Insomniac Games, the same company who brought us the Spyro the Dragon series, introduces a new platform game starring the furry Lombax from Veldin, Ratchet. Midway into his homeworld, he discovers Clank, an artificial intelligence being who will accompany him throughout the remainder of the game. Ratchet and Clank traverse numerous planets collecting bolts, trying to find gold bolts in secret areas, and generally blowing enemies up. There are also hoverboard races, grindrails, and magnetized surfaces to practice on as they battle the despicable whims of Chairman Drek.

....the weapons, including the Glove of Doom (four miniature robots that explode when they find enemies), the Pyrocitor (flamethrower), and the Blaster (all-purpose shooter). Once you've gotten far enough, you can even purchase Gold Weapons (upgraded versions of the originals) with gold bolts.

I was also keen to the fascinating and complex worlds. They were rich with color, interesting enemies, and entertaining activites.

....the monotony of collecting bolts to aid in the purchase of weapons and the Gold Weapons. YAWN. There are some cheat sheets scattered throughout the web that offer tips and hints to collecting bolts quicker; although they may be less time-consuming, they don't alleviate the tediousness of the task.

....find out more about the developers and creators of the game.

....challenged and excited for future installments of Ratchet & Clank.

....it's visually elaborate, filled with stunts and missions sure to keep you on your toes, and you don't have to worry if your kids play it. While this game's primary goal is to blast enemies to smithereens, it's executed in a cartoonish way that won't offend parents or scare the little ones (think Coyote and Roadrunner type of violence).

If you're a gamer, primarily a platformer, Ratchet & Clank is for you!

Note: My ratings are based on my perception of the game after playing the sequel and third installment. If I had reviewed this product beforehand, all of the ratings would have been perfect scores.

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Created Dec 08, 2005 at 11:04am • Submit your own review...