Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is a fitting end (if it is really the end, hard to know when it comes to such a long running and interesting series) to the adventures of the very unusual duo of a Lombax and a sentient robot.
The first installment in the series arrived in November 2002 and just seven years later, there are five games in the original series, including a ground breaking one on the PlayStation Portable, three videogames in the Future series, featuring the one reviewed here and another spinoff on the PSP, which puts Clank in the spotlight. It’s been a good few years of Ratchet and his partner, and Sony platforms have benefited from the exclusive nature of the franchise.
Right from the onset, it must be said that Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is a refinement of the gameplay elements found in Tools of Destruction and Quest for Booty and not a leap from the designs used there. There’s nothing mind-blowing innovative here but the people at Insomniac do not need to inject anything new into the series at this point, as almost all aspects are solid and coherent, providing challenges while not inducing frustration.
This is not Halo where each new release needs to introduce fresh tactics and shooting mechanics in order to allow for enjoyment on the part of gamers. This is Ratchet… (read more)