PS5 exclusive PlayStation 5. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart comes just five years after the series' soft reboot on PS4, making it the longest stretch between series entries so far. Thankfully, that longer wait seems to have paid off for developer Insomniac Games.
Perhaps above all else, Ratchet & Clank is known for its consistency, despite having well over a dozen entries across the entire franchise (as well as an animated feature under its belt). The beloved action/adventure series put Insomniac Games on the map and established a long-running PlayStation franchise which shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Now, half-a-year after the arrival of the PlayStation 5, Insomniac has the tall order of not only shipping another well-received entry, but creating a strong technical showcase for the latest Sony console.
According to critics' glowing reviews, it seems Insomniac has excelled on both s. Demon's Souls. With that said, here's what critics are saying about the game:
Stacey Henley - 4.5/5 - The Gamer
"Overall, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a wonderful table setter for the PS5, and a great summer blockbuster. It shows how the console's loading power can be integrated into gameplay, and avoids the pitfall of 'Bigger equals Better' in favour of more dense and active worlds."
Kyle Knight - 9/10 - DualShockers
"There’s no doubt in my mind that Rift Apart has got the potential to be one of the biggest games of the year. Not only is it visually phenomenal, but the combat is fluid and the story is gripping. It’s everything you could want from a Ratchet & Clank game, plus more."
Anthony Taormina - 4.5/5 - Game Rant
"As far as next-gen exclusives go, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart hits the most important notes. It’s visually striking, mechanically sound and diverse, and it takes advantage of the bells and whistles tied to the new platform. Some might be disappointed by the story, but overall the dimension-hopping adventure is exactly the type of fun-loving experience that Insomniac Games has been delivering since the very beginning."
Sammy Barker - 8/10 - Push Square
"In an era where games have been releasing undercooked, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart has been polished to a perfect sheen, like the ray traced metallic casing on Clank’s outer-shell. The music immerses you in each scene; the script is thoughtful and laugh-out-loud funny on occasion; and the game is just pure fun from start to finish – it never pretends to be anything else."
Chris Tapsell - Recommended - Eurogamer
"This is it though, the character and the absurdity and the charm that Insomniac is all about, that the team kick-started with Ratchet and Clank in 2002 and continue to master with such faultless confidence in Rift Apart. It's just pure craft, pure fun, pure video games - all the brilliant, bizarre ideas this studio has just thrown at the wall and all of them sticking."
From gorgeous gameplay to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart innovates in a lot of ways, even if its story seemingly falls a tad short at points. The characters, gameplay, and evolutions in technology will definitely make the game a lucrative purchase for PlayStation 5 owners looking for a justification for their purchase. Only time will tell if it's also a commercial success as a result. With luck, a sequel starring Rivet could happen a few years down the line.
Perhaps more than any other PlayStation Studios team, Insomniac is on fire with its past several game releases. Almost every title builds off of the last one's strengths, with the studio seeming to learn lessons and apply them to the next one to great effect. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is yet another example of this winning formula, and it's only the first of likely many Insomniac PS5 games.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will be available for PS5 on June 11, 2021.