Now before I begin I just want to clarify this:
This is strictly my own opinion. If you disagree with me, more power to you. Just keep the comments civil and respectful.
Hello, everybody, and welcome to the first Backloggd exclusive of
GAME MODE: ON!
Now for those of you who are new to me, my name is Adam Janaway.
I am an amateur internet critic who specializes in reviewing movies. I've started writing for a website called Letterboxd in 2016 and I'm still doing so to this day on a mostly weekly basis with event months, special bonuses and a few unconventional articles including Top 10's, TV reviews and yes, even game reviews.
It's been my most active hobby for years and I just enjoy getting to share my humble( and sometimes, controversial) opinions on alot of stuff.
In 2021, I've decided to experiment with my writing skills and branch out to other forms of media which includes video games. For that year's October event, I've dedicated the Halloween season to reviewing the first seven mainline entries in the Resident Evil franchise to accommodate it's 25th anniversary and honestly, it's been a ton of fun. To this day, I consider it one of my proudest moments as a reviewer and since then, I like to think that my skills have been getting better the more I do this.
After that, I have said that I do plan on doing more game reviews in the future. However, I do have my limits as to when I can get around to them considering that games take more time to go over than movies, difficulty can play into a major factor of whether or not I'll be able to complete a game in time or there are certain titles I might not be able to experience since they're not as easy to preserve as movies are and no, you can't expect me to spend a ridiculous amount of cash on original hardware and copies off of Amazon or Ebay since they usually have a 60%-70% chance of just not working and I might as well just throw my debit card in a fire.
So yeah, don't expect me to do game reviews as a regular thing like I do my film reviews. These are just an occasional fun treat that I like to do if I feel like it.
That being said, if you're interested enough to check out my stuff on Letterboxd, I'll leave the link to my profile right here:
https://letterboxd.com/CMPG1337/
I'll also consider reuploading my RE reviews(as well as my Sonic Generations review) on here in due time.
Now with all that said and done, let's talk about Ratchet & Clank.
As a kid, PlayStation was my shit back in the day and I've had my fair share of cool games to indulge myself in whether it be Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot or even the subject of this review.
I remember the days when I would hang out with my older brother and watch him play some of the Ratchet & Clank games, specifically Ratchet & Clank 2: Going Commando, and so many of the elements like the characters and weapons were instantly ingrained in my mind for years to come. So when I heard back in 2013 that a movie based on the series was in the works, I was immediately interested and have been keeping an eye on it for the next three years till it was finally released. I know video game adaptations have had a notorious reputation for such a long time but to me, this was gonna be a game-changer because, unlike most adaptations, this one looked to be far more faithful to the source material right down to the look, the sense of humor and hell, they even managed to rope in some of the cast from the games including James Arnold Taylor as Ratchet, David Kaye as Clank, Jim Ward as Captain Quark and Armin Shimerman as Dr. Nefarious. Normally with these movie adaptations, these roles would be played by big name actors. For example, I think Michael Cera would've been a pretty good Ratchet. But hey, they made up for it by casting the likes of Paul Giamatti, Sylvester Stallone and John Goodman so at least that quota's done and over with.
Unfortunately, in a year that's supposed to be the beginning of a new age for movie adaptations of video games, the four films that were released in 2016 ended up barely pleasing anybody and Ratchet & Clank is sadly no exception.
Not only was it panned by critics and slammed by longtime fans but it was such a box office bomb that it pretty much caused it's distributor, Gramercy Pictures, to shut down for a second time. It was quite a disaster to say the least.
As for me, I personally liked the movie fine. It's not amazing and it doesn't exactly live up to the legacy of the games but as just a silly little sci-fi adventure for the whole family to enjoy, it's a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. Not to toot my own horn but I have seen far worse animated films such as Norm of the North and far worse sci-fi movies such as Battle: Los Angeles.
If you want to hear my full coverage, I'll leave the link to my review of the film right here: https://letterboxd.com/cmpg1337/film/ratchet-clank/
Now the most unexpected thing about the movie's release is that there was a video game tie-in. Odd, right? A game based on the movie based on the game? I mean, what the fuck?
