Ratchet uses a "Rift Tether" to quickly warp between areas.
The game shares many gameplay similarities with Ratchet & Clank (2016) and other entries in the series. It retains elements of previous Ratchet & Clank games, such as strafing, gunplay, collection of bolts, automatic weapon and health upgrades, manual Raritanium weapon upgrading and gadgets. The main playable character is Ratchet. He is accompanied by his robotic friend and sidekick Clank, who is hung on his back. Additionally, the game has a playable female Lombax named Rivet, as well as a robot similar to Clank, Kit.[4][6] The player navigates Ratchet and Rivet through diverse environments across a multitude of levels, defeating enemies with an array of varied weapons and gadgets, and traversing obstacles to complete key mission objectives.[7]
The game introduces to the series the concept of real-time near instantaneous travel between different areas, planets and other worlds within gameplay scenes via a system of inter-dimensional portals.[8] In order for the player to utilize this feature, a new mechanic dubbed the "Rift Tether" is introduced in Ratchet and Rivet's arsenal that pulls them from one side of a portal to another, allowing them to move quickly between points.[8] The game features the return of planets explored in previous entries with a dimensional twist, through their alternate counterparts, alongside new planets not seen previously in the franchise.[9] The game features enhanced mobility and traversal options with the addition of moves such as dashing and wall running.[10] In addition, the game's arsenal features a mix of brand new weapons and returning classics from prior installments.[11]
The game features an assortment of accessibility options, including a high contrast mode and toggles for simplified traversal, camera sensitivity, flight assistance, etc., to ensure that all players can enjoy the gameplay and complete the story.[12][13][14][15]
Plot
Some time after the events of Into the Nexus, Ratchet and Clank are celebrated as galactic heroes during a parade hosted by Captain Quark, Skid McMarx, and Rusty Pete on Corson V. During it, Clank reveals that he has repaired the Dimensionator, a device capable of opening rifts to other dimensions so that Ratchet can search for the Lombax race and his missing family. However, Doctor Nefarious attacks the parade and attempts to steal the Dimensionator. During the struggle, Ratchet unthinkingly shoots the Dimensionator, which causes dimensional rifts to begin opening randomly. Ratchet, Clank, and Dr. Nefarious are transported to an alternate universe, where the Dimensionator explodes, damaging the fabric of space and time and separating the three. Clank awakens to find himself alone and now missing his right arm from the blast. He is discovered and picked up by a female Lombax named Rivet. Meanwhile, Dr. Nefarious ends up in a throne room, where he is mistaken for Emperor Nefarious, an alternate version of himself who, unlike him, has never been defeated and rules over the galaxy. Ratchet, elsewhere, finds himself alone and starts his search for Clank. With the emperor currently absent on a conquest, Dr. Nefarious secretly assumes his identity and sends his new minions after Ratchet and Rivet.
While searching, Ratchet witnesses Rivet escaping the planet with Clank. Ratchet encounters Phantom (the alternate Skidd), a member of the Resistance opposed to Emperor Nefarious, which Rivet is a part of, who gifts him an electronic helper named Glitch to help him get a ship to follow her. Rivet takes Clank to her hideout on Sargasso to interrogate him, not believing his words about the dimensional rifts due to her distrust in robots. They discover a dimensional anomaly on the planet which Clank investigates, making contact with a prophet named Gary, who enlists his help in repairing other dimensional anomalies to prevent the Dimensional Cataclysm. Rivet learns the truth by looking into Clank's memories and repairs Clank's communicator so they are able to get in contact with Ratchet and come up with a plan to rebuild the Dimensionator so they can return to their own home dimension and stop the Dimensional Cataclysm.
Ratchet heads out to find the blueprint for the Dimensionator, and recruits one of Gary's robot apprentices, Kit, to be his partner. Kit warns Ratchet that she is a Warbot built by Emperor Nefarious and worries she might lose control of her programming and attack him, but Ratchet reassures her that they make a good team. They then head to a secret lab on Cordelion to forge a new Dimensionator, while Rivet and Clank head out to Blizar Prime to gather the Phase Quartz needed to power it. After it is accidentally destroyed, the two search for the mythical Fixer on Torren IV who can repair anything and convince him to overcome his own self-doubt to repair the Phase Quartz. Ratchet and Rivet then finally meet in the Scarstu Debris Field, with Clank reuniting with Ratchet and Kit agreeing to become Rivet's partner. They complete the Dimensionator, only for Dr. Nefarious to arrive and steal it. Dr. Nefarious is defeated in battle, but the real Emperor Nefarious arrives, easily defeating Ratchet and Rivet and stealing the Dimensionator for himself, which he plans to use to eliminate Captain Quantum (the alternate Captain Qwark) and destroy the Resistance once and for all.
