As you go from planet to planet, you’ll want to stop at the local moons, where you’ll locate Gold Bolts, Constructo Weapon Mods, and Zoni. When you land on each moon, you’ll be greeted with orbital platforming gameplay akin to that of Super Mario Galaxy. This sphere-based orbital gameplay fits the Ratchet and Clank series much better due to the fact the series has always been about space, and hopping from planet to planet to complete the task at hand. Throughout the game you’ll locate Zoni, which upgrade Ratchet’s ship. Although you certainly can play through the game without upgrading your ship very much, you’ll have a much less frustrating time if you spend the time to find all the Zoni on the moons of each sector and within each planet.
Also throughout the game you’ll locate Constructo Mods for your weapons. If your arsenal wasn’t varied enough you can use these mods to customize your weapons. The modifications can alter the rate of fire, type of explosion, and more. It lets you take a simple blaster and turn it into a laser. Your weapons can certainly hold their own without any tweaking but the added customization lets you put add a personal twist to each weapon, and in some cases, modifications can help you along your quest.
A staple in the Ratchet and Clank series are the outrageous weapons. Your weapons are extremely varied, and each weapon is helpful in different situations. One thing is for sure, each weapon is as funny as it is devastating. My personal favorite is the always supportive Mr. Zurkon, as he follows you by your side, telling your enemies the various ways he’s going to kill them. As you use each weapon, it will gain levels allowing for greater firepower, range, etc.
The characters themselves are expertly designed, extremely detailed, and each have distinct personalities. You’ll see the same humorous witty banter between characters that you’ve come to love from the Ratchet and Clank series. Even the eccentric villains are enjoyable to watch. Enemies are designed well, and fit the whimsical universe perfectly. The combat is straight forward; use your massive arsenal of weapons to take out all enemies. But this time around, the battles are more epic than ever. Dozens of enemies will fill the screen as bullets and laser beams fly by. Even fighting along side the overzealous and arrogant General Azimuth you’ll find yourself stretching your ammunition to the last bullet.
Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time features some of the prettiest visuals available on the PlayStation 3. Though the series isn’t known for its striking realism, it is however known for its smoothly-animated, superb graphics which compare to some of the best Disney Pixar has to offer. The graphics aren’t leaps and bounds over its predecessor, but that is mainly due to how gorgeous Tools of Destruction was. The environments and landscapes you’ll discover on each planet varies greatly from barren wasteland, to snowy mountain tops. Each area is filled with plenty of secret items to be discovered, enough to give you plenty of reasons to keep going back for more.
A Crack in Time offers a fantastically fun yet challenging experience for all ages. Long time fans of the series will love the new gameplay features, while newcomers to the series will enjoy the series staples, such as the whimsical weapons, which are back in full force. The story is engaging and unfolds over the course of 10-12 hours of greatly varied gameplay. The overall polish and small details make the game really shine. There is tons of replay value packed into the game including a massive universe to explore, and plenty of secrets to be discovered. Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time is game you shouldn’t miss, even with the onslaught of other major titles releasing this holiday season.
PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score
Varied and fun gameplay Tons of replay value and over 10 hours of core gameplay |
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