Ratchet & Clank

"Like sci-fi stuff? Like to blow stuff up? Then Insomniac has the game for you!"

I never did like Mario, Crash, Spyro, or any other platformers of old. That is, until I played Jak and Daxter. I loved the games style and humor but never got around to buying it. Then I saw a preview for this game. It promised 30+ weapons, massive worlds, great graphics, and hilarious dialogue. I couldn't wait for Ratchet and Clank to come out. Does it deliver its promise? I can say without a doubt it has this and LOTS more, and is a serious contender for game of the year. Plus its a welcome break from all the Sly Daxter and the Bandicoot Sunshine platformer barrage right now.
''Can we get on with the review already!?''

Of course! Now I'll tell you just why this game is so amazing. So sit back, relax, and read on...

Graphics:
All I can say here is ''WOW''. The graphics are incredible, making use of every bit of the PS2's graphics chip. The characters are well animated, with little touches that make your jaw drop. Draw distance is not a problem, and you can generally see everywhere you need to go (provided you're high enough) in each of the game's MASSIVE worlds. Also, everything is PERFECTLY animated and smooth! NO ''jaggies'' or glitched cameras here folks, just pure sweetness.
10/10

Music/Voiceovers:
The voice-overs are outstanding here. Every cutscene is brought to life by the great voice cast. Ratchet has this ''yeah, whatever'' attitude and his voice really matches well. My favorite character is the weapons shop guy with his New York accent. Just keep the shop open and he'll say some funny stuff.
Music is..well..techno-ish. It's not the greatest. but it fits each planet's mood well.
9/10

Story:
Don't worry, this is spoiler free...
Your character is Ratchet, a cat-lion-marsupial...thing with a knack for repairing ships. Your little buddy is Clank, a robot on the run from an evil empire. Ratchet encounters Clank after he crash lands and the two set out to stop Drek and his alien robot minions from destroying the planets (that's planets, and there's a lot of 'em) to inhabit other worlds and save his dying planet. It might sound typical, but it is FAR from average with witty dialogue, cool twists, and main characters that actually SPLIT UP and you play as both individually sometimes. it's really cool. The one bad thing is that in the first half hour, the story is constantly changing location with brief clips of events in four places, but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment much. Overall, a hilarious story well worth experiencing.
9.5/10

Gameplay and Replay
Insomniac built the core of Ratchet's game engine around the Jak and Daxter one. Notice I said CORE because there's nothing similar between the two except furry heroes and alien enemies. But what really seperates Ratchet and Clank from the crowd is WEAPONS. I mean, in what other action/platformer can you use guided missles, tesla claws, flamethrowers,a dn even a ray that turns your enemies into chickens?! With around 35 weapons to purchase with the bolts (the currency of the game) you find, who needs jumping and fetch quests? Mind you, there is jumping required here, except in the form of Helipacks and Jet Boosters, and there's a few fetch-a-thons here.
I know what you're thinking..''But there's so many wepaons surely the game tells you what to use when.''
NOPE! The game is designed with the player in mind, so you can play the game the way YOU want to. Wanna rush in and attack with melee weapons? Go ahead. Wanna play it safe and snipe away? Do that too. There's no restriction on how to achieve the goals. It's this player-friendly engine that really adds to the enjoyment of the game. The smooth, simplistic control just backs up the greatness of the game. Plus, any game with level tutorials sounding like infomercials is high on my list. The only gripe is the camera in a few areas and Ratchet's traction seems a bit off. Of course these are minor gripes, but some people may complain, then get used to it later, like me.
9.1/10

Overall:
Ratchet and Clank is no doubt an awesome game. It has a few slip ups, but again, they're easily overlooked. Plus, if this review hasn't convinced you yet, you can get it NEW for $39.99. I see you jumping for joy in front of your computer....good. I wish I could give this game a 9.5, but I'll have to round down. And don't even think about asking ''Should I buy it or rent?'' because the answer is a resounding YES! It's the perfect game for fans of platformers, action games, FPS games and comedy.You won't be dissapointed! Buy Ratchet and Clank today! Gadgetron will thank you, and so will the galaxy!
Overall Grade: 9.4/10 (9 rounded to GameFAQS scale)

This has been a paid advertisment from Gagedtron Gadgets, copyright the author's imagination and Ratchet and Clank.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/21/02, Updated 11/21/02