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Ratchet and Clank demo is captured on video
Stop by a EB Games or Gamespot lately? You can pick up a Blu-ray demo of the upcoming PS3 platformer, Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction. A must-watch for the inquisitive, thanks to the commentary. Sure, it isn't the best quality, thanks to its "hey, I'm a dude capturing video off a screen" feel, but for many -- it's the best you can do. Hopefully, it won't be too long before you're able to download this to your hard drive and give it a whirl. [Thanks, Justin!]
Weapons upgrades in Ratchet & Clank Future
Fans of Ratchet & Clank are no stranger to weapon upgrades. The system featured in the upcoming Tools of Destruction takes the customizing features of Deadlocked, streamlines them and makes them more accessible. Just like previous Ratchet games, your weapons will automatically upgrade over time through experience points. However, those that want greater customization of their weapons can head to a weapons counter and access this upgrade grid (pictured, above).Upgrades, such as more ammo, bigger effects, increased damage, and more can be added to the weapons. In fact, some upgrades are unique to each particular weapon. In order to use the system, players will follow a branching path on the grid. Choosing one upgrade will unlock the ability to get another. It's very similar to the Final Fantasy XII system.The final build of Ratchet & Clank is heading to PS3 Fanboy soon. Stay tuned for more very, very soon.
PS3 Fanboy looks at Ratchet & Clank's concept art
We don't think you've seen these before. Stolen from the inner depths of the Insomniac offices, we have brand new concept art from the upcoming Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction. In our first gallery, you'll see the creative process at work: from environment designs, to creature creations.In our second gallery, you'll get a closer look at many of the new characters in R&C. For example, the "sultry" Talwyn, someone that holds the key to the "Lombax secret" perhaps?Thanks to Insomniac for providing this art to our readers! (Expect to see many of these return for our Wallpaper collection this weekend!)%Gallery-6582%%Gallery-6023%
Ratchet and Clank video dump with pretty colors
Taking a break from playing the awesomeness of BioShock, it's time to take a quick look at another game that's got us getting excited: Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction. Slated for October 23 in North America (but remember it's not region locked), the game has come a long way since we saw it at E3. Why are we so excited about this particular installment in the series we've come to know and love over the years? Well, Christopher Nicholls, animation director for Insomniac Games, hits it out of the park in the video above saying, "This generation is like how many million colors of gray can you have? How realistic -- with lots stubble and [how] miserable can you make all the characters? I think that's OK, but thing with Ratchet, it's a total breath of fresh air. It's back to old-school, is it fun?"We've dumped a ton of Ratchet and Clank videos after the break. Is it worth getting a PS3 for? That's in the eye of the beholder and if you've hit your limit with the brown palette. When one can look at a game and the first thing that happens is a smile creeps in because there's color beyond brown and gray -- from a series that has been consistently solid -- it's at least worth thinking that the PS3 is finally getting some traction.
Ratchet Week: Two new videos
You read about Ratchet's good looks. Now see it in action! See the Groovitron in action in this new video from the game. Then, see the SIXAXIS-controlled glider in the works. After the cut, see what you've been waiting for: dancing pirate Ratchet. Yes! In order to get past this special door, Ratchet will have to bust a groove. Arg! Come back tomorrow when we'll have two more videos to share with you.
Ratchet Week: Tools of Destruction hands-on
Ratchet's initial E3 showing didn't wow us. There simply wasn't anything "new" to talk about the game. However, we recently played an updated build of the game, showcasing some of the later levels in the game. We saw some original new ideas, fantastic SIXAXIS controls, and a level of humor that surpasses anything we've seen from the Ratchet series. With its famous good looks still intact, we can confidently say that Ratchet & Clank Future is going to be a solid addition to any PS3 owner's library when it comes out October 23rd.The game is based upon four facets, according to the team at Insomniac: mystery, adventure, variety and spectacle. The mystery comes from looking into Ratchet's origins, and the mysterious new powers that Clank attains. The adventure comes through a "whole new galaxy" to explore, one that's promised to be the largest yet. Variety comes from brand-new mini-games, and a variety of new powers that Clank will take advantage of. Finally, the spectacle can be easily seen in these screenshots (check out our gallery for more): this game is pretty as heck. "We believe we're on par with computer animated movies," a representative from Insomniac said. In many ways, they're getting close. The world of Ratchet & Clank Future is incredibly rich in color, and we're glad to say that the game extends to worlds far beyond the Metropolis level we've seen. In the updated build, we saw an icy planet, a lush jungle swamp, and a space shooting segment, all running at a smooth framerate. The target, we're told, is a silky smooth 60 fps.Beyond the visuals, we got a chance to play some of the later levels in the game -- and they are far more interesting than the beautiful, but simplistic, E3 presentation. In one level, we talked to an NPC that wanted us to collect Leviathan souls. In order to do so, we had to find and track down these giant beasts and obliterate them. We were thrown into an environment that was far bigger than anything we've seen in previous Ratchet games. Although Metropolis forced you down a clear, narrow path, Tools of Destruction felt much larger, giving the player a lot more places to explore.%Gallery-3204%
