Ratchet & Clank was developed by Insomniac Games and was released on November 4, 2002 for the PlayStation 2. This 3D platformer/shooter is jam-packed with content, boasting over 36 weapons and gadgets scattered throughout the game.
My first impression was that this was just a kid’s game, but I found out pretty quickly that it really doesn’t kid around. Maybe it’s just me, but beginning with planet Rilgar, they really upped the anti, and that’s still in the first half of the game!
Graphics
Regardless, let’s get into some of the specifics. The graphics are really colorful and smooth, and in my opinion still quite pleasing to the eye, even with the emergence of next-gen consoles. This game has some clipping issues and oddball errors, but at least I never got stuck and unable to continue. Not as polished as later games in the series, but still quite good.
Music
I have to admit; I really wasn’t much of a fan of the music when I first started playing this game. For the most part, it’s just an electronic beat with a few keyboard sounds thrown over top, and all in all really nothing memorable. That said, it still fits the game nicely, and there were a couple of standout tunes. It would have been nice to have some kind of mood music for the final boss, though.
Gameplay
The controls are nice and smooth. It would have been nice to have a second quick select screen for gadgets and weapons, but one could get by without it if they were determined.
As I said earlier, the game doesn’t really mess around, and it’s downright challenging at times. There are plenty of moments where even the R.Y.N.O. couldn’t save you, but you get used to the idea of having to perform perfect heli-jumps and swingshot leaps.
Conclusion
As we speak, I have yet to defeat the last boss (I’ve only tried a couple times), but I’ve collected all the gold bolts in the game. All in all, Ratchet & Clank is tons of fun and is jam-packed with content. I know I say this all the time, but I really appreciate a game that has a hours upon hours of gameplay. I highly recommend this game.
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