Didn't grow up with the Ratchet & Clank games the same way I did the other two major platforming icons of the Playstation 2 era as I was growing up. I've always respected the franchise, there is obviously a reason it had the most staying power of those other series, but I never felt super compelled to get my hands deep into the series until my friend gave me an excuse to do so.
Having played this one now in 2022, with a lot of platformers under their belt, you can see the growing pains of a new franchise getting its right footing. It is a clunky game, and unfortunately, even as someone who has grown to like clunk, I feel its in determent of the ideas it wants to bring to the table. The main gameplay draw of having these absurd and creative weapons to blast through enemies is really undermined by both a very poor camera system, and the glaring omission of a proper lock on. I think this does a lot to make the guns feel really unsatisfying to use in this game, and its a huge shame when there is such a huge toolbox at your fingertips that just never feels fun to use unless you're in a situation where you need to. Couple that with some early platforming bullshit with a pretty strict checkpoint system, and it can make it a bit frustrating to get into.
Obviously though, in spite of its glaring faults, there is more than enough to appreciate about this humble little start. For one, it is hard to understate what a fun duo these two are. Ratchet is an unhinged fairly selfish asshole in this entry, going the entire adventure essentially never changing from his grubby engineering clothes, and bickering along the way. Pair that with Clank, a very honest to a fault little robot, and you have the recipe for your standard buddy cop story, but it just works so very nicely for a platformer like this. Also, it cannot be understated how weird it is a now ginormous triple A franchise representing the Playstation brand, started out as this blunt anti-capitalist satire. The game isn't scathing per say, but the jabs they do make are just something you wouldn't expect from a series with this caliber now, certainly not with future entries in this series from what I am told. A huge shame because that part easily is my favourite thing about it. I got a huge chuckle anytime I got to see a new infomercial about Drek's increased colonization of the galaxy you travel.
And on a technical level, I think that galaxy in question is the most impressive thing on display here. All good platformers thrive on good gameplay and levels, and while I didn't enjoy the gunplay, controlling Ratchet is still very fun. Upgrading Clank with little gizmos is very cute, and hitting things with your oversized wrench is insanely satisfying. More importantly, I was very impressed with just how many levels, and big levels at that, were able to be put into this game. You do revisit some, but there are still around twenty unique planets, each with more than a fair share of tasks to do and secrets to discover, and I really enjoyed knowing the little ins and outs of each planet's little conundrums. It is the little things like that, that can make a platformer special, and I think this game does it very well.
Overall, a cute little romp. I think if I gotten the opportunity to have grown up with it the same way I did Jak or Sly, I would've loved it, but as an adult now, I enjoyed it. It is a clunky but cute little romp, and its anti-capitalist edge and snark give it a personality that I can still admire. Maybe someday I'll play the later PS2 sequels which I hear are special in their own little ways, or even some of the more modern entries.
Having played this one now in 2022, with a lot of platformers under their belt, you can see the growing pains of a new franchise getting its right footing. It is a clunky game, and unfortunately, even as someone who has grown to like clunk, I feel its in determent of the ideas it wants to bring to the table. The main gameplay draw of having these absurd and creative weapons to blast through enemies is really undermined by both a very poor camera system, and the glaring omission of a proper lock on. I think this does a lot to make the guns feel really unsatisfying to use in this game, and its a huge shame when there is such a huge toolbox at your fingertips that just never feels fun to use unless you're in a situation where you need to. Couple that with some early platforming bullshit with a pretty strict checkpoint system, and it can make it a bit frustrating to get into.
Obviously though, in spite of its glaring faults, there is more than enough to appreciate about this humble little start. For one, it is hard to understate what a fun duo these two are. Ratchet is an unhinged fairly selfish asshole in this entry, going the entire adventure essentially never changing from his grubby engineering clothes, and bickering along the way. Pair that with Clank, a very honest to a fault little robot, and you have the recipe for your standard buddy cop story, but it just works so very nicely for a platformer like this. Also, it cannot be understated how weird it is a now ginormous triple A franchise representing the Playstation brand, started out as this blunt anti-capitalist satire. The game isn't scathing per say, but the jabs they do make are just something you wouldn't expect from a series with this caliber now, certainly not with future entries in this series from what I am told. A huge shame because that part easily is my favourite thing about it. I got a huge chuckle anytime I got to see a new infomercial about Drek's increased colonization of the galaxy you travel.
And on a technical level, I think that galaxy in question is the most impressive thing on display here. All good platformers thrive on good gameplay and levels, and while I didn't enjoy the gunplay, controlling Ratchet is still very fun. Upgrading Clank with little gizmos is very cute, and hitting things with your oversized wrench is insanely satisfying. More importantly, I was very impressed with just how many levels, and big levels at that, were able to be put into this game. You do revisit some, but there are still around twenty unique planets, each with more than a fair share of tasks to do and secrets to discover, and I really enjoyed knowing the little ins and outs of each planet's little conundrums. It is the little things like that, that can make a platformer special, and I think this game does it very well.
Overall, a cute little romp. I think if I gotten the opportunity to have grown up with it the same way I did Jak or Sly, I would've loved it, but as an adult now, I enjoyed it. It is a clunky but cute little romp, and its anti-capitalist edge and snark give it a personality that I can still admire. Maybe someday I'll play the later PS2 sequels which I hear are special in their own little ways, or even some of the more modern entries.