Developed by Insomniac Games, the same guys who have been working on the franchise since it's inception in 2002, this re-imagining of Ratchet & Clank was released for the PlayStation 4 just about a week or so prior to the film and unlike said film, it was better received with many reviewers claiming it to be a fun ride. However, that's not to say that it has it's detractors as there are some fans out there who were upset with the more sanitized nature and kid-friendly tone compared to the more adult and satirical edge that the original games were known for.
But how do I feel about the game myself compared to it's movie counterpart? Well, let's take a look.
STORY & CHARACTERIZATION:
Basically, the plot of the game follows that of the movie. It follows the exploits of a lombax named Ratchet and a warbot defect named Clank who are united together by fate and go on an epic quest to join up with the fearless Galactic Rangers and take on the corporate forces of Chairman Drek and his scientist partner Dr. Nefarious.
That's the best that I can sum up and while I don't hate the story as much as some fans do, I'll admit, it does have a few issues, alot of which do carry over from the movie.
It does lack the satire that pokes fun at capitalism and consumerism and the more mature edge is pretty much null so what you're stuck with is your basic kids' comedy adventure. It does offer a few better laughs than the movie but that's about it as far as I'm concerned. It also utilizes alot of the typical cliches that we've come to expect from lesser family films which does end up making some of the characters a bit more one-note.
For example, Ratchet is a spirited and strong-hearted dreamer who sees to it that the galaxy is protected from darker forces. Compare that to his portrayal in the original game in which he's alot more hot-headed and would often butt heads with Clank, he's an asshole in that game. While the original has more personality and a stronger arc compared to the new Ratchet, I can understand not wanting kids to look up to a constant arguing dick. After all, it's one of the big criticisms that people have had with the first game.
That being said, some of the other classic characters are more on-point and just like how you remembered them with Clank being sassy but willing to help whenever he can and Captain Quark being the egotistical superhero we gamers would love to fuck up with a RYNO near the end of the campaign.
I'll also give credit that the performances are very good with many of the actors from the movie coming in to lend their voices including Bella Thorne as Cora Veralux and Rosario Dawson as Elaris. However, some actors like Paul Giamatti as Drek, Vincent Tong as Brax, Sylvester Stallone as Victor Von Ion and John Goodman as Grimroth Razz were replaced with Eric Bauza, Mick Wingert, Mark Silverman and Travis Willingham respectively. To be fair, those guys have done their best to replicate the movie actors' voices even if it isn't 100% accurate like, for example, you can definitely tell that's not Stallone playing Victor.
It should also be worth noting that while the game follows the movie very well, it diverts from it in many areas as it is also a partial re-imagining of the 2002 game with many of the environments, characters and elements being very familiar to longtime fans. Some may call this unnecessary padding but if you're going to make a game based on a movie, changes have to be made in order to create a genuine experience for players and seeing how the film is already based on a video game, I say "Fuck it" and go all the way and in my opinion, they've done it very well. After all, these are the developers who originally created Ratchet & Clank so they know what they're doing.
GAMEPLAY & CONTROLS:
But while the story maybe basic and nothing special, the real meat of the game is how it plays.
As it is a re-imagining of the original Ratchet & Clank, the gameplay should raise some nostalgia boners for longtime fans. Most of the time, you control Ratchet as he runs around many alien environments, either smashing enemies with your handy wrench or blasting them with a variety of creative and explosive weapons. You can collect nuts and bolts which act as currency which you can spend on new weapons from a Gadgetron stall or just refill your ammo and health. You can also collect raritanium crystals which you can use to upgrade your weapons including more ammo, a stronger rate of fire, etc. Not to mention, the more enemies you annihilate, the more XP points you earn which will make Ratchet level up and give him a stronger health meter. Also, the more you use a certain weapon, the more you level up said weapon resulting in more ammo to use up and a much bigger punch.
Oh, and I have to say, the loadout in this game is so much fun to use with my personal favorite weapons being the Buzz Blades, the Sheepinator, the Pixelizer and, of course, the RYNO.
