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LTTP: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart [Spoilers]

RCU005

Member
I just finished my first play through of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. I loved it!

I got my PS5 almost at launch but I had no job so I haven't had any chance to play any new PS5 game for a year. As my first game, I got this one because I'm fan of this duo since the PS3.

The game is beautiful and a technical wonder, there's not denying that. However, I did feel it was short and easier than past games.

The one thing left me wanting more, was that when you meet Rivet you clearly see she is an alternate version of Ratchet, but not the same. First and obvious clue is that she wields a hammer instead of a wrench. Sadly, that's where the differences end. I would've liked that all weapons had variations depending on who you were playing with because you know, they are different variations from different dimensions. I understand it would've been a huge undertake for the team at Insomniac and they are already managing 3 (or 4?) games at the same time, but it would've been great.

I think this was treated more as a technical showcase. Not exactly a demo like Astro Playgrounds, but definitely a smaller project. I loved that it had an open ending, so I would love a sequel. Hopefully this time they do treat it as a AAA project like they once did with Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time.

Insomniac never fails with Ratchet and Clank. The games are always fun, have a lot of action, and while some are better than others, I've never felt disappointed from any of them.

It really excites me that we'll look back in a few years at this game thinking it looks just average in comparison to what's coming.

I'm interested in knowing your opinion on the game, of what's coming next for the franchise and what was your most/least favorite thing of this game.

Happy New Year to you all!
 

Hunnybun

Member
A great game, gorgeous and really fun. Not very original of course, and definitely on the short side. Actually, I don't think it's really any longer than the 2016 game, and that sold for like $40, so you kind of have to question $70 price tag. It's a real push imo.

I wonder if they'll do another one or if they get swallowed up working on Spider-Man and Wolverine?
 

RCU005

Member
Rivet was a mistake

Are you for real? I'm interested to know why.

I really enjoyed her. I think they did a great job designing her character and personality to match seamlessly into the franchise. She just fits right in.

I didn't like Captain Atom. I would've preferred that Captain Quark was a constant across dimensions! It would've been funny.

I didn't like that Kit transforms into this huge killer robot with tiny head. They should've made a better design for that
 

Banjo64

cumsessed
Are you for real? I'm interested to know why.

I really enjoyed her. I think they did a great job designing her character and personality to match seamlessly into the franchise. She just fits right in.

I didn't like Captain Atom. I would've preferred that Captain Quark was a constant across dimensions! It would've been funny.

I didn't like that Kit transforms into this huge killer robot with tiny head. They should've made a better design for that
She just needed bigger tits and she would have been alright.
 

Rivet

Member
I liked Rivet a lot (obviously) and it's the most beautiful game like a lot of people said, but I think they didn't nail the gameplay perfectly. It's fun to play but they should take more risks, try something different (which is not adding Clank puzzles or virus chases, it doesn't fit the game that much in my opinion).

Skirmishes were always on the same very fast rhythm, there are not enough differences between the fights. Of course it's fun having like 1000 objects and blasts on screen, but it felt like they wanted to show the impressive performance of the console first and foremost, as it is usually the case near console launches. Extremely impressive, but not as fun or innovative as some other games.

Weapons should feel more impactful, and they should find a way to remove the weapons wheel, it hurts the tempo a bit. I know it's always been there in Ratchet games, but times change... Maybe make an even more emotional story. Develop some characters a bit more, make us love some NPCs. Force us to make important or heartbreaking decisions. Or if you want to keep the same tone, maybe make funnier interactions between the characters.

I still liked the game, but for me it's behind Returnal or Demon's Souls remake, which are closer to be masterpieces. Technically it's the most impressive of the three though, which is saying a lot.

Favorite part of the game must be the dialogues between Rivet and Ratchet. I also thought they nailed the long final boss fight overall. Ending dialogues after the fight and before credits were maybe a bit short though.

Least favorite part of the game is the middle of the game when fights become a bit too samey.

Still a very good game overall...
 
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Beautiful game but it lacks so much content compared to the previous games and the story is very short. I felt ripped off paying $70 for the game honestly.
 

RCU005

Member
and they should remove the pause when switching weapons with the wheel,

You can! It's in the settings menu. Maybe it was added after launch.

Beautiful game but it lacks so much content compared to the previous games and the story is very short. I felt ripped off paying $70 for the game honestly.
I paid $50 because it was on sale. I always wait for sales now. I'm poor and having so many other priorities that it's a crime to pay $70 for games.

So far, Sackboy, Returnal, Ratchet & Clank, Spider-Man, Demon's Souls and Kena have been on sale at $50 or less.
 

Sleepwalker

Gold Member
It's a beautiful game, it wasn't really my cup of tea but my wife enjoyed it a lot. Don't regret the purchase.
 
My main problem with the game is it lacks a real emotional punch.