Rivet pursues Emperor Nefarious, but he uses the Dimensionator to banish her to a pocket dimension. As Rivet searches for a rift to escape through, she tells Kit about how she lost her arm to a Warbot attack, with Kit realizing she was the one responsible. Meanwhile Ratchet heads out to Ardolis to try and warn Captain Quantum, but fails to stop Emperor Nefarious from banishing Captain Quantum through a rift. Emperor Nefarious celebrates finally conquering the universe but doesn't feel fulfilled until he realizes he can use the Dimensionator to conquer every dimension. Spying on Emperor Nefarious using a device that Quantum bugged on him, Ratchet and Rivet realize Emperor Nefarious will need the Dimensional Map and head out to intercept him. Rivet and Kit board Emperor Nefarious' flagship and rescue Gary, who reveals he hid the Dimensional Map inside a dimensional anomaly. Ratchet and Clank recover the Dimensional Map but are ambushed by Emperor Nefarious and banished through a rift. Kit transforms into her Warbot form to try and stop Emperor Nefarious, shocking Rivet, but Kit ends up being banished through a rift as well.
Left alone, Rivet heads to Viceron for the prison facility Emperor Nefarious has banished all of his enemies to and stages a prison break, freeing Ratchet and Clank as well as the rest of the Resistance. However, still feeling guilty over causing the loss of Rivet's arm, Kit decides to leave the group. As the Resistance regroups, Emperor Nefarious announces that he plans to start invading other dimensions, starting with Ratchet and Clank's home dimension. Ratchet, Clank, Rivet, and the Resistance pursue Emperor Nefarious through the rift. Ratchet and Clank destroy Emperor Nefarious' giant power suit, and Kit returns to hold his forces at bay while Rivet confronts Emperor Nefarious personally. Working together, everybody, including Dr. Nefarious, who grew irritated over how his other self treated him, defeat and send Emperor Nefarious to his demise through a rift. Clank recovers the Dimensionator and uses it to repair the dimensions, averting the Dimensional Cataclysm. Rivet and Kit repair their relationship, and before they are sent back to their dimension, Ratchet asks them if they would like to make "one stop" first.
During the credits segment, citizens of Nefarious City are seen dismantling the regime's legacy, Dr. Nefarious reunites with Lawrence, who is now a father, and Gary shares his findings with his father, the Plumber. With reality saved and the Dimensionator in their possession, Ratchet, Clank, Rivet, and Kit take the opportunity to hang out together, repair the damage Emperor Nefarious caused, build a new arm for Clank, and go on further adventures.
Development
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was developed by Insomniac Games as a PlayStation 5 exclusive title. Unlike past games in the Ratchet & Clank series where development was helmed by the secondary team in North Carolina, Rift Apart was developed by the entire team from both studios.[16]Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart features a full-length, stand-alone storyline that is intended to appeal to veterans and newcomers of the series, serving as a follow-up to both the 2013 game Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus and the 2016 remake of the first game.[17][18][19][20] It was directed by creative director Marcus Smith and game director Mike Daly.[21][22]
Insomniac Games received PlayStation 5 development kits early on in the console's development cycle and the team promptly started work on conceptualization. Creative director Marcus Smith stated that, initially, they were confronted with the quandary of how to make the game appealing to both long-running series fans and new players who may have not even been born when the last full-length game in the series was released.[23] Initial ideas for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart came about after the team had multiple discussions about the possibilities offered by improvements made in next-gen hardware. Game director, Mike Daly said that they knew from the start the game would be a PS5 exclusive and they wanted to take advantage of that fact. He added that "we wanted to make a game that was new and took the experience further than it had before. When we were thinking about what we could do, knowing what we could never do before, it became clear that so much of the structure of games is informed by how you're able to load things into memory."[24] Regarding the ease up of workflows due to the PS5's custom-designed SSD, Smith stated that the "game utilizes dimensions and dimensional rifts, and that would not have been possible without the solid state drive of the PlayStation 5," further adding that it is "screamingly fast. It allows us to build worlds and project players from one place to another in near instantaneous speeds. It is an unbelievable game-changer in terms of, we can now do gameplay where you're in one world and the next moment you're in another."[25] Smith recalled that the team had an idea on leveraging dimensional travel into parallel worlds, citing the 1946 film, It's a Wonderful Life as inspiration for the direction of the game.[26] Smith stated that the team's curiosity was piqued by the question, "What would a different dimension of Ratchet and Clank be like? And in particular, what would Ratchet’s life be like if he didn’t have a Clank?".[23]
