$19.99

Summary Ratchet & Clank's "smallest" adventure is blown up to Playstation 2 proprtions to give those of us who never bothered to get a PSP a chance to experience one of the handheld's greatest titles.

Description When I first learned (off Gamestop.com) that the PSP game Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters was going to be ported over to the PS2, I just about orgasmed. I, for one, have a huge stiffy for the R&C games, and thought I had missed out when a game was announced for the PSP (which I still think is a piece of crap, and refuse to ever waste money on) and no PS2 version was in sight... until now. Even though the game has been out for just over a year now, and another new title was recently released, I'm still super excited to wrap my hands around Ratchet & Clank's "smallest" adventure that I have been waiting ever patiently for. Gameplay: Let me start by saying that Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters is no cakewalk. In the past, the R&C have always been on the easy side, but I guess High Impact decided to break those bounds that Insomniac laid, and (at points) goes about a million steps to far in the difficulty division. However hard, it is a pleasant change from the ho hum walk in the roses that you'd experience in the previous 4 titles. Other that the insane difficulty curve, the gameplay itself remains identical to that of the other games. All of your main elements are intact: crazy weapons and gadgets, platforming segments (thank God they ditched all of that Deadlocked military esque team combat; a.k.a all shooting, no fun), and all of the other signature features that you've come to love from Insomniac's masterpieces. One downside to Size Matters is a finicky camera. I never played the PSP version of the game, but I'm pretty certain that it had a somewhat fixed camera due to the lack of a second analog stick. I assume that because, while you have your right analog stick to angle your camera to your liking, it isn't as spot-on as the PS2 exclusive titles. The camera isn't a total deal-breaker for the game, it could have been much improved. Story: After saving the galaxy, not once, not twice, now three times, but four freakin' times in four years, Ratchet and Clank take a well earned vacation. During their time off from "Hero Duty", Ratchet and Clank meet a girl named Luna who is doing a class project on heroes. While letting the girl take some photographs of the duo leaping, fighting robots, etc, the forces of evil kidnap the girl and sure enough, Ratchet and Clank are once again called upon to to be the heroes. While every R&C game follow a relatively predictable plotline, like clockwork, you still find yourself coming back like an abused spouse. Graphics: Almost identical to that of the other PS2 Ratchet & Clank titles, with the exception of a few instances when you notice slightly more pixilation in the character models, probably due to the game being blown up to such a degree form its original handheld version. Sound: As always, the R&C games have had a somewhat forgettable soundtrack. The game's music is, how one might say, "in one ear and out the other." It's there, but as soon as it's gone, you'll forget it almost immediately. Thankfully this isn't where the game was meant to shine, like a Final Fantasy title is. The in game sound effects are also a mediocre experience; then again, have they ever been truly exceptional? While these two major components of the audio section of the game have been getting a thrashing, the cast's voice acting jumps in to defend the game from my destructive onslaught. The cast returns to bring life to these colorful characters with the same force they have in the past. Nothing was left out to bring you the same clever, comical tone you've come to expect from the franchise. Special: During the course of the game, you will uncover a slew of hidden, special content. ranging from Bolts to Armor. Titanium Bolts - When enough of these hidden bolts are found, cheats will become accessable through the special feature on the menu screen. Skill Points - While playing the game, if you meet certain requirements in each level, you will be awarded a Skill Point commemorating your accomplishment. Armor - While not really a special feature, during the course of the game, you will find many different armor pieces. These many different articles of armor can be equipped to Ratchet to increase his overall hit resistance. If all pieces of one suit of armor are found and equipped, Ratchet will be awarded with a special Wrench element. For example; when you find all of the Wildfire armor, Ratchet's Wrench swing will be empowered with a blazing fire, dealing extra damage to enemies when you set them ablaze with a smack of your Wrench. If you loved the other titles in the Ratchet & Clank series, you'll love Size Matters. Even though it originated as a PSP exclusive by a different developer, this game doesn't miss a single beat you'd expect from one of Insomniac's games. No matter how flawed this game may be, you should at least give it a onceover. Fans of the franchise will eat this up, and if you've never played one of the R&C games before; everyone's gotta start somewhere. Even though this title, Deadlocked, and Up Your Arsenal haven't been able to hold up to the second game in the series, Going Commando, I'm still super psyched for when I get my PS3 and am able to immerse myself in Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. Other Scores Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters Received Game Informer - 9.0 (out of 10) Electronic Gaming Monthly - 7.0, 8.0, 7.5 (out of 10) Metacritic - 85 (out of 100) Review Page Hits: 11 today (87 in the last 30 days) Create Your Own Review or