions are nice breaks in the action. It's only by mastering each and every last one that one will complete various armor sets and score the skill points required to unlock a treasure chest of cheats. Decipher and attain all of these points and gamers will be treated to a virtual museum of High Impact games – a worthy reward, but just barely worth the multiple replays it takes to achieve.
Given the sheer bulk of items to manage, games to master and actions to control, R&C:SM could have easily been a monster to play – especially on the PSP's less than stellar control set-up, Thankfully, High Impact games have done a stand-up job of optimizing the nub-less system's set-up. Switching weapons is handled easily via the triangle and shoulder buttons while pulling off some of the Ratchet & Clank combo requires only a slight bit of finger gymnastics. Strafing (a necessity in most situations) can be either assigned to the directional pad or set up as the default maneuver on the analog nub. Granted, some of the more advanced tactics require a little practice, but you'd be surprised what getting shot in the face a dozen times in one minute does for motivation.
Unfortunately not everything makes it out without a scratch and while R&C:SM cleans up in the running, jumping and obliterating category, its camera system leaves a lot to be desired. Granted, keeping up with the topsy-turvy level designs can be a challenge, but nothing ruins a nice stroll in the battlefield than a camera that seems more interested in filming the side of a mountain rather than the action right in front of it. As one can guess, this can be troublesome for the many sequences that require spot-on jumping or precision aiming. To be fair, a quick trip to the 'option' screen can change the camera to either 'follow' or 'active', but in the end, both feel like 'broken' and 'distracted'.
What you do see of the game is bound to impress. Sure there's not as much to see as previous incarnations, but High Impact has achieved high-fidelity when in terms of porting the series' flare for enemy designs, colorful environments and fancy explosive effects. What's more, R&C:SM's chugs along without any slowdowns despite the odd occasion when the on-screen action gets a little hairy.
All in all, I never thought I'd admit this, but size does matter and Ratchet & Clank's latest adventure will no doubt leave fans wanting more. Don't get me wrong; it's nice when the PSP gets a little star-power, but what could have been a full-fledged performance feels more like a cameo. Nevertheless, R&C:SM's mix of platforming action, entertaining cast and an abundance of mini-games makes it an honorable addition to the series.
WHAM! Rating: |
8.1 out of 10 |
ESRB Rating: |
E 10+ (Everyone 10+) |
Official Web Site: |
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