Throughout the game, you can either stick to your primary objectives or take some time off to go on optional sidequests which will earn you some goodies including upgrades to your gear, new gadgets and plenty of collectables including holocard packs and big golden bolts. Speaking of the holocards, when you complete a set of three, that also earns you some cool rewards including upgrades and shit like that. Not to mention, if you manage to find all nine RYNO cards, you get the big boy himself and man, is he a broken weapon because he just tears through enemies and even bosses, like a Minion plowing his mouth through a banana garden.
There's also fun hoverboard races, cool grinding sections, hard as fuck laser puzzle bits and there's even a few points in the game where you play as Clank and you have to either escape Victor's wrath or solve logic puzzles using the abilities of the number of Gadgetbots you got to work with. Suffice to say that exploration is heavily encouraged and you are blissfully rewarded for doing so.
It helps that the controls are rock-solid which makes movement and aiming a fun breeze and the game itself never gets too easy or too hard which is nice. I played the game on Normal mode so the challenge is genuine... as long as you're not using the RYNO. Seriously, that shit really gives proper meaning to the term "Rip You a New One".
Once you've beaten the game, you unlock a Challenge Mode which is basically New Game + with tougher difficulty and you get to carry over all your weapons. Plus, you also unlock an Insomniac Museum which you can access via a transporter pad in Grim's garage. So there's solid content here to keep you guys hooked for hours on end. There's no cut content being resold as DLC, there's no bullshit micro-transactions or loot boxes and there's no buggy live-service nonsense. It's the perfect action game to just pick up, pop in and enjoy to your heart's content without a single worry.
GRAPHICS & PRODUCTION VALUE:
This game came out seven years ago and my god, it still looks great. The visuals just pop with so much life, energy and color, it's such a wonder to witness. The character designs look great, the many environments are wonderful to stare at, there's alot of really cool shit to be found here. Combine that with such stellar sound design that makes every shot and explosion satisfying and you get a very fun cartoony action game.
It should be worth noting that while it utilizes original animations for the cutscenes, it also integrates clips from the movie(remember when movie-licensed games do that?) and to be fair, you can hardly tell the difference. The graphics are so lovely that I wouldn't blame you for thinking that it was the movie that's the tie-in and not the other way around. Although the difference between the in-game cutscenes and the movie clips are pretty seamless in terms of visuals, if you squint hard enough, you can tell apart in regards to fidelity and texture.
I will say that my only big criticism in regards to the visuals is during the cutscenes where Ratchet & Clank are talking to an NPC. Whereas the ones in the PS2 games were lively and emotive, here, the characters barely move when they're speaking or showing a big expression like excitement or worry, there's a very noticeable lack of motion in those moments. It's disappointing since the PS4 was an advanced console at the time so clearly, they're capable of programming more expressive motions in those animations with the kind of tech they have at their disposal. Maybe it was a budget thing but I'm not buying it. Compare that to 2019's MediEvil, thanks to the resources they have with the PS4's tech, Other Ocean Emeryville were able to create very energetic character interactions even in the smallest moments. But here, Ratchet just stands there sounding like he's ready to kick ass but looks like a Disney park animatronic... an early prototype from the 1950's to be exact.
As for the music, well, I'll have to agree with some of the fans on this one as Michael Bross' score isn't exactly memorable. There were a few good tunes here but for the most part, it's a generic cinematic orchestral soundtrack. In the old games, the music had this alien and techno vibe to them which made them very fun and iconic beats to listen to. Sure, this game's score has that in a few areas but they're not as frequent. That's another problem that was carried over from the movie, it's not a bad score, mind you, just... forgettable.
So overall, while I can understand that Ratchet & Clank 2016 has a few flaws, some carried over from it's film counterpart, I cannot say outright that it's a mediocre game. In fact, it's a fucking great game.
Coming back to it years later was such a blast and to this day, it's still alot of fun to play through. It remains one of my favorite PlayStation exclusives and I have no regrets giving it a high recommendation, it's that enjoyable.
Until next time, thank you for taking the time to check out this installment of GAME MODE: ON.
If you liked what you've read here and want to see more, you can go ahead and follow me whenever you want.
And also, don't forget to check out my Letterboxd page for new film reviews every week.
AFTER-NOTE: For those wondering, yes, I really do want to play Rift Apart and I am planning on getting it, as well as a PS5 to go along with it, very very soon.
Also, Happy 10th Anniversary, PlayStation 4!
