PGC NEWS

Ratchet & Clank, a flagship franchise from Insomniac Games, has graced PlayStation consoles from the PS2 era to the latest PS5. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, the newest installment, continues the series’ legacy of action-packed platforming, third-person shooting, and lighthearted humor reminiscent of Pixar films. This PS5 exclusive has generated significant anticipation, and for good reason. Let’s delve into what makes Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart a must-play.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart gameplay

Immersive Gameplay with the DualSense Controller

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart masterfully utilizes the PS5’s DualSense controller, enhancing the gameplay experience significantly. The Haptic Feedback provides nuanced vibrations, allowing players to feel every footstep and even the direction of obstacles whizzing past. The Adaptive Triggers on the R2 button are cleverly employed for weapon firing modes, similar to Returnal, another PS5 exclusive. The varied sounds emanating from the controller during actions like sliding and weapon switching, coupled with the built-in speaker, contribute to a remarkably immersive and distinct experience.

DualSense controller features

Smooth Performance and Stunning Visuals

With its launch day update, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart offers three graphical modes: Quality, Performance RT, and Performance. Performance RT delivers 60 frames per second with ray tracing and upscaled 4K resolution from 1440p. Performance mode maintains 60fps without ray tracing, upscaling from 1800p to 4K. The original Quality mode provides native 4K resolution but at 30fps. Performance RT offers a smooth, responsive experience ideal for dodging enemy fire, with minimal visual compromise. For those seeking a challenge, the game also includes higher difficulty settings.

Graphics settings comparison

A Lighthearted Story Across Dimensions

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart continues the narrative from the 2016 PS4 remake. The protagonists are thrust into an interdimensional adventure, introducing a new playable character, Rivet, another Lombax. While Rivet wields a hammer instead of Ratchet’s wrench, her combat style remains familiar, ensuring a seamless transition between characters.

Rivet, the new Lombax character

Dimensional Rifts and Engaging Gameplay

The dimensional rifts add a unique gameplay element, allowing for quick dashes through space. Boss battles take on an interesting twist as characters are pulled into different locations. The gravity-defying movement of the Spybot character brings to mind the mind-bending film Inception. Beyond Ratchet, Clank, and Rivet, players also control the Spybot, enabling hacking of enemy devices. This varied character control and seamless integration contribute to the rich gameplay experience.

Spybot gameplay

Vibrant Worlds and Hilarious Weaponry

The worlds in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart are vibrant and colorful, showcasing diverse planets and dimensional rifts, enhanced by the PS5’s ray tracing capabilities. The weapons are introduced with humor, providing entertaining insights into how they affect enemies (and characters). The simple storyline makes the game accessible to all ages. However, a few more plot twists could have further enhanced the narrative experience.

Vibrant game world

Conclusion: A Must-Play PS5 Experience

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart successfully leverages the PS5’s hardware to deliver a visually stunning and engaging experience. The innovative use of the DualSense controller, coupled with smooth performance and diverse gameplay mechanics, makes it a standout title. While the story could benefit from a few more surprises, the overall package is a must-play for PS5 owners.