For many followers of Insomniac’s Ratchet and Clank series, it’s been a bit difficult to watch the series descend into increasingly darker themes and game play focused more on action than on platform challenges. Ratchet: Deadlocked was particularly disheartening for fans of Clank, who was absent from the game. Fortunately, our lovable robot friend is back in business as Ratchet’s level-headed sidekick in Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters. As the first PSP iteration in the series, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters does more to return the series’ comedic, action-platform roots than it does to necessarily reinvent it.
Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters begins with the titular duo embarking on a much needed vacation from saving the universe. Relaxing on a sunny beach, Ratchet is approached by a peppy young girl named Luna who wants to interview him for a school project. Of course, Ratchet is eager to have his ego stroked and happily agrees to be interviewed. In the middle of the meeting, however, Luna is kidnapped by a mysterious group of aliens. Seeing how Captain Qwark is too busy taking it easy on the beach to track down Luna, Ratchet and Clank take it upon themselves to rescue the girl.
From the moment we started playing, it was clear that the game truly harkens back to the first couple of games of the series. Light-hearted, jovial, full of jokes, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters spears to be as much about extending the series to PSP as it is about reinvigorating it. This is certainly welcome; however, it also implies little deviation from what the series has already attempted in terms of gameplay.
As to be expected, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters will feature a smorgasbord of weaponry. Unfortunately, we only were able to play around with a flamethrower, scorcher and a bunch of acid grenades. Gravity boots are set for a return, as well, enabling Ratchet to stick to vertical surfaces and reach otherwise inaccessible areas. What we are most excited about is the return of Clank as a playable character in parts of the campaign. Combat still yields bolts which can be used to purchase ammunition, new weapons and upgrades. The game also incorporates an experience system, albeit much simpler than previous iterations of the series.
Like a majority of the titles in Sony’s forthcoming PSP lineup, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters offers both ad-hoc and infrastructure multiplayer. Specifics are to be divulged at a later date, but we do know that it will be competitive and support up to four players. Expect the game to import a few multiplayer modes from the Playstation 2 titles.
While we’d prefer to see a fresh take on the franchise, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters looks to fulfill its promise of returning Insomniac’s action platform series to its light-hearted roots. Use of the original voice actors and a return to the whimsical visual style of the original game ensure that the game will succeed in that goal. Slated for a release the first quarter of 2007, Ratchet and Clank may prove to be a sizable addition to the PSP library.