This is strictly my own opinion. If you disagree with me, more power to you. Just keep the comments civil and respectful.
Hello, everybody, and welcome to the first Backloggd exclusive of
GAME MODE: ON!
Now for those of you who are new to me, my name is Adam Janaway.
I am an amateur internet critic who specializes in reviewing movies. I've started writing for a website called Letterboxd in 2016 and I'm still doing so to this day on a mostly weekly basis with event months, special bonuses and a few unconventional articles including Top 10's, TV reviews and yes, even game reviews.
It's been my most active hobby for years and I just enjoy getting to share my humble( and sometimes, controversial) opinions on alot of stuff.
In 2021, I've decided to experiment with my writing skills and branch out to other forms of media which includes video games. For that year's October event, I've dedicated the Halloween season to reviewing the first seven mainline entries in the Resident Evil franchise to accommodate it's 25th anniversary and honestly, it's been a ton of fun. To this day, I consider it one of my proudest moments as a reviewer and since then, I like to think that my skills have been getting better the more I do this.
After that, I have said that I do plan on doing more game reviews in the future. However, I do have my limits as to when I can get around to them considering that games take more time to go over than movies, difficulty can play into a major factor of whether or not I'll be able to complete a game in time or there are certain titles I might not be able to experience since they're not as easy to preserve as movies are and no, you can't expect me to spend a ridiculous amount of cash on original hardware and copies off of Amazon or Ebay since they usually have a 60%-70% chance of just not working and I might as well just throw my debit card in a fire.
So yeah, don't expect me to do game reviews as a regular thing like I do my film reviews. These are just an occasional fun treat that I like to do if I feel like it.
That being said, if you're interested enough to check out my stuff on Letterboxd, I'll leave the link to my profile right here:
https://letterboxd.com/CMPG1337/
I'll also consider reuploading my RE reviews(as well as my Sonic Generations review) on here in due time.
Now with all that said and done, let's talk about Ratchet & Clank.
As a kid, PlayStation was my shit back in the day and I've had my fair share of cool games to indulge myself in whether it be Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot or even the subject of this review.
I remember the days when I would hang out with my older brother and watch him play some of the Ratchet & Clank games, specifically Ratchet & Clank 2: Going Commando, and so many of the elements like the characters and weapons were instantly ingrained in my mind for years to come. So when I heard back in 2013 that a movie based on the series was in the works, I was immediately interested and have been keeping an eye on it for the next three years till it was finally released. I know video game adaptations have had a notorious reputation for such a long time but to me, this was gonna be a game-changer because, unlike most adaptations, this one looked to be far more faithful to the source material right down to the look, the sense of humor and hell, they even managed to rope in some of the cast from the games including James Arnold Taylor as Ratchet, David Kaye as Clank, Jim Ward as Captain Quark and Armin Shimerman as Dr. Nefarious. Normally with these movie adaptations, these roles would be played by big name actors. For example, I think Michael Cera would've been a pretty good Ratchet. But hey, they made up for it by casting the likes of Paul Giamatti, Sylvester Stallone and John Goodman so at least that quota's done and over with.
Unfortunately, in a year that's supposed to be the beginning of a new age for movie adaptations of video games, the four films that were released in 2016 ended up barely pleasing anybody and Ratchet & Clank is sadly no exception.
Not only was it panned by critics and slammed by longtime fans but it was such a box office bomb that it pretty much caused it's distributor, Gramercy Pictures, to shut down for a second time. It was quite a disaster to say the least.
As for me, I personally liked the movie fine. It's not amazing and it doesn't exactly live up to the legacy of the games but as just a silly little sci-fi adventure for the whole family to enjoy, it's a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. Not to toot my own horn but I have seen far worse animated films such as Norm of the North and far worse sci-fi movies such as Battle: Los Angeles.
If you want to hear my full coverage, I'll leave the link to my review of the film right here: https://letterboxd.com/cmpg1337/film/ratchet-clank/
Now the most unexpected thing about the movie's release is that there was a video game tie-in. Odd, right? A game based on the movie based on the game? I mean, what the fuck?
