Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a new entry in the Ratchet & Clank series that acts as a continuation of the series making you wonder Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it? There is a lot to discuss before the outcome. The duo of Ratchet and Clank is back to save everyone alone with new characters. It is a good sequel to the already established series with a large fan base. The introduction of Rivet’s character brings a lot to the table. It has a heartfelt story that is enjoyable and deep at the same time. At times it almost seems like an interactive version of a Pixar movie. It fully utilizes the hardware of PS5 which makes it a visually impressive game.
When it comes to exclusives then: Rift Apart is one of the best examples. It perfectly shows what the PlayStation 5 is capable of and what players should expect from it in the future. This time the story takes on a new turn, unlike anything we have seen before in the series. Traveling to and from other dimensions gives a unique kind of feeling. There are some new mechanics in the gameplay which makes it even better. Despite all the changes the game is good for both new players and fans of the series. If you are thinking “Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it?” Then let’s discuss this in detail before we can conclude.
Premise (Spoiler Free)
There are no spoilers in the review so you can read every part of it without having to worry about reading something that will ruin your experience. Dr. Nefarious rips space-time apart with Dimnetionator that was a device repaired by Clank. This creates a rift in dimensions which results in the separation of Ratchet and Clank. The rift leads to the introduction of two different versions of Dr. Nefarious from two different dimensions. Dr. Nefarious from the other dimension is not just a mumbling stupid but an emperor who rules the galaxy with an iron fist. There is resistance from people of that dimension and Revit is part of that resistance. She is the counterpart of Ratchet from another Dimension.
The game has good dialogues and feels light-hearted like an animated movie. The story is not spectacular since it does not have a story-driven narrative but it’s quite good. There are some pretty deep topics in the game such as friendship, love, good and bad. The game does not revolve around these topics but it touches upon these topics during the story. At times, duologues seem goofy but they are good since the game seems like an interactive animation. Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it to you for its premise? Well, there is more to it.
Missions
It has the same structure as 2016’s Ratchet & Clank. You go to different planets that have different main missions, side missions, and challenges. Some planets are more open than others with more activities. It’s not like it is an open-world game but certain areas offer a sandbox type of environment. This is good because Rift Apart retains the quality without losing it too many activities like other open-world games. There are so many things to go around in missions so it’s not a repeatable experience which makes it even better.
There is also a battle arena in the game that can help you earn upgrades between missions. It is just a bonus mode and does not serve any other purpose. Completing side quests, challenges and collectibles will help you gain more stuff. These activities are optional and you can skip them if you want to focus on the main missions only. Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it to you for its mission and side missions? There is more to it.
Characterization
The game has returning characters and new characters. Revit is a new character but despite being a new character, she does not feel weird. You feel an attachment to her even though it is the first time we are seeing her. She is the counterpart of Ratchet but she still has her own personality. You can see how her character is different than Ratchet despite being his counterpart from another dimension. She has her own dreams, ambitions, motivations, and desires. Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it for its characters? Well, let’s discuss some more.
The different nature and characterization of Revit make her feel more important. Even though Ratchet is the main character, Revit still steals the show with her charming nature. Whether you are an old fan of the series or playing Ratchet & Clank game for the first time you will like her due to her charming nature. There are some good character moments in the game. These character moments shed light on the story as well as the personality of the characters. Both the new and the returning characters act gleefully which brings more fun to the game.
Revit, Ratchet and So On
There are two major characters in the game Ratchet and Revit. Despite being two different characters these two are the same when it comes to gameplay. The only differences that these two characters have are personality, gender, and looks other than that, everything is the same. You won’t feel any difference in gameplay whether you are playing as Revit or Ratchet. The progression across both characters is also the same and they share everything they have. You don’t have to worry about upgrading and purchasing weapons separately for Ratchet and Revit since they share progression. The switch of character is only there to switch narrative and progress the story. It does not serve any other purpose which is a disappointment since the premise is already there to support it.
You also get to get chances to play as Clank and Glitch from time to time. Glitch is a robotic spider torrent that is a new character in the series. When playing puzzles you will get to play as Clank. In such missions, there is not much combat since it’s all about solving puzzles through Clank. Glitch is also a good character and has his own personality. Glitch is a glitch in a computer so its missions are also in a computer. Playing as Glitch is also fun since it offers a different kind of gameplay experience. Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it to you? for the introduction of its new playable characters.
Combat
Combat is a major aspect of the series and that’s true for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart as well. There are some new moves at your disposal that help in making combat better. You have the ability to wall run, use the grappling hook, hover in the air, and dash. Dashing is the most usable ability as you can use it any time you want. Other abilities, however, are scripted and you can only use them when the game wants you to.
You cannot wall-run, use a grappling hook, or hover whenever you want. You can only do such things when a level allows you to do so. Despite that, the game will still allow you to use these abilities in combat from time to time. Dashing helps a lot and works quite well in combat. The combat of the game feels better despite retaining the same qualities.
Weapons
There are many types of weapons in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. There are nearly 20 different types of weapons that players can use in the game. Each weapon is unique in the way they shoot and the way enemies react to them. Kind of reminds me about the large weapon verity of Borderlands 3. Weapon verity is not that extensive in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart though it is enough for a Ratchet & Clank game.
Weapons are pretty interesting and the effect they produce makes them even better. Some weapons will create plants from enemies when you shot them, others will throw mushroom sentries that will attack enemies, some will bounce with each press of a trigger, etc. There are also normal weapons as well but even they are unique. Normal weapons such as pistol and shotgun also have good effects. Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it to you for its combat and weapons? There is still more to it.
