PS3 Review: Ratchet and Clank: A Crank in Time

Does the series end with a bang?

Having played A Crank in Time all the way through, I do think it could potentially be the last game in the Ratchet and Clank series, deep down I hope that isn’t the case since it’s clear the platforming genre needs games like these to make a serious comeback. If this is the end, how does it hold up?

The game continues after Tools of Destruction with Clank being kidnapped and Ratchet trying to find him. The formula of the series remains intact and in that respect, it does feel like Insomniac has played this entry a bit safe…but it’s not a huge complaint. The campaign will take just over 10 hours to do with a bit more for those completionists looking to hunt down every zoni and unlock every trophy.

A Crank in Time combines elements of platforming, puzzles and combat to create a game that I could not put down until I was done…Oh sure, things may not have changed that much in terms of visuals, but it feels more of a complete experience and perhaps the best entry in the series. The great thing is that you get a good amount of time playing as both Ratchet and Clank this time around. It would have been nice to have some co-op or multiplayer modes, but would they have worked? It’s debatable.

Almost everything can be upgraded in the game from your weapons (and there are a lot of them) to your ship which you fly across the stars to other planets, taking on side-quests and following the predetermined path to progress. It’s mostly a linear experience, but it works brilliantly and never falters to impress. The writing of this instalment has been criticised a bit, but I personally was chuckling away at moments that were pure silly and predictable…but still, its part of the magic that is Ratchet and Clank.

Perhaps the visuals could have done with an improvement, but if anything the engine shows how far ahead of the curve that the first game was. Voice-acting is superb and matches the brilliant script that answers all questions for fans, it’s basically the end result that we’ve all been waiting for…and it doesn’t disappoint.

The Verdict

Ratchet and Clank: A Crank in Time is definitely the best in the series and the best platformer I’ve come across in years. I hope it isn’t the end of the series, but if it is…at least it went out on a high.