Hands-on: Ratchet & Clank Future
First off, does Ratchet look this good? The answer is clear: yes. But, is that enough to make the upcoming PS3-exclusive Ratchet & Clank Future worthwhile? Not necessarily.As innovative and new as the graphics may appear, the gameplay feels identical to previous iterations of the Ratchet series. Of course, that's not a bad thing -- the franchise has rightfully earned its legions of fans. However, we couldn't help but feel as though we've played Tools of Destruction before. It feels more cinematic than before, but we were running, gunning, and swinging our wrench as though nothing had changed. Some may point to the new Groove-a-tron weapon, a colorful new weapon in Ratchet's arsenal. But, there are no significant gameplay ramifications: enemies will simply dance, instead of attack Ratchet. There's also a free-fall sequence, where the player must tilt the Sixaxis controller to navigate Ratchet past flying cars. But, these tilt controls do little to add a feeling of innovation to the series.The polish of the game's presentation is certainly commendable, but we were puzzled by the lack of an adequate targeting system. The on-rails platforming, a series trademark, had us bored. Jumping left or right to avoid oncoming trains was tedious, at best. The utter simplicity of the sequence had us feeling like we were simply going through the motions. We're also disappointed to know that Insomniac has opted to remove a crucial component of the franchise in this latest rendition: multiplayer is gone.Tools of Destruction might not end up being a bad game, but it did very little to convince us otherwise. We're sure that hardcore Ratchet fans will love it for its story, which will focus on the mysterious origins of its star. Although playing it safe might work for Insomniac and its fans, it's pretty obvious to us that team spent a lot more time focused on its graphics technology than what really matters: gameplay. As it is now, Tools of Destruction is an uninspired experience, one that feels like a backwards step for the series.%Gallery-3204%
Joystiq impressions: Ratchet & Clank Future (PS3)
First off, does Ratchet look this good? The answer is clear: yes. But, is that enough to make the upcoming PS3-exclusive Ratchet & Clank Future worthwhile? Not necessarily.As innovative and new as the graphics may appear, the gameplay feels identical to previous iterations of the Ratchet series. Of course, that's not a bad thing -- the franchise has rightfully earned its legions of fans. However, we couldn't help but feel as though we've played Tools of Destruction before. It feels more cinematic than before, but we were running, gunning, and swinging our wrench as though nothing had changed. Some may point to the new Groove-a-tron weapon, a colorful new weapon in Ratchet's arsenal. But, there are no significant gameplay ramifications: enemies will simply dance, instead of attack Ratchet. There's also a free-fall sequence, where the player must tilt the Sixaxis controller to navigate Ratchet past flying cars. But, these tilt controls do little to add a feeling of innovation to the series.The polish of the game's presentation is certainly commendable, but we were puzzled by the lack of an adequate targeting system. The on-rails platforming, a series trademark, had us bored. Jumping left or right to avoid oncoming trains was tedious, at best. The utter simplicity of the sequence had us feeling like we were simply going through the motions. We're also disappointed to know that Insomniac has opted to remove a crucial component of the franchise in this latest rendition: multiplayer is gone.Tools of Destruction might not end up being a bad game, but it did very little to convince us otherwise. We're sure that hardcore Ratchet fans will love it for its story, which will focus on the mysterious origins of its star. Although playing it safe might work for Insomniac and its fans, it's pretty obvious to us that team spent a lot more time focused on its graphics technology than what really matters: gameplay. As it is now, Tools of Destruction is an uninspired experience, one that feels like a backwards step for the series.%Gallery-3182%
Rumor: "Secret Agent Clank" game in development
Could High Impact Games be working on a new Ratchet game for PSP? Quite possibly. David Bergeaud, composer of the Ratchet series' soundtrack, supposedly added a game called Secret Agent Clank for PSP to his online resume. However, the website appears to have changed, no longer listing the potential title. Could it be a hoax?Reader zellhazard has pointed to a screen capture of the site, with the title in question on display. Sony's E3 conference is only a few hours away ... maybe we'll see more then?
Japanese Ratchet ad is like totally kawaii
There's something adorable about the Japanese Ratchet. He's so much more energetic ... and, well, squeaky. But don't let his cute demeanor deceive you: he's still the same killing machine he always was. In this new Japanese ad for Size Matters (also known as Ratchet & Clank Gekitotsu! Dodeka Ginga no MiriMiri Gundan), Ratchet appears to encourage school boys to destroy their schools with WMDs. Oh, how adorable.
Dustballs' latest ad fails to have a point
Sony's dustballs gained some notoriety when they helped launch the PSP system in America. Since then, the critters have gone across the shore to Europe, where the poor advertising campaign has continued to antagonize unsuspecting Europeans. The latest ad featuring the hairy duo fails on multiple levels. Firstly, the characters don't even bother mentioning the product that's being advertised. Secondly, it's not even that funny. Shouldn't a great game such as Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters deserve better than this? For example ... America's shrink-ray inspired commercial? [Update: You guys are clearly smarter than me! =D Great job figuring out that "size matters." Thanks, everyone.]
