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Ratchet and Clank

A new 3D platform game, that's actually quite good...

Ever imagined what life was like in a distant, cartoon like galaxy? No… me neither, but with this game you travel to an unknown galaxy where something strange is afoot. You take control of Ratchet, eerily similar to Tails from the Sonic series, and occasionally Clank, a very small, but very clever robot. Ratchet is a mechanic and gets dragged in to saving the universe by the ever-moral Clank, don’t you just hate it when that happens! This is, however, no bog standard 3D platformer, I’m pleased to report.

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It’s a little bit sluggish to get involved in the highly comical, and sometimes moral, plot, but once it gets there you will find yourself laughing your gravitron magnaboots off. Once you’ve put your boots back on, you begin to notice the striking music in the game too. It is very filmic with climactic music at all the right places in the story. It is surprisingly good to listen to, and there were many times I died due to over attention to the score. Which is quite a compliment.

The graphics are pleasantly crisp and stylised with a real attention to detail. All the widely varied monsters and aliens you have to kill have been painstakingly created and have individual movements, weapons and ways in which they are defeated. The levels too are just about the right size. You don’t find yourself endlessly walking around looking for a tiny object, hidden in a small crack, in a maze of 300 square miles. While this may be too easy for some, it will please younger audiences, as they will not spend too long in one level.

The array of weapons is incredibly substantial and original, too. You have a standard wrench (which performs varied tasks) along with weapons that vary from a ‘hand of doom’ glove (which fires small bombs that explode into 4 little robots who run after the enemies and blow them to smithereens), to a suck gun (which sucks up small enemies then fires them out at their mates!). This is combined with the gadgets you can pick up on the way. You can get anything from helmets to flying ships, shoes to walk upside-down and helicopter blades for Clank - the list is quite impressive.

I do have a bit of a problem with the controls, however. They have a large repertoire of moves that are guided fluently, once mastered, by the two analogue controllers. Personally I found them reasonably accessible but with this game aimed at young gamers, will they be too annoying? The game play options too are rather limited (with no 2 player option or difficulty rating) and if you were to complete this game I feel it would offer you very little extra to go back to.

Can this game go on to achieve the dizzy heights of Jak and Daxter? It shares many of its qualities and even surpasses it in the areas of aesthetics and overall atmosphere. This game is without doubt a worthy progression in the 3D platform genre and I wait with baited breath for a sequel. Come on chaps, don’t disappoint. If you don’t you’ll have millions of children and adults running the streets for bolts in order to acquire a hover board. Confused? Well buy the game. Enough said.

87%

1. Judging from the general gamer- and reviewer-impression, that's slightly harsh score - yet not bad at all. It's being praised as a likely contender for GOTY, which is impressive for a "normal" platformer like this one. Ought to be great.

   I loved J&D and I'm sure I'll do the same with this one, if only I could get myself off from VC and earn some cash. Or even better, I could just ask for it for x-mas.

   Do that, I will ;)

   Haarball Wednesday, 27 November 2002, 08:29:29

2. how do you get the last three gold bolts on the last level

   JD Thursday, 1 May 2003, 13:30:19

3. thats crap

   u need more photos u ass whole"s"

   i cant believe it there more movies in the beggining level than there are picturs

   whos that anyway i need 2 c more photos

   i could beat the game b4 i c better pictures than that o wait i just did

   suck my 8===D Friday, 20 June 2003, 02:58:54

4. o thats what it does i thought it was comments on stuff like the sight im sorry plz reply 2 me cause i have no clue where 2 get the gold weapons all i know is that they cost money and 4 gold bolts

   suck my 8===D Friday, 20 June 2003, 03:00:52

5. I need the two gold bolts for the level that you get the hologuise, PLease tell me?

   Rikki Monday, 23 June 2003, 17:45:1

6. were do you find the hologuise.

   ratchet Thursday, 28 August 2003, 10:56:24

7. I love this game and my family have really enjoyed playing it. Its full of new things to do where you collect gold bolts, get skill points and collect as many weapons and gadgets as you can afford with bolts.

   Its taken hours to complete and its the kind of game you are happy to play again.

   Karen Wednesday, 3 September 2003, 06:01:3

8. I am the son of the lead animator for this game. Oliver Wade

   skuller86 Saturday, 20 September 2003, 14:40:26

9. i have beat the game twice and to get the gold weaps beat the game, go to novalis and take the nearby teleporter and yes they cost a HELL LOT the less expensive cost 10,000 but not as much as the R.Y.N.O (Rip You a New One) though

   killerborn Sunday, 5 October 2003, 05:21:30

10. How do you acquire a hover board?

    Crystal Monday, 10 November 2003, 19:16:2

11. you get the hover bord on out post 11 level after killing all the sand mice.

    bexter Tuesday, 11 November 2003, 10:06:55

12. how indeed. I am stuck with the very same problem. however I have only one more to find on the last level, but I am unable to find it. if you now know please save me.

    steve Sunday, 14 December 2003, 07:01:47

13. really? thats awesome. do you like the actual game?

    spyro lover Sunday, 28 December 2003, 20:52:59

14. how the hell do i get all 30 skill points?????????

    deftones worshipper666 Sunday, 28 December 2003, 20:55:49

16. how the hell do i get all 30 skill points?????????

    deftones worshipper666 Sunday, 28 December 2003, 20:55:49

17. This game is really fun but what help r the sand mice?

    Trev Tuesday, 30 December 2003, 22:34:3

18. I'm stock in the planet where you have to win the hover board race, and i can't accomplish the other mission 'cause I always drawn, How do I swim? Where can I find the thing to swim better

    chris Friday, 9 January 2004, 19:50:12

19. where are the 2 gold bolts in the last level :-)

    tomos Saturday, 17 January 2004, 06:54:34

20. On VELDIN to get the last 3 GOLD BOLTS

    1.Go about half way through the level to a blue laser thingy with a small enemy behind.Use the TAUNTER to lure the enemy onto a switch.Then go throgh the tunnel to find a GOLD BOLT.

