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Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
There should be a law saying you have to play this game.
October 23, 2007 | 11:38 PM PSTAMN's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.
What the Game's About
Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is the next installment on the popular action platformer. The story of the famous Lombax and a robot sidekick pick up during a time of turmoil. Emperor Tachyon wants to exterminate every last Lombax in the universe with that every last Lombax being Ratchet. On top of that, Clank has started to see robots called Zoni but he is the only one that knows they are there. Will the universe be saved? Will the Lombax secret finally be revealed? Why is Clank seeing things? Time will tell...
What's Hot
If you liked the first three Ratchet and Clanks but didn't care for Deadlocked, Tools of Destruction will get your motor revving. The glorious return to form is welcome as the "classic" R&C was sorely missed. Insomniac doesn't let you have time to think about the past games because you start playing in the middle of an invasion.
Grab your weapons because this is going to be a huge mess. Part of what makes Tools of Destruction so awesome is the inventive and ingenious weapons. The overwhelming majority of the weapons are fun to use and all of them have devastating effects. With time and repeated use, you "level-up" your weapons to inflict greater damage on your foes. Not only will your weapons naturally level-up but you can buy upgrades for them at vendors that are scattered throughout the planets you explore. Devices are also new additions in Tools of Destruction. Most of you have seen the Disco ball that makes the enemies dance on screen but there are a few other devices that are just as helpful you discover in your quest. The upgrade system and devices add more layers onto the creative weapons to ensure that battles, boss battle or not, are a thrill a second.
Adventuring in the Ratchet and Clank galaxy will unfold a mission of great importance, with a few misadventures along the way. Comedy is sprinkled in at appropriate times with voiceovers from Qwark and Clank stealing the show. Only a few of the jokes fall flat but never once do you feel the humor is forced, it is truly authentic. There are times the story does try and be too serious but, at the end of the day, it is very well put together.
One of the biggest reasons it is hard not to love Tools of Destruction is the graphics. Prepare your jaw to drop when you first stand in a gigantic, lush, vibrant, living, and believable world. The scenery is never dull or repetitive. The attention to detail is unparalleled; every corner of an area is different in its own right. Animations give life to the characters and the way they interact with the environment and other characters is entrancing, just look at the Disco ball as an example. This is, hands down, the best looking game on the PlayStation 3.
To add replay to the title, Insomniac added skill points that act just like achievement points do on the Xbox 360. Instead of just adding numbers to a grand total, the skill points unlock special features within the game to extend the life. As always, it is fun to run through the game on a harder difficulty with all the power weapons you have collected in the first go around.
What's Not
With Tools of Destruction, there are some weak links in the chain but never does the chain break. The first weak link happens to be in the weapons category. The Tornado Launcher is a weapon that needs little explanation to what it does but the controls do. You are able to steer the twister with the SIXAXIS controller but try attempting that while dodging enemy fire and maneuvering the camera. You'd have better luck patting your head, rubbing your tummy while trying to lick your elbow.
Another weak link is how easy the game is. Rarely will you die because of the enemy or a difficult platform jump. While it makes the game focus on the awesome combat and powerful weapons, you can't help but feel portions of Tools of Destruction would have benefited with a higher degree of difficulty. Once you complete the game, there are some skill points to unlock but a lack of a multiplayer scenario does weaken the replayability.
Truth be told, Tools of Destruction isn't a revolution in the series. This is basically the same fantastic game you have been playing on the PS2 only refined and polished to a science to make it stand out above the crowd.
Final Word
Insomniac is on a roll with PS3 development. This is the second title they have met expectations with in the console's short lifespan. The development teams at Insomniac are modern masters and each person deserves enormous credit for the work they have achieved.
Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is like asking for a pony for your birthday only, when you open your present, it turns out to be a unicorn. Odd simile, but once you play the game; you'll understand perfectly what it means. If you can only play one title from 2007 on the PlayStation 3, it has to be Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction.
What the Game's About
Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is the next installment on the popular action platformer. The story of the famous Lombax and a robot sidekick pick up during a time of turmoil. Emperor Tachyon wants to exterminate every last Lombax in the universe with that every last Lombax being Ratchet. On top of that, Clank has started to see robots called Zoni but he is the only one that knows they are there. Will the universe be saved? Will the Lombax secret finally be revealed? Why is Clank seeing things? Time will tell...
What's Hot
If you liked the first three Ratchet and Clanks but didn't care for Deadlocked, Tools of Destruction will get your motor revving. The glorious return to form is welcome as the "classic" R&C was sorely missed. Insomniac doesn't let you have time to think about the past games because you start playing in the middle of an invasion.
Grab your weapons because this is going to be a huge mess. Part of what makes Tools of Destruction so awesome is the inventive and ingenious weapons. The overwhelming majority of the weapons are fun to use and all of them have devastating effects. With time and repeated use, you "level-up" your weapons to inflict greater damage on your foes. Not only will your weapons naturally level-up but you can buy upgrades for them at vendors that are scattered throughout the planets you explore. Devices are also new additions in Tools of Destruction. Most of you have seen the Disco ball that makes the enemies dance on screen but there are a few other devices that are just as helpful you discover in your quest. The upgrade system and devices add more layers onto the creative weapons to ensure that battles, boss battle or not, are a thrill a second.
Adventuring in the Ratchet and Clank galaxy will unfold a mission of great importance, with a few misadventures along the way. Comedy is sprinkled in at appropriate times with voiceovers from Qwark and Clank stealing the show. Only a few of the jokes fall flat but never once do you feel the humor is forced, it is truly authentic. There are times the story does try and be too serious but, at the end of the day, it is very well put together.
One of the biggest reasons it is hard not to love Tools of Destruction is the graphics. Prepare your jaw to drop when you first stand in a gigantic, lush, vibrant, living, and believable world. The scenery is never dull or repetitive. The attention to detail is unparalleled; every corner of an area is different in its own right. Animations give life to the characters and the way they interact with the environment and other characters is entrancing, just look at the Disco ball as an example. This is, hands down, the best looking game on the PlayStation 3.
To add replay to the title, Insomniac added skill points that act just like achievement points do on the Xbox 360. Instead of just adding numbers to a grand total, the skill points unlock special features within the game to extend the life. As always, it is fun to run through the game on a harder difficulty with all the power weapons you have collected in the first go around.
What's Not
With Tools of Destruction, there are some weak links in the chain but never does the chain break. The first weak link happens to be in the weapons category. The Tornado Launcher is a weapon that needs little explanation to what it does but the controls do. You are able to steer the twister with the SIXAXIS controller but try attempting that while dodging enemy fire and maneuvering the camera. You'd have better luck patting your head, rubbing your tummy while trying to lick your elbow.
Another weak link is how easy the game is. Rarely will you die because of the enemy or a difficult platform jump. While it makes the game focus on the awesome combat and powerful weapons, you can't help but feel portions of Tools of Destruction would have benefited with a higher degree of difficulty. Once you complete the game, there are some skill points to unlock but a lack of a multiplayer scenario does weaken the replayability.
Truth be told, Tools of Destruction isn't a revolution in the series. This is basically the same fantastic game you have been playing on the PS2 only refined and polished to a science to make it stand out above the crowd.
Final Word
Insomniac is on a roll with PS3 development. This is the second title they have met expectations with in the console's short lifespan. The development teams at Insomniac are modern masters and each person deserves enormous credit for the work they have achieved.
Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is like asking for a pony for your birthday only, when you open your present, it turns out to be a unicorn. Odd simile, but once you play the game; you'll understand perfectly what it means. If you can only play one title from 2007 on the PlayStation 3, it has to be Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction.
November 20, 2009