On building the game's traversal mechanics, there was a learning opportunity for Insomniac Games to leverage their experiences from past titles they have developed, to improve upon and expand on the traversal mechanics in Rift Apart. Smith stated that "I think the lessons that we learned from Sunset Overdrive and Spider-Man (2018) whereas we might’ve just had a hook shot somewhere, now we’re having areas where you can Hook Shot and then use Phantom Dash and then wall run and then rift tether and it flows together really nicely".[27]
Intrigued by the concept of different choices, outcomes and circumstances shaping the trajectory of one's life, the idea of Rivet was born in tandem with the exploration of the alternate universe setting in the franchise.[23] Lead writer Lauren Mee and lead animator, Lindsay Thompson, were interested in a new character that would have their own perspective, and survival instincts embodied by their given circumstances in a darker universe. Thompson described Rivet as having a "tough exterior and perceived coolness, she’s never cynical, dark or cruel. Sure, she might not know the best way to act in a social situation, but she sure as hell isn’t shy."[23] Smith noted that the team were interested in representing complexity and nuance with parallel counterparts of characters, citing the importance of not depicting characters like Rivet as a "one dimensional" antithesis to their counterparts in every way. Mee stressed that it was important that Rivet's lived experiences have not left her jaded, as though she comes with her own struggles, they have not robbed the hope she has in saving her universe against the forces of Emperor Nefarious. Following the creation of Rivet, several auditions were held to find the right voice for the character. The studio later recruited voice actress, Jennifer Hale, who previously voiced the female Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect series.[23]Jim Ward, who has voiced Captain Qwark since the series's inception, was unable to reprise his role for Rift Apart due to his declining health, as he was diagnosed with both a precocious form of Alzheimer's disease and COVID-19;[28][29] he was replaced by Scott Whyte.
After a launch-day patch, Rift Apart features a 4K-resolution Fidelity mode running at 30 frames per second and two 60 frames per second modes, dubbed as "Performance" and "Performance Ray-Tracing", running at a lower base resolution.[30][31][32][33] The game also supports HDR.[34] The game takes advantage of the PlayStation 5's DualSense controller, Tempest Engine and dedicated ray tracing hardware to support advanced haptic feedback, 3D spatial audio and real-time ray tracing effects.[35][36] The PlayStation 5's increased processing power and inclusion of a custom solid-state drive enables the game to feature a greater variety of NPCs, enemies, visual effects, and objects within gameplay scenes than prior entries.[37] Enhancements in the game design aim to significantly reduce loading times when jumping between worlds.[38][39]
Rift Apart had "gone gold" on May 13, 2021, according to an Insomniac Games report, meaning that physical copies of the game were ready to be produced, with any further development being patched into the game through software updates.[40]
Music
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart features an original score composed primarily by Mark Mothersbaugh and Wataru Hokoyama.[41] Known for his works in Hotel Transylvania, Thor: Ragnarok and The Croods: A New Age, Mothersbaugh was contacted early in the game's development. Insomniac Games wanted the soundtrack to evoke a retro futuristic sound; this approach informed the sound direction, and led to their subsequent search for the right composer to fulfill this vision. They requested Mothersbaugh who later agreed to compose for the game. Mothersbaugh went for a more experimental sound using various instruments including synthesizers to compose the score. By combining eclectic synth sounds with orchestral beats, Mothersbaugh was able to deliver a more cinematic sound experience in line with the guiding vision of the studio.[42]
Release
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was announced at the PlayStation 5 reveal stream on June 11, 2020.[43] At Gamescom's Opening Night Live on August 27, 2020, Insomniac Games presented a 7-minute gameplay demo of the game.[44] On February 11, 2021, Insomniac Games announced several pre-order editions for the game.[45] The standard edition includes a graphically upgraded version of the Carbonox armor from Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, as well as the Pixelizer weapon from Ratchet & Clank (2016).[45] The digital deluxe edition contains five armor sets, a sticker pack for the new Photo Mode, 20 Raritanium used to upgrade weapons, and a digital soundtrack and artbook.[46] In Sony's State of Play presentation on April 29, 2021, a lengthy 16-minute gameplay trailer was released.[47]Rift Apart was released for the PlayStation 5 on June 11, 2021.[48]
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[51]
