Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time Review
As a fan of every release of the Ratchet and Clank series, I was not surprised to find myself enjoying the traditional things in A Crank in Time that made the others so popular. Basically, the gameplay throughout each installment involves:
1. Lots of combat and cartoony over-the-top violence
2. Great jumping/platforming elements
3. Satisfying and constant rewards/secrets
4. Zany characters
5. Upgradable, interesting, and multitudinous, weapons
While each entry in the series sticks to this basic format, it seems that each has done something a little different to keep things from getting stale game after game. For example, the second game, Going Commando, offered some really fun races and space combat sequences that you could choose to enjoy and reward yourself with or mostly skip. I found myself playing these mini-games just for the fun of them long after the story no longer required it to be played. Up your Arsenal featured multiplayer and drivable vehicles that stayed true to the wacky cartoony nature of the game, but still nailed it with the destructive satisfaction of blowing stuff up.
With A Crack in Time, the story continues where Tools of Destruction left off with a intro movie to get you up to speed if you missed the previous titles. You were left with a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of the last game and this one answers everything. Actually, this is really the only entry in the series in which the story is a direct sequel to one previous. The other games were all separate adventures and could more or less be played in any order, although you would miss out in comic references to other events, recurring characters, and anecdotes, but otherwise would be fine. The story is a little deeper as well. You are now getting into more details about where you and Clank came from and the fate (or destiny) of the Lombax race. The developers seem to be moving into some deeper material here.
My only complaint about games through the series is that while they retain some recurring characters that we all love, sometimes other interesting characters from previous games don't make an appearance at all. For example, In Tools of Destruction, you are told that you are the only Lomax left in existence, however in a previous game; there was a female Lombax, Angela Cross, who was a pretty cool character. She inexplicably never appears again in the series. Captian Qwark more than makes up for this, however. He redeems himself fully in this title. Sure, he is still a coward that tries to take credit for everything, but you get the feeling that he is starting to realize it. He also helps you out much more this time around.
A Crack in Time dials in everything that made the other games so much fun, without question and finally adds trophies. Everyone should give this series a chance because the constant rewards, the non-frustrating yet so satisfying gameplay, and zany characters are all here in full force. There are clever puzzles in which you can use time devices to create other selves to help you push buttons to open doors. We have generous use of the grindrails traditional to the series which are fast and furious linear where you skate around from place to place, usually while you are being chased down. Space combat is back and they did a decent job with it. One complaint is that you cannot move vertically, but the areas to offer a decent variety and beautiful backgrounds and allow you to land on all the moons in each system hunting for hidden items and other things. They made it more sandbox-like in that you can either fly around aimlessly or decide to stop and get some side missions. These areas are all completely optional and you can come back to them any time. While doing so, you have access to several radio stations that, even after 2 play throughs, I was still hearing newscasts, interviews with Captain Qwark and music that I had not heard before. Pure polish.
Clank has always been your pal and he can pull his own weight when not attached to your back which is good because a large part of the game involves Clank not stuck to Ratchet's back, but rather dong his own thing. His elements are much different from the Ratchet portions of the game. Clank is less combat oriented and his levels involve more platforming and puzzles. He is a good character and his sections are a fun distraction from the comic mayhem going on with Ratchet.
The real robot in this game is Mr. Zurkon. Mr. Zurkon was featured as a limited use gadget in ToD, but is now an equipable weapon that can upgrade over time with the rest. He is basically a deployable sadistic killer robot that will constantly taunt your enemies and laugh at them when they explode. He has plenty to say and always has your back. He loves to kill things and listening to him is hilarious. These are the polished touches you can expect with this game.
Without spoiling anything, the ending of the game was probably the most epic among the stories told so far. When a game can bring a tear to my eye and a smile to my face, the game definitely deserves to be recommended to others. I can't wait for the next one!
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time Feature
- New space gameplay that gives players the opportunity to engage in space battles, explore the surrounding star system, and discover hidden items and collectables.
- An original new adventure and story that answers many of fans' most-asked questions and wraps up the story arc that started in earlier games, 'Tools of Destruction' and 'Quest For Booty.'
