An ode to Ratchet and Clank

A bit less than a year ago I was wasting time on the web and I happened to spend a little time reading random reviews on gamespot. I fell upon a little gem called Ratchet & Clank. This is a platformer/shooter for the PS2 that features some pointy-eared, furry alien named Ratchet and his little robot friend Clank. We follow these two heroes on their quest to save the galaxy.



Clank spends most of his time strapped to Ratchet's back, but every now and then the two will separate, and the levels where you control Clank are surprisingly entertaining. Ratchet has a wide variety of weapons at his disposal, some of which are downright wacky, like a beam that turns your enemies into chickens. The weapon design got even wackier at times in the two sequels: Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal, but I don't wanna spoil anything if I actually convince someone to give the series a try.

Another aspect that the Ratchet & Clank games excel in is making sure things don't get too repetitive. The weapons you use to blow shit up are quite fun, but they CAN get old if that's all you do. Throughout the galaxy, you'll run into vehicles you can pilot, and security doors to break through. Doing the latter always involves using some sort of security gadget and you'll have a mini-game to play through before you can unlock the door.

Right from the beginning, the story in Ratchet & Clank is presented with a snazzy sense of humor. The characters and the situations they run into are so likeable that you'll even appreciate the jokes that DON'T make you laugh. And the sequels teach you that Insomniac Games are truly excellent in the way they use their recurring characters.

All these factors have contributed in making the Ratchet & Clank series into a cult classic, and I can assure you that this is the best little 3D shooter/platformer that you've never heard of.