I said last week that I would avoid reviewing this blockbuster game based on the fact that it was PS5 exclusive, and I feared incurring the wrath of the non-Sony gamers.
But when a game is this darned good it’s impossible to resist.
There’s no getting away from it, Activision’s latest Lombax based adventure is the best-looking release out there (yes, including some of the high-end PC efforts).
But good looking scenery does not a great game make. Handy, then, that Insomniac’s development team have take the necessary care and attention in what makes Ratchet & Clank so enjoyable and (sorry, not sorry) ratcheting it up a whole bunch of levels.
Rift Apart checks all the Next Gen boxes, speed, power, size and control. Often with these types of releases, ones that showcase what a console can do, the gameplay suffers, not so here.
R&C 2021 is a perfectly balanced adventure, bright enough for the kiddywinks, hard enough for the seasoned pros and funny enough for the casual control-junkies.
Ratchet appears to have a double in the other existence - oh yeah, the game takes place across a multiverse as such, the transitions between these realms is seamless and, not unlike when Uncharted 4 did away with loading screens, you would be hard pressed to see the joins here.
Where were we? Ah yes, the non-Ratchet.. her name is Rivet, a new character who breathes fresh life into this series.
The sheer size and scale of your opponents, the smooth visuals, the wonderful sound design and the cheeky humour, there really is nothing to dislike here and Insomniac are giving Pixar a run for their money when it comes to textures and depth of vision. Any frame that you pause here cold be lifted for a stellar poster print.
Aside from the ingenious level design and overall good vibes, Sony’s much vaunted haptic controller also really comes into its own, providing feedback, crunch and grind as Ratchet (and Rivet) blast away with a wide array of upgradable weapons.
Players will sink around 15-16 solid hours into finishing the main campaign and there are theres trophies to strive for, ensuring a decent replay factor.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is an incredible achievement, and as a showcase for what the PS5 can do, even at this stage, is a glorious reason to track down the infamously shirt in supply units.
If you don’t believe me, check out Raphaël Ferber’s review on out sister site 5Minutes here.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is available now on PS5.
