A Superior Standard of Adventuring
Do you know that moment when playing a game and your mouth opens widely and you say, “This is what next-gen gaming is meant to be like?” Exactly what happens about five minutes into Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. From the first rift you leap through, you realize it’s not just another platformer. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, despite its age, is one of the games you can totally play today because it remains one of the most polished, visually stunning, and fun action-platformers on PlayStation.
The game starts with a hero’s celebration gone wrong—an oldie but goodie cliché that Insomniac Games somehow still manages to make fresh. Dr Nefarious, the fabulously deranged villain of the franchise, returns with this plan so over-the-top that it practically winks at you. Through a malfunctioning dimensionator, this sends our Lombax hero Ratchet and his trusty robot buddy Clank hurtling into an alternate reality. And just like that, you’re off on a whirlwind journey through universes teaming with personality and surprises.
The Gameplay That Hits the Spot
This is a gameplay that is so madly polished that you will be sitting on the edge of your seat. You are dodging laser beams in a grimy cyberpunk city one second and riding a giant space dragon through a prehistoric jungle next. Every rift you open feels like pulling the pin on a grenade full of endless possibilities.
The Topiary Sprinkler turns enemies into shrubbery mid-fight, and I’m not gonna lie; when I saw a robot sprouting leaves for the first time, I laughed out loud. The Ricochet gun is equally satisfying, with each bounce of the projectile landing with a smack that’s practically tactile. Each weapon has its own personality, and upgrading them in the game’s skill tree feels like opening presents on Christmas morning.
This isn’t just some gimmick here to attract players who buy cheap PS4 games; it becomes way more than that. You can feel every single pull of those triggers, every step that Ratchet makes, or any dimensional shift, whether big or small. It is difficult to describe but impossible to ignore the subtlety in the triggers when you are swinging across gaps on Ratchet’s tether.
Rivet – A Star is Born
And then, we have Rivet, a Lombax from another dimension who becomes the star of the show. His attitude is somewhat sarcastic and tough, while remaining highly sensitive in a way that makes him adorable on sight. The world that Rivet lives in has been plunged into dark times as it undergoes resistance against Emperor Nefarious (yes, two Nefariouses), which sounds just as mad as it really is. The shift between Ratchet and Rivet throughout the narrative doesn’t simply seem seamless; it seems like a must.
A Visual Feast
As for visuals, Rift Apart is absolutely stunning, one of the best among PS5 adventure games. It’s not just “pretty” for a video game; it’s “stop dead in your tracks because it could be an animated Pixar film”. Each of these worlds brims with colour and intricacy. Busy neon-lit streets of Nefarious City feel very much alive with NPCs and vehicles whizzing about. In contrast, Sargasso’s dense alien foliage almost whispers to you to slow down and take it all in. It feels magical to watch new places appear without any loading screens whatsoever. This isn’t merely some kind of technical display but rather something fundamental to the pace and enthusiasm of this game.
Challenges Worth Taking On
The completionists will be rewarded by Rift Apart. The major storyline lasts between 15 and 18 hours, but Challenge Mode can keep you coming back for more. This mode allows you to restart the game with all of your weapons and upgrades already unlocked, but enemies become more challenging. Golden bolts to armor sets that change your stats or look are sprinkled generously throughout the worlds. There’s also no overlooking pocket dimensions – bite-sized platforming puzzles that are as sweetly satisfying as they are rewarding.
Why This Game Sticks With You
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is unique not just because of its gameplay mechanics or stunning visuals, both of which it has in spades; it’s got heart. Late in the game, Rivet and Clank share a quiet conversation about their fears and failures. It’s unadorned and unguarded, surprisingly human. Amidst all these mind-blowing sequences and fun gadgets that are hardly logical, those silent beats still echo at the end of time.
Final Decision
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is not just a game; it is an experience. It is a tribute in the form of a platformer, a demonstration of possibilities on PS5, and another emotional story that brings tears to your eyes. If you are new to the series or have been following it for a long time, this will be one journey that should never be missed. While it shares some similarities with Astro Bot—like colorful worlds, playful tone, and clever use of the DualSense controller—Rift Apart is a much larger, story-driven adventure with deeper combat and exploration.
