Ratchet and Clank hit the big screen in Hi Def glory!

Our favorite Lombax and robot are back in incredible high definition on the new Playstation 3! Yes, its Ratchet and Clank Future - Tools of Destruction

If you've played any of the Ratchet and Clank adventures on PS2 you know it is one of Insomniac's finest games. (and for my money their Spyro the Dragon was one of the best PS games) The duo have hilarious adventures throughout the galaxy with an arsenal of weapons that make Nikko (GTA IV), Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid) and Master Chief (Halo) jealous. Unlike Nikko, Grand Theft Auto's newest immigrant to Liberty City, Ratchet and Clank can be enjoyed by the whole family with its E (everybody!) rating The day I finally picked up a PS3 and GTA IV, I knew I would also have to get a game I could let my son enjoy. Ratchet and Clank is what gamers call a platformer game, one which you jump from area to area picking up new gadgets and weapons. Of course from the old days of 2D platformers on Nintendo, this genre has come a long way. The game play is linear, i.e. mission to mission, rather than open ended. However, you can go back to any previous worlds to look for extras and secrets. The worlds are so huge that you forget it isn't an open game.

Usually I review games from personal experience, but here, I will have the assistance of my resident expert on Ratchet and Clank. Yes, my son has obtained EVERY single secret, every weapon upgrade, every outfit, every extra in every Ratchet and Clank game. He is the expert. (I did get to play it, but not too long before he bogarted the controller back).

The Stuff We Love about Ratchet and Clank is still here

The Controls
Yup the control scheme is the same as the old games, so jumping into Ratchet and Clank Future - Tools of Destruction is like riding a bike, a brand new hi def blu ray bike! You start off smashing everything with your trusty wrench but soon enough you are buying bombs laser cannons and weoponry that blows up everything in the room. Armor, ammo and weapons dealers hang out on every world, so collect lots of bolts. (If you've never played before, just about everything you smash, crash or explode will blow up into lots of bolts that you can spend).

The Worlds Many worlds will be familiar from the huge city of Stratus to the ruins of Lombax all rendered beautifully.

The Friendship Ratchet and Clank still have a running comic dialogue trhough the game that is sure to make you laugh at least a few times.

The Weapons Have no fear, the huge arsenal of upgradable weapons are back with plenty of bang!

New Stuff to Love about Ratchet and Clank on the PS3

Six Axis Support
My son was skydiving with Ratchet from his transport when missiles came at him. Anyone who plays video games knows that twisting the controller one way or another makes you feel like you are getting out of the way or steering hard to the left or right. My son shouted in joy as he screamed the controller Actually moves you when you tilt it! Yup the new Ratchet and Clank game fully supports PlayStation 3's SIX AXIS controller. Now that tilting of the controller actually does something!

Look at That!
The new generation of games amazes me for sheer graphical beauty. I've already told you of my thoughts of X Box 360's Bioshock on the big screen. Well PS3 is definitely an EYE CANDY Machine. The worlds of Ratchet and Clank are as big as ever, but for PS3 they look 10X as intense on the big screen. I was equally as wowed by my first look at a huge futuristic city of Metropolis in this game as I was by my first new look at Liberty City. Ratchet and Clank has always had a bright colorful detailed look to it, but because of the limits of PS2, I never could play it on my movie projector. Our PS3 is hooked up to my Optoma HD 70 projector via HDMI for full 720p picture quality. (Not many games are actually in 1080i or p yet). All I can tell you is that when the full color vista of Ratchet and Clank appeared on our 105" movie screen we both actually cried out WOW. I mean this game seriously looks absolutely incredible!

More of the Stuff you love
Yeah, there are newer weapons and gadgets that Nick got to use first and I only got to watch, but they are all cool. One new item is the Gelinator that shoots out big green gelatinous cubes that you can bounce on. Weapons also have more upgrades than ever!

Clank has some hot new upgrades too, for example he uses a sweet pair of robo wings that allow you to use the new Axis Six controller to navigate your way through worlds. it does take getting used to.

Sound
The game is in Dolby Digital Surround Sound. You won't need HDMI inputs on your receiver to enjoy the sound, Dolby isn't one of the new Blu Ray audio codecs. Since PS3 discs are on Blu ray discs I assume that games will be released in Dolby HD, DTS HD or DTS Master Audio as time goes by. Good old Dolby Digital sounds awesome here though pumping sound through all channels including a rocking LFE chnannel! (that's the subwoofer folks, yes Ratchet and Clank will rock your living room!) As you weave destruction through various worlds, you can hear creatures behind you, in front of you and beside you. The sound track is also nice, nothing orchestral, but the music moves the game along and the sound effects are pretty cool, each weapon has its own particular sound to it.

Platform / Rating

This new Ratchet and Clank game is ONLY on Playstation 3. It is rated E for everyone.

Summary

Ratchet and Clank Future - Tools of Destruction has all the stuff you loved about the first games, easy to use controls, fun weapons, humor, and visually stunning worlds. It adds the incredible beauty of PS3 graphics, even tighter controls including implementing PS3's sixaxis control functions.