I dunno why, but I can never bring myself to care about a Ratchet & Clank game, and the ones I did play were quite a chore. I feel like once you've played one you've pretty much played them all.
Ratchet & Clank really rocks the diarrhea particle effect and lighting spectacle. I feel like these games push more for spectacle more than evolving gameplay. Their mantra is to push as much crap on screen at any given time to give a sense of spectacle.
I'm also still not convinced by the central gimmick of this game, being able to 'rift' between dimensions. I would be way more impressed if you can jump between dimensions at any time and anywhere at the push of a button, but everything I've seen it looks like you can only dimension-hop when you interact with placed portals in the world, which makes the game feel way more limited and scripted than this "next gen" freedom is trying to sell.
Oh well. Ratchet & Clank has a fanbase and people will like it anyways, but not my thing.
@jaydan: I don't expect the rifts to be much of a gameplay changer but more like a cool additions. The game would most likely be more of the same which is neutral but for folks who are not into these the series, they may not be moved.
@Pedro: It would have been a true game-changer if there was real-time dimension-hopping at the will of the player. I would LOVE inter-dimensional chase sequences or battles where you and the enemies can hop around at will.
It probably has more to do with technology isn't capable of such a feat yet, but I just think it's odd it seems like they're making this dimension-hopping as the game's selling-point.
That was the original pitch, at least, when they first announced the game. I can say I was initially excited over such an idea, but then my interest went down to a whimper when I saw the demos and it's all entirely scripted, and all that was left was --ohhh-- just another Ratchet & Clank, the same Ratchet & Clank I've played before.
Cramming as much diarrhea particle effects on screen at one time only entertains me for so long before it's just a drab form of padding out where the game falters in other areas (a distraction).
Like I say: oh well. Fans will eat this one up regardless.
@jaydan: The impressive thing about the dimension hopping in Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart is that it loads an entire world almost instantly.
Passive technological advances may be impressive on a technical level and how it can be incorporated into game development from now on, that's great: but a great or interesting game it does not make alone.
I feel partially duped by the initial announcement of the game. I was initially thinking that we're gonna have a real dimension-hopping game where you can place portals at will the way you can do it in a Portal game, seamlessly so.
The only thing these scripted events tell me is the limitations of the original elevator pitch.
@Pedro: It would have been a true game-changer if there was real-time dimension-hopping at the will of the player. I would LOVE inter-dimensional chase sequences or battles where you and the enemies can hop around at will.
It probably has more to do with technology isn't capable of such a feat yet, but I just think it's odd it seems like they're making this dimension-hopping as the game's selling-point.
That was the original pitch, at least, when they first announced the game. I can say I was initially excited over such an idea, but then my interest went down to a whimper when I saw the demos and it's all entirely scripted, and all that was left was --ohhh-- just another Ratchet & Clank, the same Ratchet & Clank I've played before.
Cramming as much diarrhea particle effects on screen at one time only entertains me for so long before it's just a drab form of padding out where the game falters in other areas (a distraction).
Like I say: oh well. Fans will eat this one up regardless.
Very few developers are willing to spend the time to push their core mechanic to be gameplay changing. Most of the times it is a shallow implementation and not a fundamental element to the overall design. I don't believe it is a technological limitation but more of a time and cost. What you are desiring with the rifts have a high level of design complexity.
Ratchet and Clank games has always been showpieces and this will continue the trend.
@jaydan: The impressive thing about the dimension hopping in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is that it loads an entire world almost instantly.
The dimension hoping is not any different to the way games like Dishonored 2 and Titanfall 2 handles the switch between two timeframes of the same space.
@Pedro: If only a dev team can step up to the plate and make it happen, I'm sure it would be a game-changer that would turn lots of heads. Maybe one day.
I draw up this scrutiny because I felt like the game's initial reveal overcasted itself, and being the selling-point to something that's a lot less than what I was initially under impression of.
It's like, take the Portal games. They promised wacky portal-hopping disorientation you can do at will, and you certainly get to do everything a Portal gun can do. The fact you can dick around in a Portal game for no other reason than to just play around, shows how well-designed those games actually are. Everyone has probably put a Portal above them and beneath them just to jump into an endless Portal pitfall; that serves no purpose to game progression other than just being something you can toy around with. That's good game design for you when you can actually experiment with the tools you're provided.
@Pedro: If only a dev team can step up to the plate and make it happen, I'm sure it would be a game-changer that would turn lots of heads. Maybe one day.
They may want to but they have budgets and deadlines. Insomniac has developed more games than any other Sony studios in the same time frame.
@Pedro: I edited this too late into my last post, so I'll place it here:
I draw up this scrutiny because I felt like the game's initial reveal overcasted itself, and being the selling-point to something that's a lot less than what I was initially under impression of.
It's like, take the Portal games. They promised wacky portal-hopping disorientation you can do at will, and you certainly get to do everything a Portal gun can do. The fact you can dick around in a Portal game for no other reason than to just play around, shows how well-designed those games actually are. Everyone has probably put a Portal above them and beneath them just to jump into an endless Portal pitfall; that serves no purpose to game progression other than just being something you can toy around with. That's good game design for you when you can actually experiment with the tools you're provided.
I draw up this scrutiny because I felt like the game's initial reveal overcasted itself, and being the selling-point to something that's a lot less than what I was under impression of.
It's like, take the Portal games. They promised wacky portal-hopping disorientation you can do at will, and you certainly get to do everything a Portal gun can do. The fact you can dick around in a Portal game for no other reason than to just play around, shows how well-designed those games actually. Everyone has probably put a Portal above them and beneath them just to jump into an endless Portal pitfall; that serves no purpose to game progression other than just being something you can toy around with. That's good game design for you when you can actually experiment with the tools you're provided.