    2.Go a bit past no 1 where you have to SWINGSHOT across to 2 or 3 enemys.Don't SWINGSHOT across but look to the right and you will see some platforms. Jump across these to find the second GOLD BOLT.

    3.When you get to a place with about 7 NINJA people don't jump across into the tunnel.There is a platform near the edge of the cliff.jump on it and there is another platform with a GRIND RAIL.Grind down that to find the 3rd and final GOLD BOLT.

    JAKE HACKNEY Monday, 1 March 2004, 11:28:37

21. Someone PLEASE tell me the easiest way in Ratchet and clank to finish the

    race in blackwater city in under 1:35 to get the "speedy" skill point

    ? Tuesday, 13 April 2004, 20:45:27

22. How do I get all the gold bolts.

    gregory Monday, 31 May 2004, 18:26:19

23. On returning to Ratchets home planet, i get stuck trying to get onto a ledge shortly after the cave with the floaty blokes in it. Anyone know how to jump higher or is it a glitch in the game? Any suggestions?

    poops Friday, 11 June 2004, 07:21:8

24. this game kicks ass

    wave 32 Wednesday, 23 June 2004, 23:20:8

25. when is the new Ratchet and Clank 3 going to come out?

    Jennifer Spinks Saturday, 3 July 2004, 22:24:52

26. Great preview! I totally agree with all the positive things you have said about it :-D. This game definitely deserves the rating you gave it! :-)

    Rachel Thursday, 29 July 2004, 00:28:38

27. Hey, "suck my" person, you are so rude. :-( Shut up.

    Rachel Thursday, 29 July 2004, 00:37:19

28. make a rachet and clank 3

    junior Sunday, 1 August 2004, 13:59:32

29. make a rachet and clank 3

    junior Sunday, 1 August 2004, 13:59:35

30. make a rachet and clank 3

    junior Sunday, 1 August 2004, 13:59:35

32. make a rachet and clank 3

    junior Sunday, 1 August 2004, 13:59:36

33. make a rachet and clank 3

    junior Sunday, 1 August 2004, 13:59:36

34. make a rachet and clank 3

    junior Sunday, 1 August 2004, 13:59:36

35. R&C 3 is coming in November, so you can stop asking.

    whoever Sunday, 1 August 2004, 20:31:28

36. I still dont understand how to get the hologuise on ps2

    the first r and c

    Yo Momma Tuesday, 31 August 2004, 13:39:58

37. Oliver Wade is so nice! ^_^ And one heckuva artist too.

    Atsu Monday, 13 September 2004, 20:04:33

38. Can someone tell me how to get the skill point speedy? coz i can't beat the race in 1:35 and this is my last skill point!!! and i want to beat the whole game u know HELP

    Thunder Dragon Saturday, 25 September 2004, 09:50:10

39. Hey can someone tell me how to get to the gold weapons

    kathy Sunday, 26 September 2004, 20:50:50

40. you guys suck I was wondrering about the new ratchet and clank after going commando and nobody heardf of it you lick

    john Wednesday, 20 October 2004, 15:38:16

41. this game is awsome cant wait till uya comes out

    connor Saturday, 23 October 2004, 21:18:17

42. ratchet and clank 3 is comin out in nov 2 2004

    connor Saturday, 23 October 2004, 21:20:32

43. any 1 who needs help go to ign.com/guids itreally helped me try it

    ?? Monday, 25 October 2004, 18:15:34

44. Hay Bexter there sand sharks you have to kill not sand mice!!!!!

    AH Wednesday, 27 October 2004, 15:21:44

45. i dont no tomos i cant find em eather!!!!!!

    AH Wednesday, 27 October 2004, 15:34:18

46. thanks a bunch Jake Hackney i've been tryna get that GOLD bolt for over 8 months.........

    .......searioucely!!!!!

    AH Wednesday, 27 October 2004, 15:46:30

48. i cant bilive it theres still peoples comments from 2002.

    thats just wierd!!!!!!!!!!!

    AH Wednesday, 27 October 2004, 15:51:34

49. Im getting rearly boardnow nowone else is putting in comments.

    the last peorson to put in a comment in apart from me put it in yesterday and wanted to now about magic skill point!!!!!!

    AH Wednesday, 27 October 2004, 16:00:18

50. thats it still no one has submited another comment.

    im never comeing on this site again....................

    ................well maby i might cange my mind:naahh!!!!!!!

    AH Wednesday, 27 October 2004, 16:07:32

51. SDFASEF

    SDESAFE Tuesday, 2 November 2004, 18:25:0

52. RATCHET AND CLANK UP YOUR ARSENALS.

    FROM:BROCK

    ARE123 Thursday, 11 November 2004, 21:32:55

53. how do i get the 30 skill points?

    i only have 8

    X Tuesday, 16 November 2004, 19:07:4

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