It doesn’t have to be some deep introspective shit, but the thing you notice with stuff like Pixar movies or spiderverse is they have strong emotional cores to the characters thats easily relatable for people of all ages.

This game had a lot to work with in terms of both rivet and clank being the only ones of their kind and ratchet being conflicted about finding his family and rivet being more willing to. They should have played on that conflict a little more.
 
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Rivet

Member
My main problem with the game is it lacks a real emotional punch.

It doesn’t have to be some deep introspective shit, but the thing you notice with stuff like Pixar movies or spiderverse is they have strong emotional cores to the characters thats easily relatable for people of all ages.

This game had a lot to work with in terms of both rivet and clank being the only ones of their kind and ratchet being conflicted about finding his family and rivet being more willing to. They should have played on that conflict a little more.

Yes, there's something missing there. Maybe they should hire a guy from Pixar.
 

RPS37

Member
I think I like it more than Psychonauts 2, but I think it’s just because it’s the best graphics I’ve seen in a game, ever.
 

Topher

Gold Member
Beautiful game but it lacks so much content compared to the previous games and the story is very short. I felt ripped off paying $70 for the game honestly.

The story length is pretty typical for a R&C game. What previous games are you referring to?

I think I like it more than Psychonauts 2, but I think it’s just because it’s the best graphics I’ve seen in a game, ever.

Yeah, the graphics are on another level from anything else. But, have to say, I prefer the writing and story of Psychonauts 2. Very well done.
 
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GymWolf

Member
It was shorter but the challenge was kinda the same, ratchet was never a challenging series.

I would love if they make things a bit more hardcore for the sequel.

Also the humor was toned down\worse than the first games imo.

But rivet and the new robot were nice additions.
 

Y0ssarian

Banned
I'm playing through Ratchet & Clank (2016) now for the first time. It's my first entry in the series and I think it's pretty good. The game obviously had a lot of love put in it. I will probably pick up Rift Apart in a couple months when I'm nearly done with my PS4 backlog and catching up on exclusives.
 

Fredrik

Member
Absolutely loved it!

For me, what truly pushed it ahead of everything else on PS5 last year was the localization. It’s probably hard for people in english talking countries to fully understand how rare it is to get good localiztion in swedish, and to get perfect voice acting easily at the level of a Pixar movie … Well, it just never happens. Until now.

Insomniac, and Sony, deserve more praise than I can possibly give them for their job on this game. Playing through this with kids sitting beside me and not having to translate a thing gave me what very likely is my best family playthroughs ever.

It would’ve been my GOTY if it weren’t for Metroid Dread which is my favorit metroidvania since Super Metroid and Forza Horizon 5 which is my favorite racing game in I don’t know how many years. Ratchet really just came out the wrong year.
 
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Hunnybun

Member
I really liked Emperor Nefarious. He was a great villain and had me chuckling along pretty often.

I found the Ms Zurkon weapon vendor really annoying though. Her voice really grates on me.

I'm surprised how little content they put in each of the levels. They went to the trouble of building these incredibly beautiful and apparently huge worlds, then put hardly anything in any of them. Even just a few collectathons and more enemies scattered about would've been better than what we got.

But I guess they were under pressure to get it out quickly for the PS5 launch window so I'll forgive them.
 
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Kuranghi

Member
A Crack in Time is still the best for me overall but RA was a great game.

You said "since PS3", does that mean you've never played Ratchet 2? Or did you play the HD remasters on PS3?

If you haven't played 2 yet then do that right away as its absolutely amazing, the weapon upgrading is so satisfying, they get so much more powerful.
 

Humdinger

Member
I'm only about 20% in, so these are early impressions. For context, I enjoyed some of the early R&C games on the PS2, and I really enjoyed Ratchet and Clank for PS4. However, I'm not having much fun with Rift Apart. I'm not sure why, exactly, but here are some thoughts...

1. It feels too chaotic. There's too much going on visually. It's as if the developers wanted to cram the screen with activity, in order to show off the PS5's capabilities. Understandable, but it feels like overkill. It gives me the "game for people with ADHD" vibes.

2. The characters and tone feel too kiddy, too childish. Now, I am well aware that R&C has always been a kid-friendly game, but the voices and characters here, with their exaggerated facial expressions and phony emotionality, just feels cloying and fake to me. It's supposed to be charming, but I find it off-putting. It's not just the main characters (Rivet and Clank in particular), but the side characters too -- all the ones with the stupid, over-the-top accents. I didn't feel that way about earlier R&C games. I'm not sure what has changed.

3. The humor just doesn't land for me. I can tell the game is repeatedly going for the laugh, and it always falls flat.

4. I'm not finding the basic gameplay loop entertaining. I can't blame the game for that, though. It's doing what R&C has always done (smash crates, collect bolts, buy new weapons, upgrade, shoot enemies). I guess I'm just tired of doing that.


I'll continue on for a while more and see if my feelings change. I doubt they will. I think I've just grown tired of the R&C formula.
 
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