What people search:
 | Title : Ratchet and Clank
Author : Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date : 20021107
Binding : CD-ROM
Regular Price : $
Amazon.com Price : $34.79
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Editorial Reviews :
Forget about Super Mario Sunshine--this is the real superstar platform action game of the season. Featuring a pair of wacky robots in a quest to save the universe, Ratchet and Clank may offer the same old basic platform scenario--run around, elude or destroy enemies, jump, and negotiate treacherously dynamic environments--but it has a number of things going for it that place it among the best titles ever in this genre.
The feature that will strike you first is the terrific art direction. Set in a science fiction future, the game has a beautifully executed retro cartoon look (think old Warner Bros.). The attention lavished on every detail, from architecture to character design, makes for a world that feels complete and real. This extends to the cutscenes, which feature a variety of colorful characters given vivid life with excellent voice acting. Then there is the sheer size and level of interactivity of the environments. For me, a particularly stunning moment was when my character was knocked off a skyscraper, but instead of perishing, landed on a ledge and was able to seamlessly navigate to a whole separate section of the game. Another moment of truth came when I aimed my blaster at one of the vehicles whizzing by in the sky. These vehicles were just pretty wallpaper, I thought, but no, the thing blew up. In fact, nearly everything you see is destructible or responsive in some way: you can jump up trees, scuttle over walkways, smash boxes, and climb up ledges. And the control scheme is just complex enough to keep things interesting with multiple weapons and the like, without being bogged down by too many features.
While the routine of finding and destroying enemy robots may get tedious after a while, Ratchet and Clank keeps things interesting with the many metamorphoses of Clank (who takes on forms that surprise even himself), cool weapons like the Glove of Doom (which unleashes armies of tiny Clanks), and shifting first-robot, third-robot points of view.
If this game doesn't become the bestselling platform action game of the year, it will prove that nostalgia for old characters, marketing hype, and brand loyalty really are more important than quality.
Buyer Reviews :
...Insomnicac has been here for years. They've just been in hiding for a while. Luckily for PS2 owners, they've stepped back into the ring with a game that has a great chance at becoming the hallmark by which all future platformers are measured.
It's not just Insomniac's full usage of the PS2's polygon count and frame rate limits that make Ratchet and Clank a first rate platformer. Although, it might be almost as fun to watch someone play it as actually grabbing a controller yourself. It's looks THAT good, and will probably make it hard to play some of your current favorite games without wondering how much better they could have looked.
The other winning aspects of this game are in its design innovations, which come from years of trial and error - not just Insomniac's but the entire history of platform games, from Mario to Banjo Kazooie to Spyro, etc...
1. Variety - the sheer number of gadgets/weapons to be used in many different objectives, (a blaster, a flamethrower, a bomb glove, a hoverboard, and a hookshot that works like a hybrid of the hookshot in the Zelda games for the N64 and using purple lums in Rayman 2. ) along with the huge mix of enemies and NPCs keep the game fresh throughout the entire experience. Not only can you utilize many 'gadgets' via Ratchet's sidekick Clank, but the player chooses when to buy which gadget and how to apply it, which will change the game experience for every player. Picking up the flamethrower first, will mean you advance through levels differently than with the blaster.
2. Convenience - once certain check points are cleared, short-cuts will be opened up in each level so that the player won't have to traverse the entire level again after expiring. In addition, the number of bolts collected (R&C's monetary system) will continue to grow even after restarting so there will always be plenty on hand to purchase new gadgets. Finally, world maps will be accessible by pressing select on each level, making it possible for the player to decide which route will be the most effective for the task at hand.
3. Good Design - Short load times, an auto-save feature, a training section on each level, superb camera control and top-notch voice acting round out the entire package.
Ratchet and Clank may seem like a game for younger kids, and in a way it is - but anyone who likes or HAS liked a good platform game in the past will at least want to check it out. From the looks of it R&C is shaping up to be in the 2003 Top 25 Must Own PS2 list. Time will tell, but no matter what - this game is a winner.
(by A gamer)
Features/Technical Specs :
* Space-age action platformer
* Detailed, interactive environments
* Tons of different enemies and weapons
* Beautiful, cartoon-style graphics
* For 1 player
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