Developed by Insomniac Games, the same guys who have been working on the franchise since it's inception in 2002, this re-imagining of Ratchet & Clank was released for the PlayStation 4 just about a week or so prior to the film and unlike said film, it was better received with many reviewers claiming it to be a fun ride. However, that's not to say that it has it's detractors as there are some fans out there who were upset with the more sanitized nature and kid-friendly tone compared to the more adult and satirical edge that the original games were known for.
But how do I feel about the game myself compared to it's movie counterpart? Well, let's take a look.
STORY & CHARACTERIZATION:
Basically, the plot of the game follows that of the movie. It follows the exploits of a lombax named Ratchet and a warbot defect named Clank who are united together by fate and go on an epic quest to join up with the fearless Galactic Rangers and take on the corporate forces of Chairman Drek and his scientist partner Dr. Nefarious.
That's the best that I can sum up and while I don't hate the story as much as some fans do, I'll admit, it does have a few issues, alot of which do carry over from the movie.
It does lack the satire that pokes fun at capitalism and consumerism and the more mature edge is pretty much null so what you're stuck with is your basic kids' comedy adventure. It does offer a few better laughs than the movie but that's about it as far as I'm concerned. It also utilizes alot of the typical cliches that we've come to expect from lesser family films which does end up making some of the characters a bit more one-note.
For example, Ratchet is a spirited and strong-hearted dreamer who sees to it that the galaxy is protected from darker forces. Compare that to his portrayal in the original game in which he's alot more hot-headed and would often butt heads with Clank, he's an asshole in that game. While the original has more personality and a stronger arc compared to the new Ratchet, I can understand not wanting kids to look up to a constant arguing dick. After all, it's one of the big criticisms that people have had with the first game.
That being said, some of the other classic characters are more on-point and just like how you remembered them with Clank being sassy but willing to help whenever he can and Captain Quark being the egotistical superhero we gamers would love to fuck up with a RYNO near the end of the campaign.
I'll also give credit that the performances are very good with many of the actors from the movie coming in to lend their voices including Bella Thorne as Cora Veralux and Rosario Dawson as Elaris. However, some actors like Paul Giamatti as Drek, Vincent Tong as Brax, Sylvester Stallone as Victor Von Ion and John Goodman as Grimroth Razz were replaced with Eric Bauza, Mick Wingert, Mark Silverman and Travis Willingham respectively. To be fair, those guys have done their best to replicate the movie actors' voices even if it isn't 100% accurate like, for example, you can definitely tell that's not Stallone playing Victor.
It should also be worth noting that while the game follows the movie very well, it diverts from it in many areas as it is also a partial re-imagining of the 2002 game with many of the environments, characters and elements being very familiar to longtime fans. Some may call this unnecessary padding but if you're going to make a game based on a movie, changes have to be made in order to create a genuine experience for players and seeing how the film is already based on a video game, I say "Fuck it" and go all the way and in my opinion, they've done it very well. After all, these are the developers who originally created Ratchet & Clank so they know what they're doing.
GAMEPLAY & CONTROLS:
But while the story maybe basic and nothing special, the real meat of the game is how it plays.
As it is a re-imagining of the original Ratchet & Clank, the gameplay should raise some nostalgia boners for longtime fans. Most of the time, you control Ratchet as he runs around many alien environments, either smashing enemies with your handy wrench or blasting them with a variety of creative and explosive weapons. You can collect nuts and bolts which act as currency which you can spend on new weapons from a Gadgetron stall or just refill your ammo and health. You can also collect raritanium crystals which you can use to upgrade your weapons including more ammo, a stronger rate of fire, etc. Not to mention, the more enemies you annihilate, the more XP points you earn which will make Ratchet level up and give him a stronger health meter. Also, the more you use a certain weapon, the more you level up said weapon resulting in more ammo to use up and a much bigger punch.
Oh, and I have to say, the loadout in this game is so much fun to use with my personal favorite weapons being the Buzz Blades, the Sheepinator, the Pixelizer and, of course, the RYNO.
Throughout the game, you can either stick to your primary objectives or take some time off to go on optional sidequests which will earn you some goodies including upgrades to your gear, new gadgets and plenty of collectables including holocard packs and big golden bolts. Speaking of the holocards, when you complete a set of three, that also earns you some cool rewards including upgrades and shit like that. Not to mention, if you manage to find all nine RYNO cards, you get the big boy himself and man, is he a broken weapon because he just tears through enemies and even bosses, like a Minion plowing his mouth through a banana garden.