IGN's Jonathon Dornbush praised the visuals of the game, saying that the animations and detailed models allowed "the entire cast to be more expressive than ever". Dornbush additionally felt the game's narrative reached the standards set by animated movies, comparing it favorably to Pixar "in its ability to tell an emotional story while also maintaining its excellent comedy."[57]
Kyle Orland of Ars Technica enjoyed the game's combat, feeling that the core gameplay loop of shooting and dodging enemy projectiles was solid. Orland mentioned that enemy variety could have been better, but felt that enemies were used to great effect with different combinations. He criticized the gameplay usage of rifts, saying that they were underutilized for a large portion of the game.[62]
Chris Carter of Destructoid praised the game's presentation, saying that "we’re at the point of playable Pixar." Carter praised the performances of the voices cast alongside the soundtrack. He also enjoyed how the new hardware reduced loading times and felt that Rift Apart utilized the DualSense controller well.[52]
Game Informer's Andrew Reiner particularly commended the game's visuals, and the designs of the environment, adding that "it steals your eye with its stunning vistas, makes you care about the characters". Reiner made positive comments about the Rift Tether feature, stating that its inclusion in the game elevates the gameplay experience, that quite, "often wowing you with just how different the next world is compared to the one you are currently standing in."[54]
In a glowing review, Ryan Gilliam from Polygon wrote that Rift Apart was an impressive game that took advantage of the PlayStation 5 hardware. "But more importantly, it’s a great entry in a nearly two-decade-old franchise, offering fans more wacky weapons, clever writing, and fresh biomes to explore."[63]
GameSpot's Steve Watts gave the game a positive review, praising the outstanding game presentation, inventive weaponry and smooth controls, adding that "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is flashy and technically impressive without feeling self-important."[55]
Sales
In the United Kingdom, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart became the second biggest launch of the series behind the remake from 2016.[64]Rift Apart also had the second biggest physical launch for a PlayStation 5 game behind another game developed by Insomniac, the launch title Spider-Man: Miles Morales.[65] Sales in the United Kingdom continued to be strong in the second and third weeks of release as well.[66][67] In Japan, Rift Apart was the third best-selling retail game during its first week of release, with 14,663 physical units being sold across the country.[68]Rift Apart was also the best-selling video game in the United States during the month of its release.[69]
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart had sold over 1.1 million units by July 2021.[70][71] In December 2023, Insomniac Games were the victims of a ransomware attack causing private data and information to be leaked publicly. Parts of these leaks revealed that in June 2020 Rift Apart was projected to sell 2.2 million units and generate $73 million in revenue on an $81 million budget. In the same leak it was revealed that over 2.7 million copies of the game were shipped (sell-in) and turned a profit with $145 million in net sales by February 2022.[72][73] Further leaks revealed that Rift Apart had sold over 3.97 million units by its second calendar year (June 2023).[74]
Insomniac Games, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Burbank, California and part of PlayStation Studios. It was founded in 1994 by Ted Price as Xtreme Software, and was renamed Insomniac Games a year later. The company is most known for developing several early PlayStation mascots, Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet and Clank, as well as the Resistance franchise, 2014's Sunset Overdrive and the Marvel's Spider-Man series with Marvel Games. In 2019, the studio was acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment, becoming a part of SIE Worldwide Studios.
Ratchet & Clank 2: Going Commando, known as Ratchet & Clank 2: Locked and Loaded in Australia and most PAL countries, is a 2003 third-person shooter platform video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It is the second game in the Ratchet & Clank franchise, following Ratchet & Clank. David Kaye reprises his role as Clank while James Arnold Taylor replaces Mikey Kelley as Ratchet.
Ratchet & Clank is a third-person shooter platform video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 in 2002. It is the first game in the Ratchet & Clank series.
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is a 2004 third-person shooter platform video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It is the third installment in the Ratchet & Clank series and was released in North America on November 2, 2004.
Ratchet and Clank are the protagonists of the Ratchet & Clank video game series developed by Insomniac Games, starting with the 2002 Ratchet & Clank. Ratchet is an anthropomorphic alien creature known as a Lombax, while Clank is an escaped robot who soon teams up with him.
Ratchet: Deadlocked is a 2005 third-person shooter platformer, developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 as the fourth installment of the Ratchet & Clank series.
