Can Ratchet & Clank save Sony?? A fox-like alien and his robot sidekick on a mission to save the galaxy and indirectly save Sony's PlayStation 3... which has struggled to find a game so compelling that it makes consumers want to pick up the expensive console. In comparison, Microsoft's Xbox 360 has had several, including this year's megasmash Halo 3, but Sony is still trying to find that breakthrough hit of its own. Previous efforts such as Heavenly Sword and Folklore have failed to make the kind of splash they were expecting.
Along comes Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, a beautifully crafted game that is widely being compared to Pixar animated films and touted as a must-have for all Sony fans.
"We're using lots of the same techniques that would be used in a Pixar film," said Brian Allgeier, creative director on the Ratchet titles at developer Insomniac Games.
Seasoned video game fans are justified in rolling their eyes--claims by industry executives over the years that their games are "Pixar quality" have turned out to be little more than trash.
But this new Ratchet & Clank title that hit stores last week comes closest to delivering on that undelivered promise.
check out these gorgeous shots!!!
The new Ratchet is a watershed for gaming because it provides the first interactive-entertainment experience that truly feels like inhabiting a world-class animated film," The New York Times gushed with glee this week.
This title is also evidence that Sony's bet on its powerful new Cell processor is starting to pay off as developers get the hang of tapping its capabilities. Previously developers were frustrated with the hard learning curve but are now starting to get a bit more comfy with the new technology and that is good news for gaming consumers!
"We never could have had this level of action on the screen before," Allgeier said in praise of the PS3 hardware.
Metacritic.com, which combines ratings from review sites and magazines, has given the new Ratchet a score of 90, the highest so far for any game exclusive to the PS3. This is a big score for Sony's console.
"Tools of Destruction is an amazing PS3 game that fully leverages the power of the console. It sets the bar high for not only the series but for all PS3 games to come. It is, without a doubt, reason enough to buy the system," GamePro.com said in its review.
Sony desperately needs a hit for the struggling PS3, which has lagged behind the Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. By the end of September, the PS3 had sold about 5.6 million units, compared with more than 13 million respectively for the Xbox 360 and Wii.
The game, the seventh in the franchise since 2002, stars the fox-like Ratchet and his robot sidekick Clank as they attempt to defeat the evil Emperor Tachyon. Their adventures lead through 15 locations and involve space combat, skydiving, rail-grinding sequences, and a lot more cool scenarios!!
"All along we've gone in more of a shooter direction and we've decided to go back to our roots with a platformer, with more exploration, more adventure," Allgeier said. That is good cause we need a break from all the shooters and forced material!!
The game levels are put together with short animated clips that elaborate on the story and span about half the length of a feature film. With an industry rating of E 10+, the game should be suitable for everyone but small children. So keep the young kiddies away.
"This is one of the few epic adventure games this holiday that will make people laugh," Allgeier said. "It's kind of a bright spot amid a lot of darker-themed games." Well that's good cause the change of pace should be refreshing. This is a step in the right direction for Sony and we are happy to welcome it to the PS3 family! We just hope Sony keeps cranking out games of this caliber. We shall see!! 'Til then i gotta go kick Tachyon's butt!! Hehehe!!
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