Deal of the Day: Ratchet and Clank only $20
While Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters won't even be out in Europe for another week, those of you in America can pick up the game for a very modest $20 over at GameExpress.com. In fact, we Europeans should take advantage of the PSP being region free and nab us a great bargain too. To be honest, I'm surprised if any self respecting PSP owner hasn't bought it by now. You owe it to yourself to save yourself a bit of money on this great game.[Via CAG]
Ratchet & Clank interactive strategy guide
Did you ever get stuck in Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters? Well, have no fear! Sony has just released an interactive guide for the entire game, and we have it right here. There's over 60 pages of inside info for your perusal: not only on how to beat the game, but find its elusive secrets as well.Download for PC (18.1MB)Download for Mac (25.1MB)*Note: Please do NOT direct-link these files! Thanks.
Insomniac speaks about Ratchet
An interview has surfaced regarding the new Ratchet & Clank title as well as a brief discussion about a sequel to Resistance: Fall of Man over at PSU. Not Phantasy Star Universe, which is the only thing I ever see when looking at that acronym. Damn it, they really need to buckle and make a fantastic Phantasy Star V. Come on! Anyway, we'll summarize the good points of the review below. Development on Tools of Destruction started shortly after the last title, Deadlocked, shipped. So it's been under the knife for a while. The engine used to create R&C:ToD is based on the Resistance engine, but has been so enhanced that it really can't be called the same. A villain from Ratchet's past has emerged and wants him dead! The story takes place after the other games, so no worries... there's no prequel here. When asked about the wacky new weaponry, Insomniac said "we have some more outlandish types like the Tornado Launcher that sucks up enemies and whips them around - it's also controllable by the sixaxis motion sensor in the controller. There's the Plasma Beasts, which are slimy goo-like monsters that spring up and tackle enemies that are in range. And we've got the Groovitron, a disco ball grenade weapon that when thrown out causes the enemies to hypnotically dance to a groovin beat." The PS3 has the power to move mountains, once you give it enough time and understand what you're doing. The Tornado Launcher weapon couldn't have been created on any other system (well, maybe the Wii... but it wouldn't look that good). Resolution and frame rate are up in the air, still. Online? Co-op? They can't say. Release date? Fall. More Resistance? It's a mystery, but the silence is so deafening! Okay, that's it. If you want to read the whole interview, help yourself, but we didn't really leave that much out. Still worth a look![Via digg]
Blurry R&C video walkthrough & glitches
IGN Boards user Biozell should become a game tester. This incredible Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters fan has burst open the secrets of the game. See his high-flying acrobatics find all the Titanium Bolts in the game (helpful!). Then, check out his videos of glitches he's discovered by jumping in all the right places. Seriously: how did he find all of this stuff?There's one unfortunate drawback to the mayhem: the videos are really, really blurry. We know that the PSP screen is hard to capture, simply because cameras don't seem to want to focus on it correctly. If you think you can handle the (very blurry) secrets of Ratchet & Clank, check out Zellhazard's YouTube page now.
Rush and get a free Ratchet & Clank demo
It's not downloadable, but it's still free. Be one of the first 3,500 people to visit the game's official website, and you'll be able to get a free UMD demo mailed to your home. As you may know, we really love the game here at the Fanboy: once you try it, you might too.
Metareview: Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters just came out on PSP and a lot of gamers have high hopes for the title given the history of the series. We here at PSP Fanboy love Ratchet & Clank, but what about everyone else? It seems like most critics agreed with us, but let's see why: IGN (90/100) "It's packed with fantastic single-player content, has a strong multiplayer element, boasts a great visual and thematic presentation, and excels with razor-sharp gameplay mechanics." Yahoo! (100/100) "For the last two titles, the developers of Ratchet & Clank have done a wonderful job building full-featured multiplayer support into their games. Size Matters is arguably the best attemt to date. Although it only supports four players at a time, the maps and modes are meticulously build to wring the most out of multiplayer matches." 1UP (70/100) "If you're looking for a game that matches the quality of the previous games in the Ratchet franchise...well, keep looking." Not sure what game 1UP was playing, but they're the only one to even give the game anything close to that score, so if you're a fan I think you need to check out Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters.
Ad Critic: Ratchet & Clank's shrink ray
Surely, by now you've seen the brilliance of Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters' television spot. Like Size Matters, this commercial expands upon previous iterations. Does the "wacky weapon" idea from the PS2 commercials work for you? It certainly did for me.See also:PSP Fanboy review: Ratchet & Clank[Via IGN]
Play Ratchet on custom firmware
Like many PSP owners, I like the added functionality of Dark_Alex's custom firmware. What I didn't like though was how Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters didn't work on my PSP because of it. Luckily, the fine folks at DCEmu have come up with a solution. Let me run you through it step by step, so you too can get Ratchet swinging his wrench on your custom firmware.
