'Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart' is the Perfect PS5 Litmus Test

My first experience with Ratchet and Clank was, like many, back in the early '00s with the very first installment of what would become a multimedia franchise. I remember going to the store excitedly to purchase a Playstation 2 - by now a couple of years since its release - and being given the choice of selecting the game that came with the new console.

To my dismay, Kingdom Hearts was out of stock, and so Ratchet and Clank had found its way home with us on that day. I was excited to play, and upon reaching the Metropolis level, my enthusiasm turned to pure awe as I took in the world that Insomniac Games had created. This would not have been possible on a Playstation One, and I had never seen anything like it before.

Almost two decades from that day, I found myself again jumping into that same world with Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. Having since purchased each iteration of the Playstation, I had found Ratchet and Clank as the perfect litmus test for each console, with Insomniac always testing the power of the new hardware and features with each respective generation.

Rift Apart is no exception to that rule. While we've had several Playstation 5 releases, this might be the most impressive, in how it feels like it has utilised the aspects of the console that Sony has been marketing hard ever since its reveal. From the super speed of the SSD, to the DualSense's haptic feedback, Rift Apart very impressively showcases the PS5's most impressive points. From near-zero loading times demonstrated by the titular rifts, transporting Ratchet and newcomer Rivet to other levels instantaneously, to the trigger features and unique feel of each weapon, the newest outing by Insomniac takes advantage of all the toys thrown their way - and wants you, the player, to do the same.

But Rift Apart is, despite its strengths, not a perfect game. I was, perhaps unfairly, hoping for a return to form - back to the PS2-era style of humour, of storytelling, and music. While Devo alumnus Mark Mothersbaugh does a commendable job with the score, the story feels straightforward, taking a backseat to the gameplay and stunning visuals.

However, these are simple nitpicks. Ratchet and Clank has evolved as a series since I was a child, wondrously immersed in their very first adventure, and Rift Apart is a huge step forward for the series. The worlds are staggering, the new characters, charming, and Insomniac has delivered another phenomenal gaming experience.

8.5/10