Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

"Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters, despite going from the consoles to its handheld counterpart, holds up very well with the rest of the series."

I remember one of my favorite titles on the Playstation 2 being Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando. While it didn't really redefine the shooting or platforming genre, it put the two elements together and it made for a very fun experience. Since then the series has become quite a success, and has gone to the Playstation 2, 3, and in this case, the PSP. So, you might wonder, how does Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters, stand up to the rest of the series? Quite nicely, though not without it's flaws.

Ahh, some vacation time!

Size Matters starts off with Ratchet and Clank just chilling out on the beach, getting some R + R after saving the world again. However, it doesn't last long after a little girl comes up, asking for Ratchet to show off some of his moves on the local robots and wildlife. After she gets her pictures, she is kidnapped, which effectively puts an end to R + C's short vacation, and sets you off on an adventure.

The plot, for the most part, isn't bad. While it won't surprise you in any way, it still keeps you going, and you learn more about Qwark's parents as well. Overall, it doesn't really add to the experience a ton, but it doesn't detract from it either. While this was developed by High Impact Games as opposed to Insomniac, the script is still very well done and some parts will make you laugh.

Wrench? Check. Guns? Check.

Of course, what has made the Ratchet and Clank series so special is its crazy weapons and fun game play. Size Matters is no exception to that. The controls hold up surprisingly well on the PSP. Pretty much everything works as intended; you use the analog nub to move around, and when you're using a gun, you use the control pad to strafe, and use the L and R button to move the camera in the direction you want. It sounds more complicated than it actually is, and it takes no time getting used to it, plus the lock-on mechanic is done very well.

Even without a second stick and lack of the L2 and R2 buttons, all the controls are here and work. For instance, to crouch, you hold L and R and press X, and to do a forward lunge, you hold those three buttons in and tap the stick forward.

While everyone does work as intended, it doesn't go without flaws. Sometimes the controls can be a little erratic, though generally they work pretty well. I guess this was expected, but at least it's kept to a minimum.

Holy crap! I turned him into a cow!

One of the more prominent features of Ratchet and Clank has been the creativity of the weapons you use, and while this game has less, they're still a lot of fun to use. From your average handguns, to the Bee Glove, and even the Mootator (yes, you can make your enemies into cows), it's just a lot of fun to use all the different types of weapons. The only one I personally didn't like was the Suck Cannon, but even that isn't terrible.

Jumping, shooting, racing oh my!

These are the three main types of game play in Size Matter, and the first two, as mentioned before, work quite well. Racing is another story. As Ratchet, you can get into Hoverboard races and earn goodies like bolts and other things, but it's pretty terrible overall, and I think High Impact Games realized this and made the AI dumb to the point that the only way you could lose is if you crash a whole lot. It's entirely pointless, and this game could've done without it.

The little Clank missions aren't so bad. The Arena is pretty fun, and the space missions work out pretty well too. There really isn't anything bad to point out about this.

Oooh... Pretty explosions!

Ratchet and Clank has always been exceedingly beautiful to look at. The PS2 games looked great, and Size Matters on the PSP is no exception. They really pushed the PSP to the limit with this game, with all the enemies that can appear on screen, and everything looks beautiful, and apart from one section, there was no slowdown at all. The environments for the most part are nice looking, the weapons all have nice effects to them, and the enemies, while not very varied, look nice enough. It's amazing just how good this game looks, and it stands proudly alongside its PS2 brothers.

Sound check

The sound also holds up nicely. The voice actors are good and fit their characters very well. Pretty much everything sounds like it should. The music isn't terrible, but it isn't anything memorable either.

Let's do that again!

Size Matters is like its PS2 counterparts in that it offers pretty much the same replay value. After you beat the game the first time, you can play through Challenge Mode, which allows you to start the game over with all your weapons, earn way more bolts, and keep going in that fashion, albeit on a higher difficulty scale. It's definitely a lot of fun making your weapons out, so it's worth it.

Furthermore, you can get all the Titanium Bolts, which are used for new skins on Ratchet, and Skill Points, which you earn for completing specific events on each planet, and you can use them for different cheats, some just for appearance, some beneficial. Overall the replay value is quite high, and gives people a reason to play after beating the game.

The only real knock is that the game is so short. You could potentially beat this game within four hours or so if you don't try to get all the Titanium Bolts and Skill Points, but considering all the things you can do after you beat it, it's not too bad.

THE END

Ratchet and Clank: Size Matter, is really a lot of fun. While the transition from the PS2 to the PSP wasn't a total success, it still works well enough to the point that you won't notice a ton of difference. If you didn't like Ratchet and Clank on the PS2, chances are this game won't change your opinion. However, like me, if you loved those games, then this will be a very good addition to your PSP library.

Pros
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-Story is pretty good
-Game is still as fun as its PS2 brothers
-Graphics are nice
-Great replay value

Cons
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-Game play CAN be erratic at times
-Racing is crap
-Only about four hours long

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/20/09

Game Release: Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (US, 02/13/07)