Chris’s Top Ten Videogames of 2016: #3
Ratchet and Clank
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
PS4
Ratchet and Clank started life in 2002 on the PS2. There have been many games in the series since then but, I had only played the excellent Tools of Destruction on the PS3. I knew it was a celebrated series but, in all honesty I had no idea just how great the 2016 version would be and I’m sure it surprised a lot of people with just how fantastic it is!
Ratchet and Clank is a 3D platforming shooter with the 2016 game being a reimagining of the original game from 2002. You play as enthusiastic but naive Ratchet who dreams of becoming a Galactic Ranger, taking after his hero the inept Captain Qwark. Along the way you meet reject robot Clank and together you must defend the galaxy from Dr Nefarious. (If you want a bit more plot then check out my review of the movie here.)
As well as being a joy to play, Ratchet and Clank looks absolutely glorious! It is probably on par with Uncharted 4 for its incredible visuals as they are two of the best looking games from 2016. It’s no exaggeration to say but, it felt like I was playing a Pixar movie rather than a game.
The Ratchet and Clank games have always been well known for their fun and inventive weapons, with gadgets like the Groovitron and Sheepinator being just two that you can use against enemies. Using the Groovitron to throw a disco ball into oncoming bad guys, only to watch them start dancing like they were at a 70’s disco never got old. The Sheepinator needs little explanation and I’m sure you can figure out what happened if you fired it at an enemy. My favourite weapon has to be the Pixelizer which turned baddies into a bunch of pixels accompanied by the appropriate 8 bit sound effects.
Ratchet and Clank was one of those rare games that I wanted to play again as soon as I completed it. It played like a dream and there was so much to unlock and upgrade that you could conceivably play through it more than once. The best thing about this game is that it could be picked up for £30 on release and it is even cheaper now. I would have had no issue paying double the asking price as it is one of the most fun games I have played in 2016. Highly recommended!
Review by Chris (co-host of 60 Minutes With and The Same Coin).
