Just when the series was looking long in the tooth, A Crack In Time comes from nowhere to be one of the best entries yet
Pros: Platforming/combat mix is as good as ever; Clone-based puzzles are awesome; Vibrant, colorful art style; Exploring moons is addictive; Funny
Cons: Ratchet's sections are a bit too standard at this point; A few glaring plot holes
It's hard to believe it, but over the course of 8 years we've received just as many unique Ratchet & Clank games. With only roughly a year between entries, there's this natural fear that the series would run itself into the ground. Certainly, previous PS3 entries, which did little to update the formula seemed to validate this fear. But A Crack In Time is different. With creative new clone-based puzzles and a general higher level of polish than other recent entries, Insomniac has proven that Ratchet & Clank can still be fresh and relevant.
However, that doesn't change the fact that A Crack In Time is still the 8th entry in only 8 years, making Ratchet's combat/platforming sections feel a bit too familiar. Because we've had the opportunity to go through this same game multiple times before, it's hard to point out any memorable combat portions for gameplay mechanics alone. Familiarity aside, however, this game is probably the most refined entry yet, with gadgets carefully chosen so that there is very little overlap in function, more checkpoints to allow for less frustration, and some fun, fast hover boot sections. It shows that with a bit of polish, a good formula can stay fun for a long time, if just a bit unspectacular.
Also helpful are the addition of moons, which you find when traveling between planets and galaxies in your ship. These 3-D levels (as in like Super Mario Galaxy) typically house a weapon upgrade or a zoni (read: ship upgrade) that you can earn by navigating a platforming challenge or killing all of the enemies on the planet. These are completely (okay, MOSTLY) optional, but they are consistently fun and you'll find that you want to complete them anyway, helping overcome a moderately short campaign.
Even more notable are Clank's portions, which probably could have been their own game rather than being attached to the trusted Ratchet & Clank series. Regardless of franchise, these are the best sections of the game. In these portions you record copies of yourself that repeat an assigned task when you tell them to. For instance, you can record yourself standing on a button to open a door, and then when your clone replays the action you run through the door yourself. Since you have only a limited number of copies to do your business, you have to carefully manage your activities and often record over previous actions. The puzzles get pretty tricky, but never too hard as to become frustrating, and never boring. If anything, you'll be disappointed when you realize that the last section comes a good 4th of the way before the game ends of.
[Note: The following paragraph contains spoilers for Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and Ratchet & Clank: A Quest For Booty. Though frankly, the game recaps their plots anyway in a funny cutscene during the install process, so if you play the game you will have those plots spoiled for you anyway]
The reason the two of them are separated is because Clank was taken by the Zoni at the end of Tools of Destruction, and while Ratchet was out discovering where Clank was in A Quest For Booty, it was revealed that Dr. Nefarious (a returning villain from Up Your Arsenal) had orchestrated Clank's kidnapping. From here, A Crack In Time enters to reveal that Dr. Nefarious hopes to use Clank to access a device called the Great Clock, no doubt for an evil purpose (which won't be spoiled here).
The plot is fairly interesting, delving into Clank's background and playing around with the ideas of time travel, however, there are a few strange decisions and plot holes towards the end. Not that it really matters, since the frequently funny and well directed story keeps you engaged up until the not-so-surprising finale.
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time is also the best looking entry yet, going further to the side of cel-shaded and cartoon than previous PS3 entries. It also simply boasts a higher level of environmental detail as well as the same fantastic animation as other entries. The colorful world is a nice, eye-catching change of pace from this generation's fascination with brown and grey.
With any luck this might be the last title under the Ratchet & Clank series. It's one of the series' highest notes that wraps things up pretty nicely by the conclusion, so it's as good a place as any to end (some would argue that the series could've stopped back at Up Your Arsenal, but then of course, we wouldn't have gotten this game). At this point, it's hard to imagine Insomniac doing much else with the series much less at the same high standard as some of its entries. But then again, I would've said the same thing a year ago, and A Crack In Time turned out to be one of the best entries yet, up with the original 3. Insomniac, the call's yours, you've gained this reviewer's faith.