Ratchet and Clank: Quest For Booty - 7/10
Ratchet and Clank: Quest For Booty
Ratchet and Clank: Quest For Booty (QFB) is the eighth release in the Ratchet and Clank (RaC) saga. The story takes place a short period after the end of Tools of Destruction as Ratchet attempts to track down the location of his best friend and epic companion, Clank.
First up; what’s with the RaC titles? We have Going Commando which is slang for not wearing any underwear, Up Your Arsenal, Size Matters and Quest For Booty. The writers sure have a nice sense of humour...
I feel I need to mention how big of a fan I am for the Ratchet and Clank series. The first game was my first game on PS2 and Tools of Destruction was my first game on PS3 which I had 2 months before I even got my PS3 just to ensure I could play it when I get my PS3. I have played all the PS2 releases of the games each 3 or more play-throughs each. So my voice will be the voice of a big fan. Well onto the review.
Once you have actually downloaded the game you will be pleased to see a difficulty selection, a nice new addition to the series possibly because of the length of the game. You start the game with the pirates that were a big element in the previous title. During the level you will encounter a new problem never seen in the RaC series. You can now use your wrench for more than just demolishing crates or beating up enemies; it’s now used for much more. By holding down the R2 button and pushing square Ratchet can manipulate certain areas of the world using the right stick. This works very well in most cases. Sometimes when you need the thing you’re moving to go out of the initial camera angle, it can’t but this is only a minor problem in a few instances.
The game tends to focus more on platforming and problem solving. This is a great positive with some puzzles being easy while others hard. It really makes the game much more enjoyable to play. Sometimes you will need to combine the new wrench movement abilities with your mind to pass onto the next section. The wrench works really well and makes me excited to see how they use it in the next game. You will also encounter some choices in the game though they don’t really influence the outcome of the storyline, just different jokes. This again makes me excited to see if they will use this in the next game. Maybe the next will bring an alternate ending?
The gameplay is solid and good with a nice balance of adventure and shoot ‘em up action that has made RaC unique. Though this balance isn’t really the balance that has been around in previous games as the game pretty much runs like this; solve a puzzle or explore, a big fight scene, solve a puzzle or explore, a big fight scene and it just repeats. There’s no real fighting while doing the exploring like it has been in other games.
A huge thing in the Ratchet and Clank series has also been the cool and innovative gadgets and weapons but unfortunately, QFB falls a long way away from the tree. There’s a very limited amount of weapons with only one to buy. Yes, only one. There’s no new gadgets excluding Ratchet’s new omniwrench and there’s barely any weapon upgrades. You can find an upgrade per gun but again, nothing new. There’s also no gadgetron. On the scale the game is on, that may have set off the balance but something would have been nice. I also found some really annoying problems with the lock-strafe aim mode. Rather than sidestepping while shooting, when you move side to side Ratchet will face that direction and shoot in that direction. This can be really frustrating when it wastes a lot of your ammo; the ammo that needs to be conserved.
Luckily the game still keeps the humour the game is known for. You will let out a nice laugh during pretty much every cut-scene which is nice like always. You will see a nice return of some of the characters but one in particular fails to make a return which is much more than disappointing.
Graphically this game is the same as Tools of Destruction, if not better. It’s the same sleek and beautiful textures we all love to lay our eyes on in a RaC game. At some times I have found some frame rate drops but most of the time it runs smooth.
Graphics – 8.5/10
The great graphics we all expect from the RaC series returns and in some cases, better than its predecessor. A few spots with frame rate drops but nothing that takes away from the game.
Sound – 8/10
Most of the sounds are taken from the previous title which is a good thing but with new sound effects and a nice “piratey” tune to suite the game make the sound as enjoyable as ever.
Gameplay - 7/10
No new guns, lack of upgrades and only 1 new gadget take a big chunk from the score. The score is then lifted up from the puzzles, the innovative way to use the wrench and more platforming. The game is also very short with a mere 4 hours of playtime but then again, is only $23. The game does sometimes feel empty and unfinished but it’s not too big of a problem.
Replay-Ability – 2/10
There’s no challenge mode but instead a difficulty selection screen. I would prefer to have seen the challenge mode as it gives me a good incentive to play again and hard, wasn’t very hard. They could have done so much more with this game. A small online component or some sort of bolts goal to attain something in the next game. There’s no reason to play it again unless you’re bored and have a few hours to kill.
Closing Comments
Decent gameplay, nothing special but enough, make the game good. The game looks and sounds good so there’s no worry there. As mentioned earlier, the game sometimes feels incomplete. The developers could have done so much more. A mediocre story finished with another cliff-hanger annoys me as a hardcore fan but is a nice way to end the game.
All in all, it’s an ok game. No reason to rush out and buy it but it’s worth a play.
Final Score – 7/10
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Submitted by rivalZone
29/09/2008
381
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