Ratchet and Clank Review (2002)

Ratchet and Clank on the PlayStation 2 is a very special game to me, I grew up playing nothing but this game once upon a time. This game was conceived during a time when 3D platformer were still thriving, so Spyro developer Insomniac Games ventured out to create a new and fresh game for Sony’s new PlayStation 2 console. For this review I aim to be as unbiased as possible, nostalgia won’t be included in my judgement of this game. So without any further ado, lets begin.

The Story

The story in Ratchet and Clank is actually really unique. The base concept is that the Evil Chairman Drek has polluted his planet so that his kind has to find a new home to live on. The sole reason as to why he did this was for some hard cold cash. So he is basically EA… For a game from 2002 and the fact that it is a platformer, it is quite different from the norm. As for the main characters, you have Ratchet who is all alone on the Planet Veldin when suddenly, a ship crashes onto the planet. This is where he found Clank, a defective robot from Dreks robot production plant.

Ratchet and Clank are an excellent pairing. However during the story you will get to know the “arsehole” side of Ratchet. Later on in the game him and Clank fall out which leads to countless cutscenes where Ratchet is just being a giant arse… Which can get annoying after a little while because you just want to punch the stupid cat thingy (He’s actually a species known as a Lombax).

Apart from these little annoyances, the story in this game still holds up to this day and it is really enjoyable. The story is certainly a lot grittier and “edgy” than the latest PS4 remake of the game. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing as this games story really does have a charm with it and the game is an enjoyable experience because of it.

The Gameplay

The gameplay is a mix between your standard 3D platformer and a third person shooting game. While compared to future installments, this game is certainly basic in the gameplay department, but I want to be as fair to this game a possible so I won’t be comparing to future games. The gameplay starts a simple when you begin the game, you are literally whacking frogs with your trusty wrench, then as you go along the gameplay continues to build upon itself. With such additions as more weapons and a helicopter upgrade which allows you to hover while Clank is on your back.

In some sections of the game you get play as Clank on his own, but usually these sections of the game are slow and tedious and you just want to get them over with. The gun play in Ratchet and Clank is certainly a mixed bag. Sometimes it's great and then sometimes you just wanna hate it with a passion. The one MAIN problem with gun play in this game is the fact that you cannot strafe, this makes heavy combat situations really difficult and clunky. But the weapons in this game are great fun to use and are also really creative in their own right, if there was strafing in this game then it would be so much better.

The platforming in this game is top notch, although it isn’t perfect. The only negative I can really think of is that Ratchet has tank controls in the original game which can make landing on small platforms troublesome, including the fact that Ratchet feels like he’s on ice most of the time. But apart from these small things the gameplay feels great and was just a slither of the greatness yet to come…

The Visuals + Level Design

For its time, the visuals in Ratchet and Clank are incredible, especially if you play this game using an emulator or via the PS3 HD Collection. The art direction is great and every level is just a great thing to look at. However there are some rough edges around the visual style which can make it look bad in this modern day gaming but it still holds up quite well. The UI and HUD in this game are also very unique and look great.

The level design in Ratchet and Clank is definitely one of the games highest points. Every level goes out of its way to feel unique and different. Every other level introduces new level mechanics and enemies for you to try out, the game constantly refreshes itself with every advancement the player makes towards the end game.

The Soundtrack

The soundtrack in Ratchet and Clank sounds really good and suits the worlds that it is used in, the game uses very atmospheric tracks which really brings out the creepiness of some levels. And then you get some tracks which are very upbeat and just encourages you to push on in the level. Overall the soundtrack suits the game very well.

Has It Stood The Test of Time?

And for the final part of this review, I’m going to discuss if the game has aged well enough to played by modern day games, and to be it bluntly, no. The game is incredible basic when compared to gaming standards today, if only the gameplay was more polished then my answer could be different.

Verdict

Overall Ratchet and Clank is a really good game, it's the framework which would bring many other incredible games with it. It is mainly just the gameplay which stops from gaining the glory which it deserves.

7/10 - Good

Pros:

Unique Story

Gameplay

Epic Soundtrack

Cons:

Slippery Controls

Clank Levels

No Strafing

Arsehole Ratchet

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