Best Retro Game Compilation: 'Ratchet & Clank' HD for PS3
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The quirky heroes are much of the charm.
CREDIT: Insomniac Games/Sony |
Years ago, Insomniac Games teamed up with Sony for a new franchise called "Ratchet and Clank" on the PlayStation 2, featuring two unlikely heroes — a small but helpful robot and a wrench-toting Lombax — fighting to save the universe. The series then shifted on the PlayStation 3, culminating with last year's multiplayer-oriented "Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One."
Now Sony has released the "Ratchet and Clank HD Collection," bringing all three original games — the original "Ratchet and Clank" and the sequels "Going Commando" and "Up Your Arsenal" — back in high definition for $30.
Why We Like It
The "Ratchet and Clank" games have a certain charm to them, thanks to their quirky main heroes.
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Ratchet, for example, can use his wrench not only as a tool but also as a projectile and a melee weapon. He can also wield a number of creative weapons, like guns that transform enemies into chickens. You can purchase more weapons using "bolts" that you collect in the game.
The diminutive Clank has his own uses, including displaying mission objectives through humorously constructed videos, and also serving as a helicopter, helping Ratchet reach higher platforms and float across wide gaps.
The "Ratchet and Clank" games feature a fine mixture of platforming and run-and-gun action as you visit each of the remarkable planets, and the controls keep up with the duo every step of the way, no matter how crazy the battles get. What's more, you can challenge friends online through "Up Your Arsenal's" online multiplayer via the PlayStation Network.
What really makes "Ratchet and Clank HD Collection" stand out is its presentation. Idol Minds, handling the game's high-definition conversion, has made each title more colorful than ever, with every planet showing more detail than the last. The characters look great too, as if they were pulled out of a Pixar film. And if you have a capable TV, all three games can be played in 3D as well.
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Keep In Mind
Not every great "Ratchet and Clank" game is included in this collection. The action-packed "Ratchet Deadlocked HD" is sadly missing, though Insomniac Games has confirmed that it will be released as a standalone title for PlayStation Network later this year.
Also, the HD reformatting isn't perfect. While the planets look dazzling and most of the character animations show their stuff, there are very slight lip-synching issues.
Finally, the game does not come with a physical instruction manual. Instead, you'll have to access it digitally through the in-game media menu.
Bottom Line
For $30, "Ratchet and Clank HD Collection" is Sony's best classic-game package yet. It's loaded with gameplay value and the kind of presentation that shows why the series is still going strong today.
Key specs
- PlayStation 3 game system required
- Works with 3D-enabled TVs (PS3 game console already supports 3D)
- Online connection required for "Up Your Arsenal" multiplayer
- Minimal hard drive install space around 10 MB
