Reviews// Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

One complaint I did have with one particular map (Planet Kortog) was that I managed to spend far longer than was necessary hopping from one Robo-Wing launch pad to the next. In fact, I cursed the day Clank first fell out of a washing machine as I tilt-controlled my way through the sky. Blame my geographical inadequacy if you like, but I suspect I won't be the only one to suffer from it.

Tools of Destruction looks great. If you've seen the screens and movies, you know what I'm talking about – if not, you’re going to have to respect my authority! This is one game that certainly doesn't suffer graphically as you turn your eye from marketing-led static screenshots and carefully rendered trailers, to actual moving gameplay.

There's been no substantial redesign – the game retains its cartoony charm, bright colours and range of exotic locations and well imagined baddies. Basically, everything's like it was in Tools of Destruction's PS2 predecessors, but better. The shading's beautiful, the textures are stunning and the lighting's easy on the eye. What you'll basically find is a much crisper, cleaner version of previous entries in the Ratchet and Clank series.

The cut-scenes that litter the game are approaching the kind of quality you'd expect to find in a big screen CG movie. The developers at Insomniac have excelled themselves in that department.

What I found, however, is that the cut-scenes got a bit tedious. It might just be my age showing (I've hit my mid-20s since I played Ratchet and Clank 3), but I simply didn't find the plot – and by extension the cut-scenes – very engrossing. The dialogue's fine, the deft touches of satire that litter the game add a bit of character, but for the most part I found myself making a mental 'Meh' noise anyway.

Of course, Insomniac isn't likely to be too worried that this critical 24-year old wasn't too bothered by the game's plot – it's clearly written for a younger audience and (someone's going to punch me right in the face for this) female gamers with a fondness for Disney-type fare.

What my experience of Ratchet and Clank basically boils down to is the fact that I spent far too long with Tim, The Evil Editor, looking over my shoulder and saying, “G’day, you nearly done with that Mark? Going to start writing that review soon?" and I kept lying so I could keep playing. It was difficult to put down, and my girlfriend hates me now.

For both the veteran and new player, Tools of Destruction is just good fun. If you're looking for a big challenge, look elsewhere. If you want to pick up a controller and happily twiddle your thumbs for a few hours while giving a bit of thought to how best to kill things in a child-friendly manner, this is your boy.

SPOnG Score: 87%

[b][i]Conclusion
It's Ratchet and Clank 3 – high res. That's a good thing. It won't challenge your ideas about what a game can be, it won't push your thumbs to the limits of their twiddling abilities, but it will entertain your pants off and it will charm younger audiences. It might even convince your missus that it's time to invest in a PS3. The elements that made the game's predecessors enjoyable are all still here, and there are just enough new tweaks to keep things interesting.[/b][/i]