Ratchet and Clank PS4 Review

Ratchet and Clan the game based on the movie that’s based on the game. 

Ratchet and Clank is out this month on PS4 in all of its remastered glory and it looks beautiful.  From the get go on your adventure you are hurled into a wonderfully cinematic story which speaks to you like you were sitting in the movies.

Your journey starts off by introducing Ratchet, he wants to be a ranger to follow in the footsteps of his idol, however his dreams are crushed after he is told he simply doesn’t have the upper body strength to be a fully-fledged ranger with only his trusty Omniwrench 8000 at hand and not a muscle to be seen.  Soon after you meet Warbot Defect B5429 who was originally designed to be a robot of total destruction but has broken the mould from his blueprints and escapes the clutches of Drek Industries.  Warbot Defect B5429 if later found by Ratchet after crashing on his planet and warns of imminent danger to the planet and must inform Captain Qwark of the plans to attack their city.  Instantly becoming friends, Ratchet quickly helps to repair the poor robot and names him Clank. This is one of the many changes Insomniac games have made from the original, the needless rivalry here is gone and its fits the story so much better.

The planet is already under attack and you need to get a ship to find the Captain and warn him of further danger.  Battling your way through the plains and mastering the weapons and skills you pick up along the way, this third person adventure is so much fun and kept me chuckling to myself as I honed my controls. There is humour in games done badly but the rework of some of the dialogue to bring ratchet fully up to date speaks volumes for the effort made by the developers. The numerous attempts to break down the 4th wall is also something to be applauded. 

Make sure to find all of the nooks and cranny’s around the place and break all of the boxes that you find.  These contain nuts and bolts and are the games currency, allowing you to upgrade and purchase new weapons throughout your journey.  The nuts and bolts drop to the floor and spin towards you as if you are magnetised, stopping the need to pick up every last bolt. As you begin to unlock more and more powerups you not only get a busy and frantic screen but an appreciation of the ability the PS4 has to handle multiple particle effects on screen.

Becoming more aware of your surroundings and the skills you can use you will soon come across a place to purchase new weapons and upgrade the ones you have.  The mechanics of the game bring in a well crafted weapon skill tree, which allows you to keep increasing the power of your items and giving them special traits.  Be careful on what you purchase though as these upgrades will cost you a crystal currency and these are not so easy to come by.   The weapons you have the choice of are, of course, your trusty Omniwrench 8000, throwing grenades, grenade launchers and a large array of other items and upgrades.

Be sure to keep an eye on your surroundings as some of those crates should not be touched as they will explode! And as you explore the lands around you, enjoy the hilarious narrative, which will keep you smiling throughout the game.

“Ratchet Jumped and jumped… seriously, what’s with all this jumping?”

Keeping an eye out for secret openings along your journey will allow you to dive into deep waters using backpacks with propellers on and later flying through the sky with a jetpack.  Finding secret locations will give you the opportunity to collect Holocards, throughout the game.. Perfect for those completionists out there! In addition completing the game sees the return of the much loved challenge mode offering yet more replay value in a title that is available for just £30. 

With stunning visuals, an amazing storyline and constant humour throughout the game, I would recommend this to anyone, whether being newly introduced to Ratchet and Clank or if you’re coming back for the amazingly well done remaster.  Keep up on those collectables and increase the power of your weapons and you may just find that last Golden Screw.

A must have game for old and young alike.  Go out right now and get your hands on this beautifully funny game, you won’t regret it.

Ratchet and Clank was reviewed on PS4 with a copy provided by Insomniac Games.