Ratchet Week: fighting in space videos

by Jem Alexander { Aug 19th 2007 at 12:00PM }

We're going to assume everyone reading this is a huge Ratchet and Clank fan. As a result, we're going to assume you've played all the Ratchet and Clank games through to Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters on the PSP (you do own a PSP, right Sony fans?). Well the space battles are back in Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. Don't believe us? We have proof!

The video above shows a classic space battle sequence from the game, while the video after the break shows a huge boss battle. In space. Exciting stuff, right? Well, not really. As fun as these parts of the games can be, we ultimately play the Ratchet and Clank series for fun platforming joy. Sometimes these bits feel a little tacked on. Despite that, enjoy the videos!

Tags: ratchetandclank, ratchetweek

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

rfom @ Aug 19th 2007 12:58PM

Well no one can accuse there graphics of being dull and gray, more colours than I knew existed!

Travis @ Aug 19th 2007 1:20PM

"Exciting stuff, right? Well, not really."

What an obnoxious thing to write.

Andir3.0 @ Aug 19th 2007 1:26PM

Yeah, I think the space combat thing is a welcome change from doing the same platform gaming for hours on end.

Xoonaka @ Aug 19th 2007 1:32PM

Not to sound negative, but the graphics here don't really impress me. The whole thing has a very.. fake feel to it. Little things, like "space dust" or something to make the ship feel like part of the environment instead of on a green screen would've been nice.

Plus, the gameplay looks pretty standard. Even Kingdom Hearts has that gameplay down, with customizable ships to boot.

Ah well. Everything else I saw about the game looks great, and hopefully this just looks bad because it's on the internet. But I do hope the gameplay has more variety and originality to it then just flying on rails and hitting shoot.

secret @ Aug 19th 2007 2:42PM

This is my first time seeing Ratchet & Clank, since I've never owned a PS2 or PS1. And I'm quite impressed. It looks like a solid family game. Feels almost like an old Saturday morning cartoon sometimes. Even an old Megan 1 or 2 type of game on the NES, which is a good thing. Feels like movie at other times. A must buy for me. I have a feeling many reviewers will ding this game because they expect they're judging the PS3 by a different standard than they do with a Wii or a 360, and they'll find something to pick on (trust me, that's all they're looking for - something to bash) -- perhaps by saying it's the same old gameplay. Like you or me, journalists have prejudices, biases, **personal agendas they'd like to promote -- despite our attemtps to stop it. We still have racial discrimination. Religious descrimination. Even though our society outlaws or shuns it. We sometimes get speeding tickets or jaywalk even though we know we're not supposed to and try to avoid it. Don't hold journalists to such high moral standards. Journalists are just people who have to make a living. They have biases and preferences and incentives like everyone else. You can't trust them on their opinions. Just take the facts and ask yourself are there any facts purposely being left out and search to verify and add.

Andy @ Aug 19th 2007 3:24PM

It looks like Insomniac are bringing the variety that came with Resistance to this game. I think thats why I enjoyed RFOM so much is because of the varied gameplay . I will enjoy Ratchet and Clank just as much if they add some other elements besides platforming.

secret @ Aug 19th 2007 3:37PM

I'm the happiest I can be with Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Motorstorm, Resistance Fall of Man, Virtua Fighter 5, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Fight Night 3, Call of Duty 3 and even though I'm not even done with these games yet, MGS4 and Heavenly Sword and Call of Duty 4 and Ratch and Clank: Tool of Destruction and Grand Turismo 5 are coming out soon, not alone the wide selection of PS2 and PS1 and PSN network games I've never played yet -- like Metal Slug Anthology or God of War and God of War 2 or Tekken 5 dark resurrection or War Hawk. In addition, I'm getting all fat and bloated with bluray movies coming out soon or already out like Harry Potter 1-2-3-4-5, Spiderman 1-2-3, Transformers the Movie, Hellboy, Bridge to Terabithia, Star Wars 1-2-3-4-5-6, the Polar Express, all the Pixar movies, all the Disney movies like the Chronicles of Narnia, Casino Royale, and so on. All these things for me to enjoy on one solid like a rock machine at the most affordable price I can imagine. That has more value than a $300-$500 machine with $100 - $200 internet fees for three to four years that only plays Gears, Bioshock, and Halo. And Gears and Bioshock, I'm told, can be bought for my PC to play on. And we all have PC's. If I had been lazy and just read this review an trusted them, I'd end up with a Wii or a 360. And I'd be out shopping for a new standalone bluray player because I know that the HD-DVD on the 360 has poor quality and that HD-DVD has barely any movies to watch on. And then, after careful research to see which standalone bluray player is best for my entertainment center, I find that all audio & video reviewers say that the PS3 is a safe bet, especially if you like to play games, too. Then, because of Gamepro's or EGM's bloated systems reviews telling me to buy a Wii or 360, I end up buying a PS3 anyways, but now I have a piece of junk 360 or Wii and $300-$400 + $50 or $200 less money. And the damn 360 is eating up $50 a year -- every year. Do your research and think. Don't just listen.

