Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Insomniac games is coming for the gauntlet in terms of "Best PlayStation" developers which often coincides with being one of the best "overall" developers around. They've got a long, storied history on the PlayStation console from the likes of Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet & Clank's various games/iterations, Resistance (which honestly needs a remaster or new game ASAP IMO), a small detour to Xbox with Sunset Overdrive (one of my favorite games on that console), and the flagship Spider-Man games that are now some of the best superhero videogames ever.

Shockingly, this studio has put out not 1, but 2(!), PlayStation 5 exclusives since the console launched about 9 months ago. Miles Morales was an awesome, shorter addition to the Spider-Man universe they're creating. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is no "small game" however and instead represents the first full, new game in this series since 2013 (but is largely stemming from the 2016 PS4 remake of the original game). Luckily, there's not much background you need to have on any of the previous games to enjoy this one and - although I've not played all of the previous games - Rift Apart is a clear step up in quality, scope, and technology for this series. It's yet another win for PlayStation in the exclusive department. 

As one of the few, true AAA PlayStation 5 exclusives out right now, Rift Apart gives an awesome preview of what this system can do when games are developed for it from the ground up. The gameplay of the series - 3rd person wacky gunplay - is fairly untouched, but executed beautifully here. Our characters are very mobile, being able to jump, double jump, and dash in any which way, not to mention rocket boots (that spoiled me when I went to other games), melee attacks, and a few other traversal surprises. Gameplay has always been a core strength of this series - part of the reason it has stayed relevant since the PS2 days - and it's at its best form here, Insomniac having learned a lot from it's other series. Now that we're on these uber-powerful next gen consoles, all of this runs at 60 FPS (I chose to operate the 60 FPS ray-tracing option, which is becoming a favorite of mine across games) and never slows down, despite how many "things" are on screen. I say "things" because there are times where the level of objects & detail in-the-moment were staggering. You have the environment, deployed stationary and/or moving weapons on the floor, bolts and gems gleaming to be picked up, 10-20 enemies, and bullets/explosions everywhere. In any other generation, my framerate would have dipped or the game would have frozen, but Rift Apart, much like many other PS5 exclusives, proves that the hardware can handle the chaos. 

All of this is mapped logically to the still-excellent DualSense controller. There's a bit of a learning curve in terms of selecting your weapons (there are 3 entire weapon wheels!), but getting the hang of that makes the gameplay flow from your fingertips just as easy as webslinging through NYC is. Given this was developed for the PS5, the controller also does its usual, awesome tricks too. The vibrations can range from subtle to powerful, sounds emanate from the controller, and it just feels good. I'm not sure it feels quite as critical to your success as Returnal made it, but there's still just so much happening in your hand it's both A) awesome and B) not something I'll ever get over. It's the PS5's "system selling" feature IMO.

Carnage!! UTTER CARNAGE!!

He's about to get a mouthful

Because we're on next-gen hardware, Rift Apart really opens up in terms of locales. There are several worlds you can travel too that range from a destroyed space base to a desert landscape to a metropolis. All of them are gorgeously animated in the near-Pixar level of quality that Insomniac brings to this series and each acts as a "mini-map" of sorts (some being bigger than others). Being able to travel from planet to planet, Mass Effect style is pretty cool, and really opens up this series to feeling akin to something like a Guardians of the Galaxy wannabe (in a good way). Despite this being animated, the graphics are truly incredible. Yes, there's the aforementioned ability to handle chaos, but particle effects, lighting, and attention to detail reign supreme here and this is one of the most impressive visual treats on the PS5 to date. A perfect example of this is the "rifts" you can access to pull yourself forward. They're broken layers in time with cracked and reflecting edges while the animation of using them literally zooms the portal they create forward on your screen without a hiccup. Describing it doesn't do it justice, but trust me when I say it's a jarring and impressive feat. 