Older weapons from previous games are also returning but this time each weapon is supported by DualSense Controller. Each weapon has an alternate fire mode based on how you press the trigger. Pressing the trigger all the way and full way will trigger alt firing mode and normal mode respectively. You can even use it in intense combat with ease even though the game has chaotic combat. It is one of the few games that perfectly utilizes hepatic feedback and adaptive trigger showing what to expect from the future games of the PlayStation 5.
Upgrades
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart does not go crazy with customization since it is not an RPG. However, it does offer a good amount of weapon upgrades. The more you use a weapon the more it will level up. So the game will evolve as per your playstyle. Raritanium is still important and will help a lot in upgrading weapons and gear. You can upgrade weapons to increase their damage, area of effect, range, max ammo, RPM, clip size, and other properties.
The more a weapon evolves the more options are available for upgrades. When a weapon reaches level 5 then it will upgrade to a better version. Their performance will improve drastically making them even better. Burst pistol will become blast pistol and so on. Such upgrade options are available for all weapons. So there is a wide variety of weapons available that are upgradable making them even more varied.
The Chaotic Combat
It has fast-paced combat that can get intense from time to time. You can face a large number of enemies from time to time. The enemies that swarm you will have different attacks and sizes. Such encounters will force you to keep moving and use everything in your arsenal. You will be changing a lot of weapons for defiance, offense, and crowd control. The game wants you to use everything in your arsenal to make the most out of everything.
There are a couple of boss fights and they are good considering the fact that the game does not emphasize a lot on them. You will feel an adrenaline rush and would try to use everything you have to take down enemies. The fast-paced and chaotic combat of the game makes it a good experience. Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it to you for its combat? There is more to the game than just the combat.
General Gameplay
The game easy to understand and when you get in the game it won’t take long to get a hang of it. It doesn’t really matter if you are an old fan or new to the series, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is good for both. You don’t have to play previous games in the series to understand what’s happing in the Rift Apart.
You can use bolts as currency just like previous games in the series. It’s not too hard to upgrade weapons because the game is generous when it comes to weapon upgrades. If you are a completionist then you will be able to upgrade everything by the time you end the game. There are challenges and side missions to do as well so the game will reward you for exploration.
Action-Platformer
There has always been an aspect of platforming in the Richet & Clank series. Though platforming is not a big part of it this time, it certainly has an impact on it. You get to ride a sliding creature that acts as a reminiscence of the old days. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is more of an action platformer. The platforming elements are less than the previous games in the series. It’s not an issue for most players since it is still very much a Ratchet & Clank game. However, it could be an issue for some fans of the series but it wasn’t an issue for me. Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it to for its less emphasis on platforming? Well, there is still more to the game.
General Aspects
There are three different game modes similar to Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Fidelity mode, Performance mode, and Performance Ray Tracing mode. Fidelity mode shows the best version of the game with native 4k and Ray tracing. In this mode, the frame rate is 30 which might not be good for some players since the game is pretty fast. Rift Apart looks and feels like an interactive animated movie in Fidelity mode. In Performance mode, the game runs at dynamic 4k, 60FPS without ray tracing. In the Performance ray tracing mode, the game runs at dynamic 4k 60 FPS and some other cutbacks and less intense raytracing. If you want to experience the true next-gen graphics then Fidelity mode is the way to go. My favorite is Performance raytracing since it has the best of both.
Music is important for any medium and that include video games as well. Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart has amazing music that works in synchronization with the game. Music not only supports the narrative but combat as well. It supports everything being shown on the screen and even helps in making it better. The photo mode lets you capture amazing photos and offers a lot of options similar to Ghost of Tsushima. It is not a long game and you can complete it in 15 to 16 hours or 20 if you are a completionist. Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it to you for its general aspects.
Rifts In Dimensions
The inclusion of high-speed SSDSs in the next-gen consoles is not just ending the load screen but also bringing new mechanics to games. There is virtually no loading time in the game which makes it a good experience. The fact that you can jump from one type of environment to another on the go without any load time seems thrilling. It is like the all the levels are part of the same map that you cannot see. In certain high-speed sequences, you will travel through multiple dimensions in a row which is quite exciting, to say the least. Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it for its rift mechanics? Which is something never seen in any other game.
Rifts are the flagship feature of the game but they are limited to certain areas. High-speed sequences and rifts are scripted so you can’t just trigger them with a press of a button which is kind of a bummer. Normal rifts are more common but even they can only be triggered if the level is allowing you to do so. The game can handle a large amount of effect at the same time which is also spectacular. Seeing so many effects triggering at the same time is interesting.
End Game Content
There isn’t much end-game content but it does have a challenge mode. You can unlock it after completing the game. It is a new game plus mode that lets you ramp up the difficulty. The challenge mode not only increases the difficulty but also weapon upgrades as well. Your weapon can go beyond the normal level in challenge mode.
Verdict
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a next-gen game in all sense. It looks amazing, has good colors, character design, animation, and environments. It fully utilizes the PlayStation 5 and presents eye-popping images. The rift mechanics were made possible with the high-speed SSD of the PS5. It truly is a next-gen game that is presenting a different kind of experience unlike anything before. The game looks and feels like an interactive animated movie.
There is not much difference between Revit and Ratchet when it comes to gameplay despite being different characters in all other aspects. The game is utilizing the rift mechanics in a scripted sequence which makes the mechanics seem underutilized. Despite that, the game is an amazing action platformer with gameplay never seen in any other Ratchet & Clank game. It shows that PlayStation Exclusives are just going to get better.
Now let’s answer the question “Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart worth it?” if you are a fan of the series then you will like it because it is still Ratchet & Clank at its core. The game retains all the core features while improving on other aspects. If you are a new player and want to jump into the series for the first game then it is still a game for you. In short, it is the game for everyone who wants to feel a true next-gen experience.
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