Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

*Sigh …*

Another PS3 title, another video-game benchmark …

“What? Are you delirious??”

Not even. The new Ratchet & Clank title, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, is every bit as compelling visually as the high-end Hollywood animated features. Take anything from Dreamworks or Pixar, and compare them and you will find that ToD is a visual feast that rivals them. The major difference is, of course, that when you watch one of those films, that is all you are doing … well, that and munching down.

But with ToD, you are an integral part of the event. It is interactive platform gaming at its finest. Make no mistake about it, ToD is a platform game, with action taking center stage. You will leap and swing across bottomless chasm, have to fly and navigate a course of rings, shoot enemies to collect gears (the coin of the universe), upgrade weapons, buy new weapons, and wise-crack your way through it all.

The game treads new ground in the relationship between Ratchet and Clank. For the uninformed, Ratchet is a Lombax, a race that is all but wiped from the universe. He is an ‘orphan of the universe,’ wandering about, working – on occasion – for Captain Qwark. This time, Qwark calls with an urgent message about robots shooting up headquarters. On the way there, Ratchet finds out that the robots were sent by an evil Cragmite, Emperor Tachyon, who seems bent on wiping out the remaining Lombaxes, which obviously means Ratchet. With his trusty robotic sidekick in tow, Ratchet sets out to foil Tachyon’s plans and that leads him on a romp throughout the galaxy, visiting strange worlds and exploring the lands in an effort to stave off annihilation.

Insomniac Games is behind this adventure and a massive tip of the hat needs to go off to them for creating such a vibrant game that is joyful on many levels. The adventure itself is fun, but it is the nuances that make the game really shine.

Early in the game you will be introduced to some of the core ingredients. You will begin to see the relationship between Ratchet and Clank take on some undertones that were not in earlier games in the franchise. Clank begins to see small hovering robots, that Ratchet can’t. The robots not only seem to be leading Clank in directions contrary to what Ratchet has planned (if it can truly be said that Ratchet has anything planned, and doesn’t just fly by the seat of his pants). And the small life forms also modify Clank at the oddest of times, which seems to build up a level of mistrust between Clank and Ratchet. For example, the duo is presented with a particular challenge that requires them traversing a fair distance across open space, as in there is no ground to walk on. The tiny robots modify Clank, who suddenly sprouts wings. Clank takes up his usual traveling position on Ratchet’s back and off they go.

The SIXAXIS controller comes into play here, allowing the fliers to bank in different directions as they traverse the course.

What would a Ratchet & Clank be without dialogue that tickles your funny bone? This game abounds with asides and background conversations that are very funny. Even the obvious is given a comedic booster shot, gently poking fun at cliches.

Our heroes are escaping from a planet aboard an escape pod. The pod traverses space and comes to the Lombax home world. A very soft female voice intones, as the pod hovers 50 feet or so over the surface, that landing will begin in …

“Five …”

“Four …”

The pod crashes to the surfaces. “Oops,” exclaims the voice, then quickly adds, “three, two, one!”

You will overhear conversations that are rather funny, like robotic pirates discussing their union’s dental plan. Generally, the score and dialogue for this title is first rate and a star in its own right, standing right alongside the graphics as an impressive game element.

ToD plays out at 720p on an HD television. The game is absolutely gorgeous, and the animations, lighting effects, particle effects, shadows and special effects are first rate. The animations are wonderful as well. The characters display a range of emotions that are often as subtle as a look in the eyes or the set of the jaw line. In previous titles Ratchet had 112 bones in his whole body (including the head), but in ToD he has 90 facial bones and hundreds in his body. This creates a much more expressive and animated character.

Part of the animation is tied into the weapons, and like any Ratchet/Insomniac game, the assortment is wide and fun. There are 23 weapons in all, and all can be upgraded using raratanium. Each of the weapons has an upgrade tree that will allow players to pick the upgrades they wish to apply to the weapons. In addition to upgrading weapons at vendors, you can also replenish ammo supplies (instead of having to find it tucked into boxes in the environments).

Having trouble getting past a few enemies? Then use the Groovitron, which puts out a disco beat. The enemies will be boogieing down to the funky sound, and you can move past them easily. Attack them, and all bets are off. Another weapon releases Slinky-like creatures that will find and destroy anything around them. The Tornado Launcher will release a twister that is controlled with the SIXAXIS that wrecks major havoc on any enemy that gets within range.

The game controls easily and utilizes a radial menu for easy access to weapons. You simply pause the game and then select the weapon of choice and it’s back into the action.

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is a feast for the eyes and a delight to play. You may find yourself zipping through the environments and an intended brief gaming session can turn into hours easily. Make no mistake, this is a platformer but graphically it is unlike any platformer that has come before it.

Gameplay: 9.3
The game does have a mild learning curve, but everything is accessible. Load times are covered with cut scenes, and while – if you just run through it – the levels can seem a little short, there is a lot to do and to explore rather than take a straight path through the game.

Graphics: 9.6
This is truly a magnificent animated 3D game. The characters come alive and everything – from the animations to the environments – is pure eye candy. The cut scenes were derived from in-game assets so you won’t find a big disparity between live action and story point.

Sound: 9.5
Sure, the game has what you would expect in terms of plot-driven dialogue, but it is the peripheral sounds that make this game truly fun to listen to.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 9.0
Some of the puzzle types are familiar, and this is a platformer, so expect to fight, swing and bash crates and cartons – you know, the typical stuff. However, the score here is bumped way up for the way it is all presented. This is not a lackluster presentation, but rather a thoroughly enjoyable affair that never seems to slow down.

Overall: 9.3
Tools of Destruction feels a bit short at times, but that is only when you are just driving through the game, going from point A to point B in the shortest route possible. When you take time to explore, you realize how expansive this game is, and how wonderfully designed. Insomniac did a great job with Resistance: Fall of Man, but Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction shows where its forte lays. This is the studio’s second next-gen title and it is truly a terrific bit of gaming.