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters is a 2007 platform game developed by High Impact Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. A spin-off of the Ratchet & Clank series, it is its first title for the PlayStation Portable. Development company High Impact Games was spawned from the original Ratchet & Clank developer, Insomniac Games. The story follows Ratchet and Clank as they are interrupted from their vacation to search for a kidnapped girl and encounter a forgotten race known as the Technomites.
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is a 2007 action-adventure platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is the fifth main installment of the Ratchet & Clank series, following the spin-off Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters. The game was released on October 23, 2007 in North America and on November 9, 2007 in Europe. It is the first PlayStation 3 installment of the series, as well as the first of the Future saga. It was also one of the first PlayStation 3 games to support DualShock 3 rumble without any accessories.
Ratchet & Clank is a series of action-adventure platform and third-person shooter video games created and developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation consoles, such as PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, with the exception of Size Matters and Secret Agent Clank, both of which were developed by High Impact Games for the PlayStation Portable. The series was exclusive to Sony platforms until Rift Apart received a Windows port in 2023. An animated feature film adaptation was released in 2016.
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 via PlayStation Network in August 2008. The game is the sixth main installment in the Ratchet & Clank series and the second installment of its Future saga. The game is a direct sequel to Tools of Destruction, and follows Ratchet's quest to save Clank, who has been taken by the Zoni.
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is a 2009 platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is the seventh main installment in the Ratchet & Clank series and the third in its Future saga. The game was released for the PlayStation 3 in North America on October 27, 2009, in Australia on November 5, 2009 and in Europe on November 6, 2009.
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One is a platform video game for the PlayStation 3 developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in October 2011. It is the third spin-off from the Ratchet & Clank series.
Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension is a video game based on the TV movie of the same name and the first multi-platform game in the Phineas and Ferb video game series. It was released in August 2011 on most seventh generation platforms to coincide with the premiere of the film, followed a year later by a PlayStation Portable version.
Ratchet & Clank Collection is a high-definition remastered collection. It includes the original three PlayStation 2 games: the first game, Going Commando/Locked and Loaded, and Up Your Arsenal, all at 720p in 60 frames per second, and includes stereoscopic 3D support at 30 frames per second. It also includes the multiplayer of Up Your Arsenal over the PlayStation Network, but the servers have since been shut down. It includes a trophy set for each game. All of the games in this collection have been re-rated E10+ by the ESRB; they were originally rated T since the E10+ rating did not exist at the time these games were released on the PlayStation 2.
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault is a 2012 platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. Part of the Ratchet & Clank series, it was produced in commemoration of the original game's 10th anniversary. Like the previous downloadable game in the series, Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty, it was released on Blu-ray Disc as well as the PlayStation Store. The release of the PlayStation Vita version was delayed to May 21, 2013, when it became available for free with the PlayStation 3 version.
Ratchet & Clank is a 2016 animated science fiction comedy film produced by Rainmaker Entertainment and distributed by Gramercy Pictures. Based on Insomniac Games' video game series of the same name, the film was directed by Kevin Munroe and co-directed by Jericca Cleland. James Arnold Taylor and David Kaye reprise their roles as the titular characters from the video games, alongside Jim Ward and Armin Shimerman as their respective characters. The film also stars the voices of Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Bella Thorne, Rosario Dawson, and Sylvester Stallone with supporting roles by Vincent Tong and Andrew Cownden.
Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus is a 2013 third-person shooter platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 in November 2013. The game is the eighth main installment in the Ratchet & Clank series and the fourth and final installment of its Future saga. The series is noted for the inclusion of exotic and unique locations and over-the-top gadgets, elements of the traditional Ratchet & Clank experience that return in this game.
Ratchet & Clank is a 2016 third-person shooter platform video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It is a tie-in to the 2016 film of the same name, as well as a remake of the first game in the series. The game was originally planned to be released in 2015, but was delayed, along with the film, to April 2016 in order to give the film a better marketing campaign and the game additional polish time.
Returnal is a 2021 roguelike third-person shooter video game developed by Housemarque and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game was released for the PlayStation 5 on 30 April 2021 and for Windows on 15 February 2023. It follows Selene Vassos, an astronaut who lands on the planet Atropos in search of the mysterious "White Shadow" signal and finds herself trapped in a time loop.
Christina "Phazero" Curlee is a video game designer, Video Game Researcher, and Artist. Insomniac Games. She is currently a Mission Designer at Insomniac Games where she worked on Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Spiderman 2, and Wolverine. Curlee has also written a Master’s thesis entitled “Meaningful Level Design” that is about the connection between level design, gameplay, and emotional engagement.
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