Graphically, I love what Insomniac and SCEA have done with the series. It’s a huge step forward in a publisher and developer actually stopping and thinking that maybe doing to much to a familiar series might actually hurt it. I could give you several examples of companies that have hurt their series by improving the visuals and taking their fans completely out of love with them, but I won’t do it (Phantasy Star has scorned me!). Ratchet & Clank have always been playful and more cartoony. This hasn’t changed from their first game on the Playstation 2, their game on the PSP and it shouldn’t have changed it on the Playstation 3, thankfully it didn’t. You get the same wonderful characters who kids will love to control. You get beautiful vibrant colors and animation that could rival even Pixar itself — as it says on the back of the box — (not quite to the level, but close). What they’ve done to improve the visuals isn’t so much concentrated on the characters themselves (though they were improved, but not so much that you don’t recognize them anymore), but complete concentration was given to the environments around our two heroes. So instead of getting a very lackluster background, you’ve got activity and life brimming from every direction. For example, the first level is your home world. You’ve got to make through a very busy cityscape that is active with cars and trains and other characters trying not to involve themselves in your fight. It’s a complete constant stream of activity that will bring you, the audience, closer to the world that these two characters thrive in. It’s a perfect improvement. Add this to the fact the cutscene graphics slip smoothly into gameplay, without a single visual disappointment, and you’ve got yourself one pretty game.
Audibly, I think that the sweet sounds of enhanced 5.1 Dolby Digital really make the game even more intriguing. You can hear enemies around you, even when you change directions their sounds change direction with you. It’s quite the perfect combination of visual and audible candy. The music itself is good, but to be quite honest it isn’t very noticeable. What is also impressive is the amount of voice acting that went into the game. It is simply superb. Voice-actors, especially in videogames, don’t get a lot of credit for doing an outstanding job. Rest assure that you get good acting from Ratchet and Clank as well as from the supporting cast around them. Again, it’s just another element that really grips the audience and involves them more with the storyline.
With every good, there has to be a so-so
There are two sides to this so-so business regarding this game. First, the camera in this game needed just a bit more tweaking. Second, the length of the game is pretty short, especially when you get addicted to it.
The camera in Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction certainly is odd. It works for about 85% of the game, but there are times, roughly 15%, where it clearly works against you. There were a few times in the game where you start off at the beginning of a level and the camera is in wide-shot mode. It allows you to see your surroundings, but does a slow crane/zoom effect that only starts when you move your character. Of course, in most environments in the game, when you move your character you generally alert enemies of your whereabouts on the level. Before the camera can readjust itself you’re already knee-deep in action. What’s weird about this is that it only starts at the beginning of a level, never really during a level. It’s very odd and a bit annoying.
The length of the game is a bit on the short side. You’re looking at 7-12 hours of total gameplay, which of course doesn’t count the side-quests and the complete upgrades of weapons. It only counts the action. For most people who aren’t too attached to the series, this would be a fine amount of time. For those who are loving the series, this could be a disappointment. It doesn’t kill the amount of action that you get to go through, or the puzzles that you have to figure out (which can be trying at times), but it certainly can leave a player wanting more. This is the case with me.
Clanking to the end
I really loved Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. I loved it so much that I’m probably going to purchase the previous titles for my daughters (and future son). It’s got action, it’s got a clever weapon system and it’s got puzzles. Add those with the fact it looks gorgeous and it plays great, sounds great, and you can’t really go wrong. Outside of the wacky camera and short gameplay, this game is simply amazing and a must-have for any Playstation 3 owner.
Don’t forget to check this out, it’s worth it.
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