The best PlayStation exclusives usually come with awesome stories too and Rift Apart has a lot to offer in this department, though it's not something as elite as what they've been able to do with Spider-Man. Here, the overarching story is rather bland: Dr. Nefarious has caused an inter-dimensional rift catastrophe and Ratchet and team must stop him. It's basically the same plot as most the other games in the series and it ends exactly like you'd anticipate. Within the finer brush strokes of the plot however is where the game truly shines, offering up a lot of character moments that are touching, thoughtful, and deeper than you may suspect. Ratchet has always wanted to meet another Lombax, and once the dimensions open up, Rivet (his female equivalent) is introduced. Clank must go through his own journey, feeling partially responsible for creating the weapon that created the dimensional catastrophe. New character Kit must come to terms with making friends while keeping his demons at bay and even a small virus character, Glitch (who creates some fun gameplay situations) must build her confidence in her capabilities. Wherever the core story disappointed me, it was the character moments, growth, and interactions that make up for it. Rivet is a new "all-time" character along with Ratchet and Clank and I hope Insomniac continues to build off this group for more adventures. 

Flippity-floppity

Titanfall 3 is looking a lot different...

Leaving the best for last, Rift Apart continues the developer's tradition of having f**king awesome weaponry (a strong reason I want another Resistance game!). By my count, Rift Apart has 20 different weapons, all of which control quite differently. There are classics like a powerful shotgun and a rapid-fire pistol that are complimented nicely by specialty ones like the "Sprinkler" that turns enemies into bushes, or floating mushrooms (I think?) that shoot enemies. As you get further, there's an awesome rocket launcher, chaingun, and even the RYNO that opens up portal dimensions above your enemies, dropping fun PlayStation artifacts from other PlayStation series! The best part is that each of these have an extensive upgrade tree that unlocks more branches as you level up the weapons. This forces you (or at least it did for me) to use a variety of weapons to push all of them up collectively to Level 5 and have a fully maxed out arsenal. It's a smart move that adds an addicting element to searching for upgrade materials around the worlds and using all weaponry versus just relying on 1-2. 

My only "significant" complaint about the game is that it didn't feel like there's much to do after the game is over. The campaign itself is probably 10-15 hours long, depending how fast you rush through. I immediately started a New Game+ mode because it allows you to upgrade your weapons to Level 10 but other than being harder, nothing changes. Within the campaign, there's an arena, but it only has a handful of pre-set battles that would get old quickly. I support the move to PS5 games being $70 (I'm surprised it didn't happen last gen TBH), but with that push I feel like there needs to be something to keep the game alive after that. Rift Apart didn't need a multiplayer necessarily, but a round-based survival (read: Horde) mode would have been perfect and helped the overall package feel beefier. 

It's just a whole lot of fun

While we wait for the PS5 to get a "big dog" exclusive the likes of Horizon, God of War, a Naughty Dog title, or a full Spider-Man game, Insomniac has expertly delivered one of the best (if not the outright best) Ratchet & Clank title yet, suggesting the series be included in the conversation of "premier" PlayStation titles. With Rift Apart, their argument is loud and clear: Ratchet, Clank, and their friends are here to stay. 

CONS

• Overall story is pretty generic. Dr. Nefarious doing something bad again and the gang must stop him. Ending doesn't pack many surprises
• A few worlds are sparsely populated compared to others
• Not much to do once you beat the game outside of New Game+. A "horde" mode (potentially co-op) would have been awesome

PROS

• Ratchet & Clank gameplay is incredible and it's at its best here. Jumping, dodging, rocket-skating, and more around maps and enemies feels flawless
• The PS5 proves it can handle the chaos thrown at it. For all the particles/objects on my screen in truly intense battles, it never stuttered. 60 FPS w/ ray-tracing mode is the best mode available here
• Continues to prove why the DualSense is a gamechanger and my favorite controller ever
• Stunning graphics that show off lighting, particle effects, and environmental details. Using rifts is a truly next-gen experience
• Good variety among worlds and the ability to travel between them makes the game feel large
• A memorable and adorable cast of characters who each experience some powerful development, despite the generic story. Their interactions and growth are the best parts of the story
• Rivet in particular is a fantastic new addition and should become a mainstay of this series
• Guns! Guns! Guns! Insomniac proves they haven't loss their creativity here and there are some hilarious and powerful weapons at your disposal here
• Their upgrade trees and XP growth keeps things consistently fresh and (should) make you want to use all of them (which I would highly recommend)
• Entertaining from start to finish with very little to complain about, this is a must-have PS5 exclusive!

Rath's Review Score | 9/10

Per usual, some extra screenshots I took below: