Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart review: Story Part of me wonders what Rivet would have felt like with a more distinctive playstyle, but part of me also appreciates how seamless it feels to transition between Ratchet and Rivet as the game progresses. She controls identically to Ratchet they even share the same weapons and upgrades. Rivet is the fifth playable character in the Ratchet & Clank series, and it's fun to step into her stylish Hoverboots. The big new gameplay feature in Rift Apart, however, is the introduction of Rivet: the fan-favorite female Lombax from the game's trailers. Glitch herself, though, is an extremely charming character, with an eager "can-do" attitude and a miniature character arc of her own. I wasn't as keen on the Glitch sections, which are basically shooting galleries where you can walk on walls and ceilings to advance through sections. Some of the puzzles are suitably challenging, and the sections never drag on for too long.
#Ratchet and clank rift apart gameplay series#
Clank directs a series of auto-running "possibilities" through a variety of obstacle courses, using gravity and speed spheres to alter their paths. The Clank sections this time around have a distinct Lemmings feel.
Like previous games, it occasionally breaks up the action with puzzle sections where you play as either Clank or Glitch: a minuscule arachnoid robot, designed to defeat computer viruses. Of course, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart isn't all combat and platforming, all the time. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart review: Clank, Glitch and Rivet Whether you're swinging across a perilous chasm, blasting a faraway alien with a Shatterbomb or riding a speeding beetle across a deadly swamp, Rift Apart simply feels fantastic to play. While the gameplay in Rift Apart is simple for the most part, it also exhibits the level of precision and polish you'd expect from an Insomniac offering. Other games have done interesting things with the DualSense, but Rift Apart is arguably the first game that integrates it seamlessly. Even when you're simply exploring, the DualSense emits tiny haptic pulses when you collect Bolts (Rift Apart's currency), or clamp down with magnetic boots in zero-G. With a shotgun equipped, pressing the trigger halfway down will fire a single shot pressing it all the way down will unload both barrels.
With bomb-type weapons, for example, pressing a trigger down halfway aims, while pressing it down all the way fires. Almost every weapon takes advantage of the PS5 controller's adaptive triggers. It's also worth pointing out just how thoughtfully Insomniac has integrated DualSense functionality into the game. Getting to customize your favorites also lends Rift Apart a level of personalization that most platformers don't offer. Learning each weapon's ins and outs is a real joy. The Negatron Collider shoots a gigantic beam of energy that can stop almost any foe in its tracks. The Glove of Doom dispatches tiny, murderous robots that will gnaw away at your enemies' ankles. The Topiary Sprinkler, for example, roots enemies in place and makes them sprout leaves and flowers. While you'll get an energy pistol, rocket launcher, personal shield and other sci-fi staples, it's much more fun to use the bizarre tools in your arsenal. As usual, the weapon variety is the real star of the show here.