One for everyone
It's tough to find many great games for people under the age of 17. After all, most of the games developers really push themselves on are full of blood, gore, graphic violence, and sexual references. This causes problems, since most games that can be played by the younger crowd tend to not to be as engaging or technically good, so kids, especially those with short attention spans, don't like them for very long. And when adults play those games, they tend to get bored after a few minutes. But Ratchet & Clank is one of very few series to buck that trend. It's got an entertaining mix of platforming, animated combat, and puzzles that will delight many crowds. Kids of all ages will enjoy the game from start to finish, and it's rated for everyone ten and up, so you probably don't have to worry about them being scarred by graphic grossness. But pick up a controller yourself, and, well, you'll enjoy it from start to finish too. It's the sort of game that's just fun to play; the sort of game everyone can agree on.
Ratchet & Clank — What you might've missed
So, you may be familiar with the Ratchet & Clank series, or maybe you've never heard of it. Here's a quick overview of what you need to know about the series before playing. The two main characters are, as you may have guessed, named Ratchet and Clank. They live in a fantasy universe. Ratchet is a lombax, a cat-like creature who is very skilled with tools. His companion Clank is a small robot. Throughout the series, they go on different adventures, saving the galaxy on numerous occasions. When the series came to the PSP, they started using the title "Ratchet & Clank Future" in the U.S. The Ratchet & Clank future titles form a trilogy (with this being the conclusion). In the first R&C Future title, Tools of Destruction, Clank is taken captive at the end by creatures known as Zoni. In the second game, a shorter download, Ratchet sees where his companion is being held, which then segues into A Crack in Time.
A Crack in Time
At the beginning of a Crack in Time, Ratchet sets off to try to rescue his best companion. He begins making his way through various challenges, and past an adequate supply of enemies, using a combination of platforming, fighting, and piloting his spaceship. Meanwhile, Clank escapes from Dr. Nefarious and becomes the keeper of the Great Clock that keeps track of time. Players will play as each character during separate intervals. Playing as Ratchet, gamers will use mainly different forms of platforming and combat to make their way through the assorted levels to try and save Clank. While acting as Clank, the players will have more puzzles to solve with a light emphasis on combat, and this will be the most involved Clank experience yet for players as they help Clank find his purpose. Along the journey, Ratchet will also learn more about his past. In fact, this game is rumored to be the final Ratchet & Clank game made, so it answers many of the questions fans had throughout the series, like why Clank was built good instead of bad like other models, or what happened to all of the lombaxes. Whether or not it is the last R&C game, it has been confirmed as the last Ratchet and Clank Future game. It's got a lot of fun new gameplay along with the familiar touches, making it a must-have addition to a great series.
A solid foundation . . .
A Crack in Time is built on the same solid foundation that made the Ratchet & Clank games so successful. Adventures while playing as Ratchet involve platforming and combat techniques, while most of the gameplay as Clank revolves around puzzles. The animation style and "feel" of the game should be delightfully familiar to series fans. Ratchet still wields his trusty wrench, and he can still complete plenty of side missions to unlock rewards. If you're a fan of the Ratchet & Clank formula for success, you won't be disappointed with A Crack in Time.
. . . with a lot of polish
However, just because R&C: A Crack in Time builds off the success of previous Ratchet & Clank games, don't be fooled into thinking it's the same game with a different story, because there are some new additions to this edition that make it fresh enough to stay interesting. For example, Ratchet can get Hoverboots that allow him to zip throughout areas for platforming like never before. He can also use a starship to fly between planets, engage in space battles, and explore stellar entities along the way to unlock bonus content. And his arsenal of weapons is better than ever, with favorites like the wrench used along side new guns, including customizable weapons. But Ratchet isn't the only one who's got some new toys. As the keeper of the Great Clock, Clank has control over time, bringing him into gameplay like never before. One really cool feature of his time control is the ability to make several virtual copies of himself. These temporary Clanks can be doing one thing while the real robot does another. This can lead to entirely new aspects of puzzles or combat. Even if you've loved all the Ratchet & Clank games so far, the newest one is has got some new twists to make it a whole new experience.
A little something for parents
Here's what parents need to know about Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time. The ESRB, responsible for rating all U.S. video games, gave it a rating of 10+, letting you know that they think it's safe for anyone who's at least ten years old to play. They noted that it has animated blood, comic mischief, and cartoon violence. Then again, so does Tom & Jerry. But just like with any game, it's up to you as a parent to decide if it's alright for your kid. Maybe you think it would be fine for your eight-year-old, or maybe you're not so sure your eleven-year-old should really see Ratchet hit a bad guy with a wrench. So make sure to check it out for yourself and decide whether or not it's right for your child — after all, the ESRB rating is just a guideline.
