"Unfortunately, size does matter, but the UMD's size doesn't hold Ratchet and Clank back!"

I've always loved Ratchet & Clank. Ever since I got the first one, the installments got better and batter with each release. And Size Matters was just another good reason to get a PSP for me. Just like R&C 1, 2 and 3, Size Matters has gone back to the times before Deadlocked, where Ratchet wasn't confined to arenas and challenges, where you were in a universe full of bad guys just waiting to get their ass whooped.

Ratchet: Deadlocked was a bit of a disappointment - it was a good game, but it didn't have the adventure or story that th other installments in the series had, and that was a serious setback. Thankfully, someone is here to correct Insomniacs mistake - High Impact Games. And these guys delivered what we all wanted in the first place. It's not as in depth as the other ones, or as long, but they've stuck to the original Ratchet and Clank mold, and have given us a thoroughly enjoyable title to add the the Ratchet and Clank saga.

GRAPHICS: 8/10

I wasn't expecting big things from High Impact Games - it's their first Ratchet and Clank title, and it's on the PSP to boot! I know the PSP is powerful, but only for a portable console. I was expecting pixelation, fuzzy lines, little detail and a lack of background events, things that Insomniac is known for including in the Ratchet and Clank series. But I got a game with graphics and animation on par with my demands in a Ratchet and Clank game.

The graphics are on par for the PSP, but I've seen better (Tekken: Dark Resurrection, for example). There are issues, such as when the camera zooms in, you can notice slight pixelation in the object you're looking at, but don't let that throw you off - it's a problem with many a game.

The environments are very vibrant and full of colour and detail, but it's not as detailed and thought out as the PlayStation 2 games. They may not have as powerful a system to utilize, but the game felt a bit rushed where environments are concerned. They are so colourfult, however, that they seem a bit childish, a real downer when you consider that the game has guns in it.

The weapons and gadgets are also colourful, but it isn't as big an issue here. The weapons and gadgets look impressive and detailed, far more so than the environments. They show High Impacts better efforts in Size Matters.

The Characters are again lesser than their PS2 counterparts, but Ratchet and Clank look just as good as they ever did. The enemies could do with a bit of improvement, but they look alright, and there are many different kinds on each level, so you won't be killing the same enemy over and over again.

The HUD is lacking depth - the font is unusual, and High Impact have tried to go with a spacey futuristic HUD, and have really only half succeeded. It isn't as good as the HUDS on any of the Ratchet and Clanks to date, and High Impact lost big here.

SOUND: 8/10:

The sound in this game is very good, although it lacked quality - they seem to be in at a lower bitrate than the other games. However, it is to be expected - a UMD can only hold 1.8 GB, compared to a DVD that can hold up to 9.4 GB, but High Impact Games did their best with what they had and I am pleased with the result.

The sound effects are vast and plentiful, and are different for each enemy, weapon, gadget and environment all the weapons and gadgets sound different when fired, and the background animations are accompanied with appropriate sound effects to give a very full gaming experience.

The music is once again done by David Bergeaud, who has done the music for every Ratchet and Clank title to date, and yet again he hits the mark with the right music for every level. It is a very different style to previous installments, and like the graphics in the environments, is a bit childish, but I guess that's just to tie in with the graphics style used by High Impact Games. Don't be fooled though - when you're in a darker, harder level, the music will reflect this.

GAMERPLAY: 8/10

The one area of gameplay that bugged me was the control scheme - I couldn't help but shudder in the fact that there was absolutely no way to change it. Having played R&C on the PS2 for so long, I was used to the shoulder buttons for strafing, and the right analog stick to control the camera. That hit me hard due to the fact I died something like 5 times on the first level alone.

But, it's not a complex control scheme for a newbie to adapt to. To a newbie, it would probably seem reasonable, and even smart, but hardcore fans and long time players alike will have some trouble in their first few plays.

In some ways, its better than the control scheme used on the PS2 Ratchet and Clank games, but worse in others, such as the fact that you can't move the camera to look up or down without going in to First Person Mode, which is difficult because you have to press the Select button, which is in a very awkward place to be used in a tight situation where you need to act fast.

That aside, the game is quite fun and enjoyable. You are usually faced with shooting enemies, and the combat system is only altered by the fact that you use the D-pad to strafe - a bit different, but it isn't any harder than using the shoulder buttons.

With that, the weapons system isn't changed too much from the previous installments. You gain experience by using the weapon, and it upgrades after you get enough experience. There are overall 8 levels of upgrades available to most weapons. The gadgets are also very fun to use, and most gadgets are used a lot - this was a problem in the previous installments, where you would get a gadget on the second or third last level, and only use it once or twice, before going in to Challenge Mode and losing it. it didn't seem like getting it at all once you realized.

The weapons themselves are unique, and are each used for different purposes. There are
machine guns, bombs, a rocket launchers, a sniper rifle, and some other unusual weapons.

Along with the main game, you can also attempt to collect Skill Points and Titanium Bolts, a return feature from the PS2 Ratchet and Clanks. You can also do Clank Challenges, Skyboard races and Giant Clank space fights. This is great as it brings back the awesome mini game system that mad Going Commando an awesome game, and although the mini games are a bit unusual in Size Matters, they are a lot of fun.

The game also comes with a multi player service (both Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure), so with all the side tasks considered this game is sure to last you quite a while, but not as long as it's PS2 counterparts.

OVERALL: 8/10

If you have a PSP, and like to shoot things, then this is the perfect game for you. I recommend buying it if you're a Ratchet and Clank fan, but you may only want to rent it if you're not sure.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/18/07, Updated 04/29/08

Game Release: Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (AU, 05/24/07)