Repetition isn’t a problem when you get things right. Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time is another instalment in a franchise which is invariably about running, jumping and bolt collecting. Past R&C games have done these actions so well, in fact the series is known for tight and responsive platforming. Controlling Ratchet is wondrous, never is there a moment when you grind your teeth over a missed jump or curse the controls when manoeuvring an enemy’s attacks. This can be said for much of the game in fact, the controls are incredibly fluid and the game plays with a momentum that bounces you from each slice of action.
And action arrives in abundance, from fast paced rail grinding chases to epic boss battles, each is calculated to rarely let up and allow you to breathe meaning that the pace at times can be relentless. When the action does die down, and it does but in bitesize chunks, this will be your time collect bolts which are badly needed if you want to upgrade your armour or of course weapons. The armour is a small upgrade that helps you soak up damage, hardly worth a mention compared to the vast array of weapons at your disposal.
As with past games, the weapons are just as important as the jumping mechanics. It’s a very impressive arsenal of guns, with the Sonic Erupter – a small creature that screams sonic blastwaves, The Negotiator – which is in essence a rocket launcher and many more are sold through vendors in game. Even buying the weapons is great fun with each one having a preview video filmed in the style of a 1950’s information video and being genuinely hilarious. The weapons and information videos go a long way to firmly ensure that this game doesn’t take itself seriously.
In a world full of “grown up” and gory shooting games, it’s a refreshing change to play something with its tongue stuck so firmly in its cheek. Parodies of movies and TV shows are aplenty and the dialogue is so well written that at times you could be fooled into thinking that you’re watching an animated TV show. Insomniac knows how to write a great story, which we’ll come to, and great characters. The banter between characters like Ratchet and Captain Quark are very endearing and there are whole conversations where a wry smile will stay on lips as one liner after one liner is delivered.
All of these points are the pillars holding a solid, albeit slightly cliché, story up high. Ratchet and Clank may be about platforming, but at its heart it’s about family and this game capitalises on that fact. We’ve watched as Ratchet and Clank have been through so many adventures, creating a wonderful friendship that inspires, but A Crack in Time delivers much more. We find out more about Ratchets parents and the disappearance of the Lombax race, we discover a wealth of knowledge regarding Clanks father and although so much of the game is played with our heroes at opposite ends of the galaxy, the closeness is only amplified.
The distance between our protagonists is magnified by open world space exploration levels in between worlds. As each planet is finished Ratchet jumps into his trusty ship and flies off into space allowing you to explore the far reaches of the galaxy. The opening solar system is rather small compared to later efforts, with only a handful of planets. Each one can be explored finding upgrade kits for your weapons, more bolts to spend later in game and alien creatures called Zoni. The latter are an intelligent race that allows you to upgrade your ship, desperately needed as the inevitable space dog fights will soon crush your ship without them.
While the space exploration is an interesting addition it does create a lull in the game, taking you away from the action of the story. Although you don’t need to land on each planet it is very helpful in furthering Ratchets abilities which will obviously help in coming battles. That being said each planet is well designed, though they do repeat slightly and much like the rest of the game they look stunning.
Visually A Crack in Time is reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons, bright and colourful, friendly and disgustingly sweet. Even the bad guys are adorable in the same way that Skeletor was deliciously evil. There are moments where the textures are obvious and stand out but they are few and far between and never ruin the experience. For the majority of the game everything looks very clean and even when there’s a lot happening on screen, which there often is, there’s no slow down or frame rate drop.
The same can be said for the aural experience, each level is enhanced by a subtle soundtrack that plays along in the background, never encroaching on the narrative unless needed. In fact the soundtrack helps to pull you into the game, by building a crescendo in action packed sequences and lilting off while exploring.
Everything in this iteration of the series is tightly crafted, from the weapons to the equipment. The latter having the great addition of hover boots, allowing you to zip around each level, make super jumps and bounce around like a certain blue hedgehog. There isn’t a lot to complain about here, if anything it would be the repetition of level designs later in the game. Being such a long game there are moments where you will find yourself sighing a little at playing similar moments in the game, while not a huge quibble it’s in need of a mention.
Regardless to whether you’ve played past games or not you’ll enjoy this version, a truly wonderful platforming experience with lovable characters and moments of glee. A game that you’ll be playing for ages just for the story and if there’s a hoarding collector inside of you, then you’ll play for longer just to grab each Zoni and upgrade. A great outing from brilliant characters, Insomniac delivers again.
VideogameUK verdict: 8.5/10
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