Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart – The Return of a Classic

I want to start this piece off by stating just how much of a fan I am of the Ratchet and Clank series. I have been following the franchise since its first release back in 2002. In fact, it was my very first PlayStation 2 game and the first video game I bought with my own money. Needless to say, Ratchet and Clank holds a special place in my heart and Rift Apart was the main reason I wanted to get ahold of a PlayStation 5. I am happy to say that it did not disappoint.

First Impressions

The first thing I noticed about Rift Apart was that the classic Ratchet and Clank charm was still very much intact. After the opening cutscene of the game, Rift Apart puts the player in control of Ratchet. Of course, Clank is on his back. After years of being out of the hero business, the pair is attending a parade celebrating their history and accomplishments. This is the perfect opportunity for longtime fans to soak in the nostalgia of past games. It also provides a way for newcomers to get acquainted with the heroic duo.

The parade is vibrant, quirky and it sets the tone for the entire game. Once you have a good feel for how Ratchet plays invaders show up, throwing the duo into what they do best: hero work. Naturally they are a bit rusty, but that doesn’t stop them from kicking butt and jumping into their new mission. Dr. Nefarious has returned after years of retirement and has stolen the Dimensionator that Clank made for Ratchet. Clank made the Dimensionator to help reunite Ratchet with his race, the Lombaxes. Instead, Nefarious snatched it and started making a mess of the entire universe. Multiple universes for that matter.

The return of Dr. Nefarious fits perfectly with the theme of this game. It is a homecoming for Ratchet and Clank, and Nefarious is easily one of the best villains in the game. It also plays heavily into nostalgia while delivering an entirely new experience. I was absolutely stoked to see the return of Dr. Nefarious and even more excited that the same voice actors were coming back for this title. It just wouldn’t have been the same without Nefarious’s over-the-top villainous laugh or Clank’s witty jokes that he made himself laugh with. All in all, the Ratchet and Clank magic is back in this title, and I was a kid in 2002 all over again while I played it.

Nostalgia Nostalgia Nostalgia

Nostalgia can be a pretty powerful thing. Often times though, I feel like it can be something that gets abused to make sales. In Rift Apart though, that just is not the case. Instead, they hit you with just enough of it to make you remember all of the good times you’ve had with this franchise, without sacrificing the experience you are currently having with it. It isn’t even an obnoxious amount of nostalgia either. It’s just enough to make longtime fans smile when they see reoccurring enemies come through rifts, sporting their same sound effects.

When a franchise gets as old as Ratchet and Clank, it accumulates a lot of history. Rift Apart does a great job at bridging that gap without feeling like a recap. If you are a newcomer to the franchise, I have no doubt that you will still enjoy this game and pick up enough history to understand the dynamic between everyone. A lot happened, specifically in the PlayStation 3 series of games, but there’s enough information in this game to get you by. Although I will say that if you haven’t played the Ratchet and Clank Future series, you definitely should. Not only are they brilliantly crafted games, but the storyline from them ties heavily into Rift Apart.

Rivet, Kit and Other New Additions

I fell in love with Rivet quite quickly, I’ll admit. As Ratchet’s dimensional counterpart, she is strong-willed and very capable with weapons. It’s not just her though, but how she fits in with Ratchet, Clank and the other newcomer Kit that really ties everything together for me. Kit is Clank’s counterpart, and she plays the part marvelously. I was so invested in Kit I honestly think she really became a new favorite for me. Her story is so moving and sad, I just couldn’t help but root for her. Her story also resonated with me strongly. Watching her bond with Ratchet and eventually Rivet, truly stirred feelings in me that I wasn’t quite expecting to feel from a Ratchet and Clank game. However, I welcomed it, and her story stuck with me for sure.

As I mentioned before, Rift Apart blends nostalgia with newness perfectly. Gameplay will be familiar to any fan of the series, with a few new additions to make things a bit more fluid. Ratchet and Rivet both have the ability to Phantom Dash, which makes dodging bullets and platforming much easier. I got a bit spoiled from this ability because I went back to play an older Ratchet and Clank game, and kept trying to utilize it there, too. It is an amazing addition though, and one that I hope stays in future titles.

Showcasing the PlayStation 5’s Capabilities

Rift Apart is easily one of the best games to take full advantage of everything the PlayStation 5 can offer. Everything from graphics to performance is on point and I never once saw this game miss a beat. Even when a thousand bullets were flying through the vibrant and beautiful space between me and my enemies, the game performed flawlessly. I was truly amazed by the beauty and elegance this game has. Ray-tracing and 60 fps at the same time is a beautiful thing to see.

The DualSense compatibility makes each gun feel different and provides more options when firing them. Halfway pulling the trigger will have one result, and pulling it all the way will have a different result. The haptic feedback is very intuitive as well, picking up on the surfaces Ratchet and Rivet walk on. Each one feels different and it is just too cool. Honestly, Ratchet, Clank, Rivet and Kit feel right at home on the PlayStation 5.

Opening a Door of Possibilities

For me, Rift Apart wasn’t the best entry to the series. Compared to A Crack in Time, which is still my personal favorite, Rift Apart can seem somewhat watered down. Now, what’s here is an absolutely phenomenal game. However, the number of planets seemed to be on the lower end and there are a few features missing that I would’ve liked to have seen. The big one I can think of is actually flying your spaceship and customizing it.

Rift Apart brings a lot to the table though, and certainly propels the franchise into the next generation of gaming. It is actually quite amazing to me that Insomniac has kept this franchise alive this long, but you will not hear any complaints from me. My hope for Ratchet and Clank is that Rift Apart sparked a new interest in the franchise that will allow Insomniac to really explore and go for it next time. Rift Apart was a good starting point, but I hope to see the next “A Crack in Time” grace the PlayStation 5 system. I also think a spin-off of Rivet and Kit would be amazing. The possibilities are endless, and I hope they utilize that.