Ratchet & Clank Video Preview

I’m a fan of this series, let’s get that out of the way right now. I think it’s one that’s never really gotten the fanfare it deserved, because it’s the antithesis to so many modern games. Self aware, funny, colourful – no, gorgeous, actually – and just fun. Ratchet & Clank has always put the placed the person holding the controller as the most important person in the world, and has an ebb and flow to the melee-cum-third-person-shooter-platforming that I don’t think has been matched elsewhere.

And really, without it meaning to sound negative (because it’s not), this is more of that. The original game remade with modern visuals, and with all the baubles and trinkets from the last PS3 outing (Nexus) back in 2013. So we’re talking the weapon upgrade systems, the 3D platforming, the excellent cutscenes that rival Pixar – all that jazz.

But now, there’s an added layer of self-awareness, and Insomniac are more than aware they’re making a game of a movie of a game, and are happy to throw in nods to the player when doing so. On top of that there’s a nifty holocard collection system, which adds buffs to weapons and abilities, that I really dig.

Plenty more in the video, obviously, but this is a game I cannot wait to sit down and play through in its entirety. Unless something goes catastrophically wrong between now and release, Insomniac have done it again, and delivered on a lovely game that’s hugely playable. That said, if you hated the games before, this isn’t going to change your mind: it’s Ratchet & Clank, for better or for worse.