- Non-linear levels with plenty of hidden areas to explore, and new gadgets like the Hoverboots that let Ratchet soar to new heights.
- All-new Clank gameplay and special "Time" abilities that bring new meaning to "past selves," and multiple personalities.
- The series' renowned arsenal gets even larger with brand new weapons, as well as weapons that players can customize with various modifications.
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time Overview
Concluding the events set into motion by Tools of Destruction, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time will at long last answer some of the franchise fans' largest questions. After discovering that Clank's disappearance was engineered by Dr. Nefarious, Ratchet races to rescue his best friend. Unfortunately, he discovers that Clank's capture is just the beginning of Nefarious's latest diabolical plot. In this follow-up to the best-selling series, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time puts players into the role of both Ratchet and Clank as they attempt to reunite and save the universe. Along the way, both will finally uncover the hidden truth behind their origins, and discover their ultimate destinies. As the duo come closer to reuniting, they'll have to ask themselves the biggest question of all: Do Ratchet and Clank’s destinies lie with each other? Or is it finally time for the universe's greatest duo to separate for good? Powered by Insomniac Games' fourth-generation PLAYSTATION3 system technology, A Crack in Time will continue to bring the experience of playing your own CG-animated movie to the PS3 system. Players will use new gadgets such as Ratchet's Hoverboots to explore levels and can take off in Ratchet's ship to discover nearby moons and planets. Clank will use new abilities to manipulate time to try and stop Dr. Nefarious.
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time Specifications
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is a single player platform shooter that reunites Sony's famous space age duo for another comedic romp through the universe. The final game in the Ratchet & Clank Future sub trilogy, A Crack in Time answers many questions raised in the previous two games in the sub series, and introduces addictive and challenging new puzzle-solving Clank gameplay.
Concluding the events set into motion by Tools of Destruction, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time will at long last answer some of the franchise fans' largest questions. After discovering that Clank's disappearance was engineered by Dr. Nefarious, Ratchet races to rescue his best friend. Unfortunately, he discovers that Clank's capture is just the beginning of Nefarious's latest diabolical plot. In this follow-up to the best-selling series, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time puts players into the role of both Ratchet and Clank as they attempt to reunite and save the universe. Along the way, both will finally uncover the hidden truth behind their origins, and discover their ultimate destinies. As the duo come closer to reuniting, they'll have to ask themselves the biggest question of all: Do Ratchet and Clank's destinies lie with each other? Or is it finally time for the universe's greatest duo to separate for good? Gameplay: New Time-related Abilities and More As with previous Ratchet & Clank games the action in A Crack in Time is a blend of platforming, shooter scenarios and puzzle-solving. Seeing as the premise of the game is that the constantly impending rescue of Clank by Ratchet, action naturally toggles between the scenarios that both find themselves in separately. Playing as Ratchet players engage primarily in a mix of exploration and comic shooter style gameplay that occurs both on planetoids and on space ships throughout the gameplay area. As players come in contact with non-player characters (NPCs) they will often be asked to perform duties such as rescues, for which they will be given rewards that Ratchet can then use to purchase new weapons and items. Many of these weapons are brand-new to the Ratchet & Clank franchise and can be upgraded and moded throughout the game for maximum impact against the run-of-the-mill enemies that cross your path, and of course the inevitable bosses faced. The lion's share new play elements in A Crack in Time are seen in its Clank gameplay though. A blend of self replication and time manipulation, Clank's new abilities are revealed in an early level in the game in which players are able to peer into Clank's memory. Here they meet Clank's maker, Orvis, and see that Clank has access to two hidden abilities/items: limited physical self replication and the Chronoscepter, which helps Clank to both fix broken items and slow down time. With regard to replication, mechanisms called "Time Pads" allow players to record Clank as he performs calculated physical movements and actions. These can then be saved individually and later replayed in specific combinations in the presence of the real Clank to solve puzzles requiring extreme speed or that he be in multiple places at the same time. Similar in usage to this is the Chronoscepter which can be used against swift moving objects or enemies while platforming in order to get into positions which otherwise would be impossible to reach. Used separately as well as together these two make for new wrinkles in Clank's abilities to solve complex puzzles across 3D spaces and in evasion and combat of enemies. Key Game Features
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