This is significant proof that Insomniac Games still shines even after ditching the Spyro series.
To me, Ratchet and Clank 1 is like the Citizen Kane of 3D platformers. This is significant proof that Insomniac Games still shines even after ditching the Spyro series, and let me tell you why.
Plot:
It's the same plot of several sci-fi movies, but with a twist. The plot is that a Lombax named Ratchet is constructing his spaceship, when suddenly, he meets "Clank", a robot that crashlanded from Quartu. Clank shows Ratchet, through an InfoBot, that a Blargian named Drek is destroying every planet in the galaxy to create his own planet. Later on, they meet this supposed hero named Captain Qwark, who turns out to be a spokesman for Drek's planet, so the duo has to do double-duty: Do payback on Qwark and destroy Drek's planet. Overall, the plot is epic, despite the planet-destroying cliché borrowed from science-fiction movies.
Graphics:
The graphics are way ahead of their time. There is shading that goes according to the time of day, the game actually makes you feel like you are in the future and they explosions are realistic and highly detailed.
The effects used in the game are repeatedly used and make the game all the more better. The flames actually look like flames instead of a pixely, warm-colored mess. In Orxon, there is a green tint that gives you the feel of a polluted planet. And outer space isn't just a scrolling background of stars and asteroids splattered about, it's like walking in a Star Wars movie. So, to make a long story short, the graphics of R&C are colorful, realistic and it gives the feel of the environment.
Gameplay:
The point of the game is somewhat simple. You are a Lombax named Ratchet, who has to go around blowing up robots and blargians, picking up bolts, traveling from planet to planet, using weapons and completing missions. Bolts are the primary object of the game. You use these to buy weapons and objects. It is best to have an extensive supply of these so you can by lots of stuff.
There is also hard-to-find gold bolts in this game, which are used to buy upgraded weapons in replay mode. I'll explain this mode later.
Now about the weapons. You start with only the OmniWrench 8000 and the Bomb Glove. As the game goes on, you can buy more weapons, such as the Devastator, a gun that shoots homing missles, the Suck Cannon, a vacuum cleaner-type weapon that sucks small enemies and uses them as ammo, and of course, the RYNO (Rip You a New One), the absurdly-priced homing missile launcher that destroys nearly anything it senses.
You will also need items throughout the game, such as the Persuader, which cuts the vendor prices, and the Sonic Summoner, which calls sandmice out of their homes to fight alongside you.
The game itself isn't too tough, other than the parts that involve the Trespasser. The Trespasser puzzles can take over three minutes to complete if you haven't memorized them.
And if you remember the skill points from the Spyro games, they return in this game. You can get them by shooting down objects you most likely don't see, scoring high and getting through certain areas without a scratch.
And you won't have to worry about the game being over with for good, because there is a replay mode in this game, that lets you get stuff you missed and buy extreme-powered weapons.
In other words, this game is rather straightforward for a T-rated game, and doesn't contain too many sidequests to do at one time, and is the perfect fit for gamers, both casual and hardcore.
Music:
The genre of music in this game ranges from techno to classical, in fact, sometimes it mixes the two. However, at least in my opinion, while the game does have memorable tunes, such as the Rilgar theme, you don't pay attention to the tunes much of the time and thus the game's music is unmemorable. Your only memories are actually PLAYING the game.
Overall:
Insomniac Games knew they had to do something to make up for getting rid of the Spyro series. And if you play this game, you can almost forgive them for doing so. It's not almost, this game IS addictive and will leave you playing for hours.