Ratchet & Clank

[negitoro]

@ the concept of an "official" thread. It's actually amusing to think that a given thread more or less official (unless it's started by a mod, I guess).

Really you didn't want an 'official' thread, you just want an 'appreciation' thread.

[Lhadatt]

Originally posted by negitoro
@ the concept of an "official" thread. It's actually amusing to think that a given thread more or less official (unless it's started by a mod, I guess).

Really you didn't want an 'official' thread, you just want an 'appreciation' thread.

No, he just wanted to spam.

There's an "official" thread, it's the one I pointed out above. No, it doesn't have "official" in its title, but it's the biggest one on the board about the game and it was started when the game came out, so it's the "official" one.

This is not an official thread. Tyler, get over it.

[Tyler_Durden]

Originally posted by Lhadatt
No, he just wanted to spam.

There's an "official" thread, it's the one I pointed out above. No, it doesn't have "official" in its title, but it's the biggest one on the board about the game and it was started when the game came out, so it's the "official" one.

This is not an official thread. Tyler, get over it.

I'm sorry Lhadatt, I wasn't aware that you were an official thread nazi. Knowing how uptight this board is about official threads, I thought I should start an official R&C thread since I couldn't find one. Apparently I thought wrong. I'll start posting my thoughts on the game in the other thread, because Lhadatt will probably cry if I continue to post in this one. Chin up, bud.

[Tyler_Durden]

This thread got buried again...I've been playing this game more often lately now that I'm finished with Prime. What level are you guys on?
*spoilers*

I just shot down Quark's ship. Anyway, R&C is one of the best games I've played this year. Not as good as Prime, but it's up there.

[Lhadatt]

Yes, I AM THE OFFICIAL THREAD NAZI!

Sorry, I don't see why there should be two places to discuss a subject when one will do...

[TheMachine50]

SO this game is actually pretty decent? What other games out there would you compare this to? I know the commercials are pretty decent!

[sleeve]

*merges threads*

Apparently it's a lot like Jet Force Gemini. Any further comment, burg?

[Schlep]

I have a review on it in the reader review forum, but I can't really make any comparisons since I haven't played alot that's like it.

[bahn]

Lhadatt is jaded. Andy just lost his title

oh, and burg is my hero.

[Agent X]

This is one of the best games to be released this year. If you enjoyed Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, then this one should appeal to you as well.

I'd say it's closest to J&D (it even uses a modified version of the J&D engine), as it has many similarities, but it has some noticeable differences that set it apart.

Ratchet & Clank is a slightly more linear game than J&D, in that each of the planets act as separate levels instead of the feeling of a vast, singlular world as in J&D. That said, the levels themselves are very large, and often have multiple paths as well as "shortcuts" that are usually accessible after you have reached a ceratin point. One example is a flying taxi that can transport you back to an earlier part of the level (so you don't have to backtrack over all the obstacles for five minutes).

The game is goal-oriented, much like Jak & Daxter. It's not just about "collecting 100 widgets to get the magical doodad," it's about accomplishing tasks with skill and the vast amount of cool gadgetry that you accumulate. Yes, there is still an element of collecting, as nuts and bolts serve as money in the game, but it isn't required or emphasized as much as most other platform games. Besides, most of the collecting comes automatically or takes very little effort. It's the other goals in the game which provide the challenge.

Another similarity to J&D is that the concept of a limited number of "lives" has been thrown out the window. You do have a health meter, and can absorb four hits before you bite it, at which point you are resurrected at some earlier (but not too far earlier) point in your quest. I'm glad J&D did this, and I'm glad R&C does too, as these games (and hopefully many other platformers in the future) are evolving towards a more goal-oriented adventure instead of the ultra-linear "get from point A to point B in 5 minutes or less with 3 lives" type of platformer that we've played for the last 20 years. This type of design encourages more exploration, experimentation, and risk-taking than when you've got a small, finite number of "lives" at stake.

I know some people have knocked the character design, but I think it's quite good! It's not quite as slick as the character design in Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, but it's certainly close. Like Sly Cooper, the game features great voice acting. Also, small animated nuances such as facial expressions and body gestures do a great job of conveying emotion and further defining the characters. It's much improved in this respect over the top platformers from a few years ago, where characters just moved their mouths and occasionally twitched their eyes.

R&C's characters are dynamic, and bestowed with personality and emotion. They're not just your typical cookie-cutter, altruistic, sinless, goody-two-shoes who exists just to save the world and/or a member of royalty of the opposite gender. There's an actual story that unfolds as you play the game. I don't want to spoil it too much, but I will say that Ratchet is quite evidently not altruistic. In fact, he's pretty damn selfish! Play the game (for more than 5 minutes, and not just the demo disc from E3), and you'll understand what I mean.

Did I mention yet that the graphics are some of the best I've seen on the PlayStation 2, or any video game system for that matter? If not, then I guess I should mention it. The graphics are some of the best I've seen on the PlayStation 2, or any video game system for that matter! I'm sure many of you have seen the screen shots, but you need to see the game in motion to truly appreciate it. The frame rate is silky smooth, and there's a lot happening on the screen. The draw distance is also amazingly large, just as it was with Jak & Daxter (again, using the same engine).

This isn't just another platform game--this is a phenomenal platform gaming experience. Try it!