Platinum Trophy #33: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Insomniac delivers again with another stellar PlayStation exclusive. They ushered in the PS5 with Miles Morales and now they are delivering one of the first PS5 exclusives with Rift Apart. Although their have been R&C games over the past few years this is the first 'true' R&C sequel to me since 2009's A Crack in Time. Of course we have had some spin-offs and even Into The Nexus (which was more of an epilogue if anything). I was only about 9 years old when A Crack in Time came out so I am certainly looking back on it with heavily rose-coloured glasses. The series offers a great deal of nostalgia to me as I have since played every single R&C game since the 2002 original. But despite all that obvious bias, I think it's clear that Rift Apart is a clear return-to-form for the series and is a must play for any PS5 owner. It is probably the most beautiful game I've ever seen and like most other reviewers I can't help but make the overused Pixar-quality comparison. The diverse selection of worlds and even alternative dimension versions of these worlds allows Insomniac to really flex their environmental design. I found myself stopping regularly to look in awe at the landscape before me. It's story feels consequential and like an important evolution for these characters. The narrative isn't going to blow your socks off, parts of it are predictable and I don't think it reaches the emotional impact of A Crack in Time, which is still the series best narrative wise. However the writing in this game elevates it's narrative substantially. It is one of the funniest games I've played in recent memory and it is more serious and character-focused than previous entries. Both Ratchet and Clank are given interesting character development which makes them a bit more layered than their previous iterations. This is pretty impressive for the characters of a (predominantly) children's franchise which is now almost 20 years old. The game also expertly introduces Rivet as a new protagonist who quickly outshines the leads and becomes the most interesting character to follow. Both her background and the superb performance by Jennifer Hale bring a level of edge and trauma to Rivet which you wouldn't expect from a R&C game. I'm excited to see where her story goes next and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if she becomes the co-protagonist for the series going forward, in the same way I'd expect Miles to be in another Spider-Man game. It also delivers the series best combat. This gameplay loop has been developed across several games over the last 20 years and Insomniac has finally evolved it into its most perfect form. Franchise favourite weapons return along with several new additions (e.g Topiary Sprinkler which changes enemies into beautiful foliage which is easier to hit). The game has a great loop, with you seeming to run out of ammo at just the right time to switch over to another weapon and keep the gameplay experience interesting. This is the most I have enjoyed a game in a long time. All the aspects - environments, combat and narrative - come together to create a truly special experience. My only criticism would be that the overarching narrative of Rift Apart doesn't feel as daring or emotional as A Crack in Time, but on every other level it is a superior game. For most people Rift Apart will be the best that the R&C series and the PS5 has to offer.

Reviewed on Jun 15, 2021


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