There's also fun hoverboard races, cool grinding sections, hard as fuck laser puzzle bits and there's even a few points in the game where you play as Clank and you have to either escape Victor's wrath or solve logic puzzles using the abilities of the number of Gadgetbots you got to work with. Suffice to say that exploration is heavily encouraged and you are blissfully rewarded for doing so.
It helps that the controls are rock-solid which makes movement and aiming a fun breeze and the game itself never gets too easy or too hard which is nice. I played the game on Normal mode so the challenge is genuine... as long as you're not using the RYNO. Seriously, that shit really gives proper meaning to the term "Rip You a New One".
Once you've beaten the game, you unlock a Challenge Mode which is basically New Game + with tougher difficulty and you get to carry over all your weapons. Plus, you also unlock an Insomniac Museum which you can access via a transporter pad in Grim's garage. So there's solid content here to keep you guys hooked for hours on end. There's no cut content being resold as DLC, there's no bullshit micro-transactions or loot boxes and there's no buggy live-service nonsense. It's the perfect action game to just pick up, pop in and enjoy to your heart's content without a single worry.
GRAPHICS & PRODUCTION VALUE:
This game came out seven years ago and my god, it still looks great. The visuals just pop with so much life, energy and color, it's such a wonder to witness. The character designs look great, the many environments are wonderful to stare at, there's alot of really cool shit to be found here. Combine that with such stellar sound design that makes every shot and explosion satisfying and you get a very fun cartoony action game.
It should be worth noting that while it utilizes original animations for the cutscenes, it also integrates clips from the movie(remember when movie-licensed games do that?) and to be fair, you can hardly tell the difference. The graphics are so lovely that I wouldn't blame you for thinking that it was the movie that's the tie-in and not the other way around. Although the difference between the in-game cutscenes and the movie clips are pretty seamless in terms of visuals, if you squint hard enough, you can tell apart in regards to fidelity and texture.
I will say that my only big criticism in regards to the visuals is during the cutscenes where Ratchet & Clank are talking to an NPC. Whereas the ones in the PS2 games were lively and emotive, here, the characters barely move when they're speaking or showing a big expression like excitement or worry, there's a very noticeable lack of motion in those moments. It's disappointing since the PS4 was an advanced console at the time so clearly, they're capable of programming more expressive motions in those animations with the kind of tech they have at their disposal. Maybe it was a budget thing but I'm not buying it. Compare that to 2019's MediEvil, thanks to the resources they have with the PS4's tech, Other Ocean Emeryville were able to create very energetic character interactions even in the smallest moments. But here, Ratchet just stands there sounding like he's ready to kick ass but looks like a Disney park animatronic... an early prototype from the 1950's to be exact.
As for the music, well, I'll have to agree with some of the fans on this one as Michael Bross' score isn't exactly memorable. There were a few good tunes here but for the most part, it's a generic cinematic orchestral soundtrack. In the old games, the music had this alien and techno vibe to them which made them very fun and iconic beats to listen to. Sure, this game's score has that in a few areas but they're not as frequent. That's another problem that was carried over from the movie, it's not a bad score, mind you, just... forgettable.
So overall, while I can understand that Ratchet & Clank 2016 has a few flaws, some carried over from it's film counterpart, I cannot say outright that it's a mediocre game. In fact, it's a fucking great game.
Coming back to it years later was such a blast and to this day, it's still alot of fun to play through. It remains one of my favorite PlayStation exclusives and I have no regrets giving it a high recommendation, it's that enjoyable.
Until next time, thank you for taking the time to check out this installment of GAME MODE: ON.
If you liked what you've read here and want to see more, you can go ahead and follow me whenever you want.
And also, don't forget to check out my Letterboxd page for new film reviews every week.
AFTER-NOTE: For those wondering, yes, I really do want to play Rift Apart and I am planning on getting it, as well as a PS5 to go along with it, very very soon.
Also, Happy 10th Anniversary, PlayStation 4!