Introduction
Ratchet & Clank (PS4) is an upcoming platformer developed by Insomniac Games, and it’s a re-imagined version of the first game in the series. The game is scheduled for a release around the same time as the upcoming film by Rainmaker Entertainment and Blockade Entertainment in Spring 2016. Sony will publish the game, and Insomnia’s North Carolina and California studios are developing the game together, with many of the first Ratchet & Clank’s developers helping to make it a perfection on the PS4.
Gameplay
Since it’s a re-imagining of the first game, you can expect a lot of the same gameplay elements that were in the previous games. Most of the weapons from the first game will be featured, as well as features like strafing. A new weapon called the Pixelizer is also featured in the upcoming Ratchet & Clank, and this weapon basically turns your opponents into ugly 8-bt pixelized characters. Classic weapons featured in the game include the Groovitron and Mr. Zurkon. All the elements and weapons you played with as a child will be featured in the PS4 game.
If you pre-order Ratchet & Clank you will be granted access to another cool weapon called the Bouncer, which was actually introduced in the second game many years ago. It’s an awesome weapon to have, and it’s just another reason to pre-order this awesome platformer game.
Just like in the original game, levels will feature linear progression. The jetpack is back, by pressing the L1 button you can fly through the level to find brains for the crazy scientist. How big is this are? This particular level is large enough to hold 100 brains total, so you will do a great deal of searching to complete that mission.
The jetpack is an awesome feature in itself, as you will now be able to engage in airborne combat as you make your way through the area with ease. Ratchet & Clank will bring back everything you loved in the previous titles, while introducing new features to make it more exciting for both new and old fans alike.
Graphics: More Than a Remaster…
When you first play Ratchet & Clank or even watch the preview, you will find that it looks like you’re in a Pixar movie. The visuals are nothing less than amazing, crystal clear and full of life. Nothing looks pixelated, until you start using the Pixelizer on a bad guy. Community Lead James Stevenson posted some information on the graphics in the official PlayStation blog, saying “We’re 1080p/30fps… our goal was to match or exceed the fidelity of CG animated movies. When we first started we realized that was actually possible with PS4. Pretty exciting.”
Yes, that’s certainly exciting, but many fans are complaining about the low 30 frames per second. That’s not unexpected, most people own the PS4 for superior graphics and specs, so anytime a game goes below 60 fps they complain. However, the visuals are so gorgeous that you must ignore that 30 fps number and focus on the game for what it is.
“This is a new game, we definitely took elements from the original game, but also many elements from the Future series and otherwise. It’s a very new experience and not just a remaster.”
James Stevenson spoke on what makes this R&C different from the original, and it seems that most the locations will be familiar, but everything has been updated, with many things added. It’s more than just a remaster, so go play through the original game now because when the PS4 version of Ratchet & Clank comes out you will see a huge difference. “Every boss fight in the game is new”, said James Stevenson.
Conclusion
Ratchet & Clank for PS4 is a going to be huge, especially with the animated film adaptation coming out around the same time. The film was announced way back in 2013, and we know that it will explain many events from the original game, and even show us how Ratchet and Clank first met. The upcoming game is more than a remaster of the original game, and it looks like the developer has put in a lot of work to make sure it features plenty of new elements. It will be nice to see the same places in the first game, but it will even freaking awesome to see them revised to look good at a 1080p resolution on the PS4.
Are you looking forward to Ratchet & Clank? Let us know what you want to see, or what you don’t want to see in the upcoming R&C game in the comment section below!
