If Tools of Destruction and Quest for Booty were done better.

Into the Nexus takes its main plot and most of its plot elements and gameplay mechanics from Tools of destruction, but it also refines them, creating a game with strong level design, intimidating and well-established villains, a strong gameplay loop with no major low points, and a story that is well told; well paced; and free from major plot holes.

Quest for Booty's short length held it back because it had too many recycled elements from the previous game and too underwhelming a story for it to be memorable. Into the Nexus has a distinct story with distinct characters and meaningful plot events that stand on their own. Nexus can be described as a compact and polished chapter in the R&C saga, where Quest for Booty felt more like a redundant side-note.

Unfortunately, Nexus didn't deliver any major refinements to the R&C formula: The story is functional but nothing special, the gameplay is fun but not drastically better than any game before, and while the short length isn't a major problem, this is the only game in the series I do wish was longer as many of the ideas and characters could have been fleshed out more. It is better to want more than less, but Nexus still ends before a truly great impression has been made.

I still recommend into Nexus. It may only be five hours, but it is five hours well-spent.