secret @ Aug 19th 2007 3:58PM

Gears and Bioshock will already be on the PC. Most of the 360 games that I like are being ported to the PS3. And if I buy a 360, I'll end up having to buy and standalone bluray player. And because the PS3 has one of the best picture quality and price as a standalone bluray player along with ability to play games (most of which are 360 games and PS2 and PS1 games), I'll end up buying a PS3 anways, right back where I started from. But now I have a 360 too. What the heck is the 360 for? For me, as long as the graphics are better than the xbox, PS2, and PS1, I'm happy with it. And even the crappiest 360 port to the PS3 pass that test with flying colors. But looking at Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Oblivion, Dirt, and Call of Duty 4, we know that bad ports will be a thing of the past. This is because the PS3 is not a difficult machine to develop for. It's just new. Not hard, but new. And it takes time to learn something new, like a new subject or class in school. You've never taken the class before. It's new, not hard.

secret @ Aug 19th 2007 4:01PM

In other words, over time when developers finally pass algebra after the third try, all 360 ports will look the same or better on the PS3. Therefore, over time, the PS3 can do everything the xbox360 does, but the 360 won't be able to do what the PS3 will do. But the PS3 won't cost and extra $50 each year to maintain and won't break. Look at Grand Turismo 5, and you'll know that any bad games coming out are a fault of the developers and not the machine. The pen and paper is there. Blame the authors if the story turns out bad, not the pen and paper, because the pen and paper has proven itself worthy. In fact, it's shown through GT5 that it's the highest quality paper and pen on earth and bad writers shouldn't be allowed to write on with and on it.

secret @ Aug 19th 2007 4:13PM

the 360 will become a subset of the PS3 once the developers learn the system over time, as Activision has with Call of Duty 4. Or as in Oblivion and Ninja Gaiden Sigma. How much longer do you really think developers will say the PS3 is hard to develop for? After all other ports start to look good, any developer claiming difficulties must be a remedial student that's flunked algebra 10 times while everyone's moved onto Calculus or graduted from school by now. So why should I buy a 360? It doesn't do the movies I want. Most of the game that people claim are good like Gears of War or Bioshock don't interest me because it's gorey. And if I want these good games, I hear that these two along with many other are also availble on my PC. The only good games I want are being ported to the PS3 already. The 360 doesn't do the movies I want. I mean, as long as the PS3 is availabe, I don't see a need for the 360. So even if they charge me $50 for it, I wouldn't buy it. It's useless, the PS3 does it all. Even the crappiest ports right now are good enough because they're better than anything on the xox, PS2 or PS1 or the Dreamcast. But don't count on all ports being bad forever. Look at MGS4 and NGS and especially Grand Turimso 5 and you'll know the PS3 is an excellent machine. Blame the writers for a bad story. Not the pen and paper.

secret @ Aug 19th 2007 4:17PM

I'll try to edit and revise my writing more if it's a bit sloppy. I'm being a bit careless and my message might not come through clearly.

And yes, for all you xbox people who are good people, I apolgize if my writing has offended you in any way. Again, it's your money. And all that matters is how you feel with your product.

John @ Aug 19th 2007 4:49PM

That second one is amazing. Have you ever even seen anything in the arcade like that? It's crazy, the way the background is all warping, and [stuff].

Yes, these are sort of 'tacked-on' but that's a disservice-- not only are these Insomniac mini-games a nice diversion from the play at hand, they are all brilliant, in their own right, and there is always this sort of retro feel about them. Just play the 2d platforming levels in the 2nd or 3rd (sorry, I forget) R&C on ps2, and they're like these amped-up old school games, they play similar, but they're freaking gorgeous, yet they retain the same design scheme.

secret @ Aug 19th 2007 5:00PM

Keep it up, and over time, the main debate won't be about which system is better than the other. Keep it up, and hte main conversation will be about which journalist has more integrity and more trustworthy than the other. Journalists, your character and trustworhtiness will be on the line if you want to put it at risk and don't care about it.

*****It's no longer which console is better. It's now going to be which journalist is more trustworthy if this keeps up.

Consolcwby @ Aug 19th 2007 10:25PM

@secret: =o okay we get the gist: some journalists = bad/blatant/biased/, others = good/honest/unbiased. Please keep to the topic at hand. =) Thanx! (=

@Jem: Did you realize that back 15 years ago (and more) this sequence would've been an ENTIRE game?... So, yeah, it might not be as fun to someone who wants to jump around and shoot and platform, but lets face it: It's pretty and it'll break up the monotony of all that platforming goodness! =) Just like when humor is used in a drama or a horror film - it helps to break up the same ol same ol, eh? =)