You know how hype works. Sell the illusion and people buy into it. This game is going to be a Ratchet and Clank game. Nothing more less, Rifts or no rifts. 😋
Portal, if I recall correctly was a student made game that went into full production. These types of innovative gameplay really stems from avenues in which budgets and overall time constraints are not the limiting factor. Students have the freedom to design without much constraints.
Ewwww...another one of Sony's 'all show no substance' titles.
That's what I'm saying. Ratchet & Clank is the master of diarrhea particle and lighting effects. They use spectacle to pad out the gameplay flaws to distract the players from the fact they're playing the same Ratchet & Clank they've always been playing.
@Pedro: We need another game like Portal; by that I don't mean rip it off, but we need need another game that truly breaks new grounds in terms of how games can be played, and in what new ways we can break ground. To this day I feel like we haven't had another game like Portal. That was a one-of-a-kind type experience only the sequel can match. I wish we see more risks taken like that, not AAA companies overcasting their promises.
@Pedro: We need another game like Portal; by that I don't mean rip it off, but we need need another game that truly breaks new grounds in terms of how games can be played, and in what new ways we can break ground. To this day I feel like we haven't had another game like Portal. That was a one-of-a-kind type experience only the sequel can match. I wish we see more risks taken like that, not AAA companies overcasting their promises.
You don't turn to Sony for games that take risk. 😉
The problem with AAA developers, is they'd rather throw dollars at the celebrity name and big-budget polish, more than throwing dollars at the actual talents you might find in a college classroom.
The problem with AAA developers, is they'd rather throw dollars at the celebrity name and big-budget polish, more than throwing dollars at the actual talents you might find in a college classroom.
I can't blame them because it works. 🤷♀️ Until gamers start requesting newer and in many cases more advanced gameplay, developers are going to stick to repainting old formulas.
The problem with AAA developers, is they'd rather throw dollars at the celebrity name and big-budget polish, more than throwing dollars at the actual talents you might find in a college classroom.
I can't blame them because it works. 🤷♀️ Until gamers start requesting newer and in many cases more advanced gameplay, developers are going to stick to repainting old formulas.
Well I'm glad I may be among the few willing to speak up about this then. 😉
It would have been a much less big of a deal to me if they didn't overcast themselves in the first place. The fact that I was almost interested in a new Ratchet & Clank, a series I was convinced maybe I don't need to play anymore because I've already played it; only to get that excitement to wane down to be yet another Ratchet & Clank game, says the game almost had a catch if only the game actually broke new ground as I thought the selling-point inclined.
@jaydan: I don't expect the rifts to be much of a gameplay changer but more like a cool additions. The game would most likely be more of the same which is neutral but for folks who are not into these the series, they may not be moved.
I get what Jaydan is saying, but the whole point of the rift dimensions is to use SSD feature and see how it will fair on PS5 is what drew my attention and I'm a long time Ratchet & Clank fan, so this game has caught my attention. If I can find PS5 by the end of June, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will be my first PS5 exclusive purchase. For me, this is the first original R&C game in the series since Into the Nexus in 2013. Additionally, since that game was on the short side and felt like roughly half of a decent R&C experience, it can be reasonably argued that this is the first true R&C game since A Crack in Time in 2009.
Edit: Got done watching the vid. It is interesting that IGN mentioned there are "other dimension Ratchets" so it should be pretty interesting to see how much they incorporate that (like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) or rivet will be the only one that's fleshed out.
Now I may be no expert in game design since I never developed a game in my life, but I do understand the principles of design and how tools serve more than one purpose. I know this, since I am designer in other fields.
Something tells me dimension-hopping into other areas is a lot like simply opening a door and loading up into a different area; but instead of having your back facing a door and a wall once you enter a new room, it becomes your overall surrounding.
Now there was plenty of freedom in the Portal games but they still had various limitations and rules in place that taught players you can't simply make a Portal out of thin air.
If I were to approach such a concept for a video game, I'd probably design the world to have two adjacent rooms that you can only exist in one at a time.
Like the rules established in a Portal game that you can't just make a Portal out of thin air; a Portal you DO make out of thin air is mapped by invisible walls that only the game works with, and wherever you map a Portal real-time will be Mapped precisely at that point in the adjacent room.
With the advances of load-times, that whole process would be seamless and you can do it as many times as you want, allowing players to just mess around and have fun the same way the Portal games do that.
If you read this and you think it is a plausible concept for a game, go ahead and steal this. I'm not a game dev but maybe you are.
@jaydan: Bro your having too many issues with playstation lately first it was returnal than it was you don't like paying 10 dollars more for a game now your saying ratchet not up your alley dude find something you like in life and talk about that instead.
Let go of the sony playstation 5 hate you will feel a lot better go buy xbox or pc or whatever your into I dunno what you like anymore.
@jaydan: Bro your having too many issues with playstation lately first it was returnal than it was you don't like paying 10 dollars more for a game now your saying ratchet not up your alley dude find something you like in life and talk about that instead.
Let go of the sony playstation 5 hate you will feel a lot better go buy xbox or pc or whatever your into I dunno what you like anymore.
Me saying Returnal looks like an awesome game and a game I would like to play when I eventually get a PS5, is me having issues with Playstation?
Okay, PottyRushX.
Playstation fans only hating on the messenger that calls them out on the BS they post around here? You all need to stop buying systems and $70 games and you need to take a trip to the furniture store; y'all need to put more mirrors in your houses so you can look at yourself more often. The messenger doesn't have to point out all the pimples and zits on your face for you.
Looks like a solid shooter, and graphically it's going to get most out of those that invested in top of the line 4K displays. And this kind of game is right at Insomniac's sweet spot in tone.
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