Insomniac has blown it out of the water yet again with its latest title praising Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for its beautifully rendered worlds, wide weapon variety, smooth gameplay, and more.
For some, the breathtaking visuals alone might make the game worth checking out. From returning Ratchet & Clank worlds to the newly rendered cities and pocket dimensions, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart makes each look vibrant and unique. These worlds are visually pleasing and teeming with small details that will have players spinning their camera around just to take in the spectacle. This is especially impressive when seamlessly traversing through the dimensions, a technical feat made possible by the PS5's SSD drive.
Jonathon Dornbush - 9/10 - IGN
“… this is the prettiest PS5 game yet, and one of the best-looking games I’ve ever played. Insomniac has used its cartoony color palette to create a dazzling array of interstellar locations, like the densely packed metropolis of Nefarious City or the lush greenery of Sargasso that benefit from impressive use of ray tracing reflections.”
The PlayStation 5 really gets to showcase its power as players take in the brilliant worlds and make their way through the dozens of levels filled to the brim with enemies waiting to be slain with the game's large arsenal. Like prior titles, there is a wide variety in Rift Apart's weapon wheel that allows players to deal with different enemy types. Each weapon shatters enemy armors in different ways, in showers of particle effects and explosions that ignite the battlefield, yet the framerate remains constant in each fidelity mode. The addition of the DualSense controller also puts a feeling of power and weight behind the numerous weapons.
Andrew Reiner - 9/10 - Game Informer
“The DualSense controller also mesmerizes at times, enhancing each weapon with tailored haptic and clever adaptive trigger functionality. Each gun delivers a distinct and satisfying kick – whether it’s the rhythmic pulsing of the Ricochet Gun or being able to feel the Negaton Collider cook in your hands before it sends out a rattle with its energy blast.”
Beyond the upgraded gameplay and graphical fidelity that Insomniac put into this next-gen sequel, there's also a compelling story. Side characters have their own unique personalities, crafted with an eye for charm. Players also finally get a full introduction to Ratchet & Clank's new female protagonist, Rivet and she comes off even more endearing than expected. For some reviewers, she equals Ratchet in of likeability, but she left an even greater impact on others, which says a lot about her writing - and Jennifer Hale’s voice acting performance.
Steve Watts - 9/10 - Gamespot
“Having finished Rift Apart, I would love to play a standalone Rivet game, set in this or any other dimension. Part of that is the performance of Jennifer Hale as Rivet, who introduces a disarming amount of emotional heft.”
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is certainly living up to expectations set by previous titles, as well as proving there are still developers like Insomniac that can deliver a stunningly beautiful experience that has the content and smooth gameplay to back it up. Hopefully, Insomniac can continue this streak for the Spider-Man sequels and wherever Ratchet & Clank goes next.