Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters

They aren’t as iconic as gaming mascots like Mario or Sonic, but for fans of platformers, Ratchet the Lombax and Clank the robot might as well be. Through four PS2 titles and this pint-sized PSP incarnation, Ratchet and Clank have yet to offer up a real dud (though the puzzle-free Ratchet: Deadlocked was a somewhat less popular departure for the series). The trick to the series’ consistency has been to combine platforming with shooters and simplicity of game play with complexity in firearms. The storyline, such as it is, involves a vacation, a kidnapped young girl, lots of robots and a mysterious cabal of mini evil geniuses known as Technomites. Needless to say nefarious plans are afoot, but the tongue-in-cheek plotting takes a backseat to the game’s impressive graphics, impeccably designed levels and, as noted, bizarre-but-kick ass weapons. (I’m a big fan of the gun that unleashes a swarm of killer bees.) In fact, the game goes so deep you’re hardly able to tell it wasn’t originally built for the PS2 so I guess size doesn’t matter much after all.