Ratchet and Clank have entertained us for years, starting with their original adventure in 2002. Since then, they've gone through a remarkable transition on the PlayStation 3, starting with 2007's Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and continuing last year with the download-only Quest For Booty. Now it's time for the saga to end (for now, anyway) with Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time. As expected, it does so with an incredible bang.
If you haven't played Destruction or Booty, don't worry. A humorous interview with Captain Quark at the start of the game catches you up to speed. In a nutshell, fast gunning Ratchet and his robot pal, Clank, remain separated on opposite sides of the universe. Clank was kidnapped by a strange group of creatures known as the Zoni, that paired up with the villainous Dr. Nefarious. Ratchet's on a quest to find him, with the daring yet dorky superhero, Captain Quark, by his side. The story unfolds in epic fashion, with new worlds waiting to be explored.
You'll control both characters throughout the game. Ratchet still uses his trusty Omniwrench to activate switches and hit enemies, while also wielding a number of guns. Clank, on the other hand, uses a trophy-like scepter to whack bad guys and reassemble broken machinery, while also using other techniques provided by the masters of The Great Clock. If that isn't enough, you also fly around with Ratchet in his ship through an interactive universe. Here, you can aid ships in distress, fly into danger zones to shut down enemy stations and explore smaller planets in search of bonus items, including hidden Zoni and gun upgrades.
There are a few gameplay elements worth noting. Ratchet now has hover boots, which increase his speed. He uses them to get over ramps, grind along rails and hover to platforms he wouldn't be able to reach. He can also power-up his guns, changing their firing rate, trigger location and more.
Meanwhile, Clank's time bombs slow objects down, such as rotating platforms and enemies, to give him an advantage. He also has the ability to record and playback virtual clones to activate switches and doorways he couldn't reach on his own. Some of these puzzles get tricky, but don't be afraid to experiment. You aren't penalized for killing Clank's multiple selves.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Ratchet and Clank game if there weren't new guns to choose from. While most of them are effective in combat, the one we can't get enough of is the Sonic Eruptor. It's not even a gun. It's a fish-like mutant who belches sonic waves that destroy anything in their path. It's a lot of fun to use, and should you run out of ammunition, shop droids are usually nearby, accepting bolt currency for a refill. (You'll never run out of bolts. Everything you destroy coughs them up.)
If you're familiar with how previous Ratchet and Clank games look, then you'll find that A Crack In Time is up to form. It's stunning to watch, about on the same level as Disney's Pixar films. The animation is full of personality, from Captain Quark's overconfident gallop to the alien life forms scampering about each planet surface. Similarly, the environments were given plenty of attention, whether you're running around a traffic-laden city or a quiet (perhaps too quiet) jungle with tree branches and leaves waving about. The game also moves surprisingly fast, even when the screen overflows with smaller baddies charging at you from all directions.
Likewise, the audio is superb. Voice acting is top-notch, even with some of the lesser-used characters in the game. The music is just as good as previous Ratchet and Clank games, with a collection of likable science fiction themes. And the weapon effects? They'll rock your speakers, especially if you're using the Sonic Eruptor. (For once, it feels good to hear belching in a video game.)
A Crack In Time takes a while to get through, and space exploration will take a huge chunk of time as well. However, we're still slightly disappointed that Insomniac didn't consider adding competitive multiplayer. It worked so well in Up Your Arsenal on the PlayStation 2.
Finally, Captain Quark drives us bonkers. He always tries to portray himself as this brave superhero, but even smaller foes make him panic. "You win again, technology!"
Those minor things aside, we fully recommend Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time. It's a monumental space adventure you shouldn't miss, whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer. Insomniac wraps up the duo's space saga in style. We just hope to see more of them in the future. We can't get enough of these guys.
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