Review: Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time

The Ratchet and Clank series, debuting in 2002, has consistently provided high quality platforming with a heavy dose of humor.

Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time continues that tradition.

Ratchet, the last surviving furry Lombax, and Clank, his faithful robot
companion, again battle evil throughout the galaxy, although with a
twist this time.

The duo play separately, as Clank has been kidnapped by the Zoni, a
small, mysterious hive-mind species, and transported into the clutches
of the robotic Dr. Nefarious (who may not be a real doctor). Nefarious
has nothing but disdain for living things, which he derisively calls
“squishies.”

Ratchet, having discovered that his partner has been kidnapped, teams
up with the inept but photogenic Captain Qwark as they seek to rescue
Clank. This aspect of the game is what fans will easily recognize.

Ratchet travels to planets, utilizing a dizzying array of weapons to
solve puzzles, dispatch foes and gather bolts used to purchase new
weapons.

The distinctive weapons are really at the heart of the gameplay.
Besides the basic melee wrench and laser blaster, Ratchet uses an
attack belcher, a disco dance-inducing mirror ball, a rift-inducer that
allows a tentacled beast from another dimension to grab foes and other equally goofy weaponry
in his battles.

New to the series is Ratchet’s Hoverboots that speed the action along and are essential in many levels.

Ratchet also battles evil in outer space, piloting his spacecraft
between planets, with stop offs on small moons and asteroids, providing
even more puzzles and adventures. The Battleplex is always available,
where Ratchet can face off against hordes of enemies to gain abilities
and prizes.

Along the way, Ratchet gathers scattered members of the Zoni, much like
someone might snare fireflies. The more he gathers, the stronger his
spaceship becomes, enabling him to access new parts of the galaxy.

Meanwhile, Clank learns of his past and his place in the universe -
controller of the Time Clock – which was built by the Zoni to keep the
universe from ripping apart.

The Clank levels of the game make good use of the time theme. He
carries a Chrono Scepter that can be used as a weapon or to reverse
damage to parts of the Time Clock. He also carries Time Bombs that
temporarily slow time, giving Clank the advantage in battles and aid in
traversing fast-moving parts of the clock.

Clank can also use special time pads in key levels to record his
actions. By using the pads, Clank can perform several actions at once,
i.e. push two buttons at the same time, to complete levels. These
puzzles are challenging and require thought and planning.

Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time does the series proud,
offering the same top-notch gameplay with just enough innovation to
keep the Lombax and his buddy moving forward. May there be many more.

Platform: Playstation 3 Rating: Everyone Manufacturer: Sony Score: 9.5 “cool gadget” chilies