Ratchet and Clank Ripped a What?
Returning from the PlayStation 5 reveal event was an extended look at the demo for Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. Built-up in the weeks preceding as a must-see trailer for Gamescom’s Opening Night Live, the deep dive answered many lingering questions fans had after the title’s initial reveal.
Eagle-eyed fans will recognise the futuristic landscape Ratchet blasts through as Megapolis, the bustling city first featured in Ratchet and Clank 2: Going Commando, with even that instalments’ quirky mercs’ for hire “Thugs-4-Less” seeing a cute multiverse hopping nod.
Perhaps the biggest piece of news to glean from the extended look is that Rift Apart is a direct continuation of the plot thread left off in 2013’s Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus. In the trailer we’re shown that Dr. Nefarious will once again be featured as the primary antagonist, with using a weapon known as the “Dimensionator” to tear holes in the fabric of Ratchet’s reality. Although the rift-tearing weapon plays a large role in Nexus, the developers have come out to say that while the upcoming title will be a direct continuation of the 2013 plotline, efforts have been made to ensure Rift Apart tells a compelling story that stands alone for newcomers.
It’s a difficult tightrope for the developers at Insomniac Games to walk, on one hand, they have a whole bunch of new players brought on board with Ratchet and Clank’s 2016 movie tie-in, and on the other, they have the long-time fans who felt alienated by the reboot’s shift in tone.
It feels as though they’ve found a sweet spot though, with Ratchet keeping a similar appearance and demeanour as his 2016 incarnation, while providing a suitable jumping on point for newcomers to jump back into the mainline series. This all goes without mentioning the possibility for cheekily jumping around timelines thanks to the multiverse angle Rift Apart seems to be going for.
By giving us a deeper look at Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart any qualms I had coming from the admittedly pretty decent 2016 Reboot have been wiped away. Insomniac’s to be commended for standing by their die-hard fanbase and delivering a true sequel, without completely giving in to fan demand and wiping away the advancements the series has made.
Oh, and shooting aliens looks fun as hell.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is scheduled to release sometime in the PlayStation 5 launch window.