
	Platform Sony PSP Genre Action Platformer Publisher Sony Developer High Impact Games ESRB Everyone 10+ Released February 13, 2007

- Recreates the Ratchet atmosphere successfully - Gameplay is varied and fits the game universe well - The graphics are good, sometimes better than the PS2 counterpart

- Uneven difficulty throughout - Length of the game is artificially made longer - Camera issues, especially in multi-player

Review: Ape Escape 2 (PS2) Review: Sly Cooper 2 - Band of Thieves (PS2) Review: Jak 3 (PS2)
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Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

Score: 8.5 / 10

When I first heard that a new Ratchet & Clank adventure was in the works, I was excited. When I heard that it was going to be on the PSP instead of the PS2, I was slightly disappointed. However, when I played through this game I was able to use a PSP to TV adapter, allowing me once again to be immersed in a universe I am extremely fond of.

First of all, let’s get the obvious comparisons out of the way. This adventure was created by High Impact Games, not Insomniac. However, several team members that worked on the original games were here and it shows. Without the knowledge of a different studio at the helm, I doubt you would even notice.

If you’ve never played any of the Ratchet & Clank games, you are in control of Ratchet – a mechanic with attitude and a talent for handling guns. Your sidekick is Clank, a robot that fits on your back and helps you out along the way.

The Ratchet series is often called a platformer, but it also has elements of a third-person shooter and an RPG. Using a series of Weapons and Gadgets, you must defeat enemies that increase in numbers and intelligence. Some weapons are long range, allowing you to take the enemies out before they are even aware of your presence, and others require the up-close-and-personal treatment. The game uses bolts as currency and it’s easy to acquire them – they magnetically adhere to your suit as you kill enemies and the ever-present crates that every game in this genre seems to serve up.

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Both your health and your weapons upgrade with experience. Your health increases each time you defeat an enemy (and you get more points for the tougher foes) and often, you’ll find that you will level up at just the right time. Leveling up your health not only makes you stronger, but restores your health to 100%.

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Some weapons increase their potency after prolonged use, while others morph into completely new weapons. You will definitely find some weapons more useful than others and the challenge is how to pick and choose the appropriate mix of weapons and gadgets to complete your objectives.

The game feels like a natural evolution of the series from its PS2 brethren with the exception of the “continue” points. Whether it is a lack of focus testing or technical challenges you will find yourself repeating some areas more than once. Although this is not unusual for any game, there are some parts that you are not going to want to do over and over again.

I also felt the length of the game was artificially lengthened by making you go back and collect bolts so you can buy a bigger gun to take the enemies out easier. The game becomes insanely difficult in some areas, requiring those bigger guns for any hope of survival and yet other areas that look more challenging are a complete walk in the park.

Those issues aside, the gameplay is where the series shines and this pocket-sized edition is no different. You have standard platforming (and in some areas, it’s quite challenging – but not annoyingly so), racing, shooting, “running away” challenges (I refer to them as Crash Bandicootin’, since that is where I first encountered this gameplay element) and more.

Size Matters brings Clank back into the series in full force and introduces some Lemmings inspired mini-games and there is one world that brings you closer to Clank than you can possibly imagine. There’s even a dream-world level that will have you thinking you unlocked a bonus level of Tim Schafer’s Psychonauts.

Although you are required to complete some of the racing and Clank levels, most of it is optional which you may appreciate. The game is smaller in scale than the PS2 versions, but that is understandable given the size of the media.

Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters is a great title, whether you are looking to get your fix before the next iteration of the series shows up on the PS3 or just looking for an original adventure on your PSP. A few points keep it from achieving perfection, but you won’t be disappointed in the end.

Syd Bolton

March 12, 2007