Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

Insomniac struck gold selling over 2 million copies of the PlayStation 3 exclusive Resistance: Fall of Man. Now, the video game company known for selling the most number of critically acclaimed PlayStation 3 exclusives continues their next endeavor in Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is a PlayStation 3 exclusive video game that is set in the action adventure genre. This marks Ratchet and Clank's first time on the PlayStation 3. The storyline in the game revolves around Ratchet and his partner Clank. It begins when Captain Qwark tells Ratchet and Clank about the dangers of the armada. As a result, Ratchet and Clank are under attack by the nefarious Emperor Percival Tachyon. The game is not as facetious as the PlayStation 2 adaptations, but it is still has the best plot in the series. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is not just any ordinary platform video game. I felt like the game was a combination of both platform jumping and third person shooting. The gameplay is without a doubt in my mind the most engrossing Ratchet & Clank game anyone has played so far. Gamers will feel like the game is at a brisk pace, and there is never an insipid moment. Avid Ratchet & Clank aficionados will pick up the controls fairly easily. Even if you are a novice to the Ratchet & Clank games, the controls should not deter you from playing it. The game does an amazing job with the camera. I never found any point in the game where I said to myself "Where the hell is Ratchet?" Furthermore, a free camera mode allows players to adjust the camera to line up those tricky jumps. Ratchet is a versatile character, and the things he can do is a true testament to his dexterity. For instance, Ratchet can glide on a railing, double jump, and lock onto his targets with brilliant accuracy. He also has the ability to execute evasive maneuvers such as flips in various directions.

The gameplay provides you with the chance to play mini games (which provides an excellent change of pace from the usual gameplay). Some of these mini games entail firing gun turrets while in outer space (ala Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic). Moreover, there are some sections where you can play as Ratchet's teammate Clank. Bolstering weapons is done in exactly the same manner as the PlayStation 2 editions. Utilizing a particular weapon repeatedly will automatically give that weapon a statistical boost. Giving the weapon a boost is eerily similar to a role playing game, and it works well. In order to purchase new weapons, you have to collect bolts from defeated adversaries. Everyone was flabbergasted by the numerous weapons in previous Ratchet & Clank games and Resistance: Fall of Man. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is no exception to that rule. Insomniac really sparred no expense in attempting to design weapons that are both comical and entertaining. Weapons seem to be the name of the game in all of Insomniac's video games. Some of the plethora of weapons Ratchet has in his arsenal are a whip, tornado launcher, plasma guns, homing missiles, rocket propelled grenades, disco launcher, and so much more.

There are the self explanatory weapons, (ala homing missiles) but there are also the eccentric weapons (ala disco launcher). When the disco launcher is used near an enemy, it will coerce the foe into dancing to disco music. Another unique weapon is a weapon that turns opponents into penguins. When this is used in conjunction with the disco launcher, there will be dancing penguins on screen. The only two lingering flaws with the game was the lack of a multiplayer and difficulty. It is somewhat simple when the game lets you use all those fully upgraded weapons. However, the lack of challenge is something that did not decrease the amount of enjoyment I had with this game. The graphics in the game are gorgeous. Everything from the environments to Ratchet him is nicely rendered. The visuals manages to retain the same cartoon-like presentation that made the PlayStation 2 versions appear futuristic. No, the character models are not as realistic as other next generation games. Nevertheless, the graphics in the game will successfully appease enthusiasts of Ratchet &Clank. Explosions are as gratifying as gliding though the air. The animations are on par with any PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 game. I was more than impressed with the fantastic frame rate in the game. The audio in the game is what I expected it to be. Captain Qwark is his usual whimsical self, Ratchet is his like his PlayStation 2 counterpart, and Clank is Clank. The audio was solid, and the music fit the style of the game. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction has a cliffhanger ending, but it is a long fifteen hour gameplay experience. Overall, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is a must play and is the best PlayStation 3 exclusive that is currently available.
Final Verdict: Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is a great game.
9 out of 10