Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
	File:R&C FTD Box Art-RP-thumb.jpg
Developer(s)	Insomniac Games
Publisher(s)	Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3
Release	NA October 23, 2007; NA October 30, 2007; UK November 9, 2007 JP November 11, 2007; AU November 15, 2007;
Genre(s)	Platform, Shooter
Mode(s)	Single player

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (simply called Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction in Europe) is a PlayStation 3 game developed by Insomniac Games, originally slated for release on October 30, 2007 in North America, though SCEA has permitted stores to pre-release it on October 23. It is the sixth installment in the Ratchet & Clank series (not including the mobile game) and the first PlayStation 3 installment. Arguably the greatest in the series, it is currently the highest rated PlayStation 3 exclusive title.

Plot

Ratchet and Clank are enjoying a stay in the bustling utopia known as Metropolis on planet Kerwan, when a distress signal from Captain Qwark informs them of an attacking robotic space armada. The connection is cut off, and the duo are now caught in the middle of a full-scale invasion led by Emperor Percival Tachyon, a being known as a "Cragmite". Ratchet & Clank eventually escape the planet, and soon realize that Ratchet was their intended target. In the story Ratchet & Clank discover that Emperor Percival Tachyon is the last Cragmite after a race of Lombaxes, like Ratchet, tried to clear them all from existence. Now Tachyon is trying to kill the last Lombax, Ratchet. They stumble upon the Polaris Galaxy, and find Talwyn, who tells Ratchet about the "Lombax Secret". The duo once again set out into the galaxy, their mission this time to learn about their origins and past.

Clank also has his own side story which involves extra-temporal aliens that only he can see, known as the "Zoni," some of which unlock powers Clank never knew he had.

Gameplay

Tools of Destruction retains much of the basic gameplay found in previous Ratchet & Clank games, the game being primarily a shooter-platformer. The player controls Ratchet most of the time, with some sections using Clank, as they explore various worlds to complete missions, using Ratchet's wrench and other exotic weapons gained during the course of the game. At times, Ratchet may enter free-fall, or with an upgrade to Clank, will be able to glide; during these periods, the player uses the tilt functionality of the SIXAXIS controller to maneuver Ratchet. The tilt-sensing abilities of the SIXAXIS are also used to control some weapons and gadgets, such as steering the path of a mini-tornado, outlining a path for a laser-cutting tool, or using a marble to complete circuitry.

At times, the player will control Clank in a mode similar to previous games, using robotic creatures called Zoni to fight foes, remove debris or reconstruct bridges, and to power devices in the level. Clank possesses the ability to slow down time as well during these sections, allowing him, for example, to make his way under a rapidly closing door.

Weapons gain experience as previously implemented in the series, but in addition, the player can collect Raritanium metal and use it to upgrade the weapon in additional ways beyond the experience path; weapon improvements are presented in a tree-like structure and require that all previous upgrades be obtained for that weapon first before later upgrades can be purchased.

In addition to weapons are objects known as "devices". While they are selected and used similar to weapons, they may or may not directly damage foes but instead provide an effect beneficial to the player. The "Groovitron", for example, is a disco ball that causes all foes to dance for a brief time, allowing the player to deal with them while distracted. The carrying capacity of such devices are generally very low (2 or 3 units for each). Device vendors in addition to weapon vendors can be found in the game.

Beyond the main gameplay, Tools of Destruction features an arena with several challenges, "Gyro-cycle" courses that use a turbo-charged bike, and on-rails space combat.

Characters

Ratchet - The main protagonist of the series. His origins are deeply explored throughout the duration of the game.
Clank - Ratchet's robotic sidekick. Experiences visions of "Zoni", mythical robotic creatures, in which only his can see.
Captain Qwark - A bumbling superhero who aids both Ratchet and Emperor Percival Tachyon.
Emperor Percival Tachyon - The last Cragmite who is bent on killing every Lombax.
The Plumber - A recurring character who gives the duo advice and gives them challenges to get through and get rewards.
Talwyn - A girl who works with Ratchet and Clank along their way. Her father is searching for the "Lombax secret."
Cronk and Zephyr - Talwyn's robotic guardians who despise each other. They are meant to represent the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 respectively, constantly mocking each other for their technical faults and praising their own abilities.
Captain Slag and Rusty Pete - The leader of the pirates and his right hand man. He was created by Tachyon and now operates an annoying pirate radio station.

Gummel-a trader who is the last of his kind. His entire planet was destroyed by supreme executive chairman Drek, and he cloned himself to create a new race of Gummels.

Production

The game was first announced at the 2006 Game Developers Conference, where a Ratchet & Clank next-gen tech demonstration was shown for the PlayStation 3. Many new worlds and weapons will be introduced into the game like in previous installments of the series. It will also be more of a platform game, as Insomniac wanted to stop the series from becoming the more weapon based combat game it had become in the previous games Up Your Arsenal and Deadlocked.

There are reported to be a total of 31 weapons, gadgets, and combat devices ^[2], further divided into 15 weapons, 8 gadgets, and 8 devices. Unlike Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal, the player cannot unlock weapons from previous games using a memory card. Instead they redesigned all of the weapons due to the previous games weapons having a much lower polygon count.

It was also announced that the game would have some sort of remote play with the PlayStation Portable game, Secret Agent Clank. There is no official word regarding the interplay, but a secret area in Tools of Destruction contains a code that can be used in the upcoming Secret Agent Clank.

Demo

The game's demo was released October 10 on the PlayStation Network. People who pre-ordered the game from GameStop or Electronics Boutique can get the demo disk for free; however, the disc was made earlier than the download. The disc was the same demo from E3.

Technical Issues

It was found that on release, some users were not able to load the game with a message claiming there was not enough free space to store game data on the hard drive, despite the drive being far from full. A workaround for this hard drive issue was released, requiring users to add or delete approximately 500 MB of content to or from the hard drive (the game's demo itself is a prime example.), after which the game should load normally.^[3]

Reception

Publication	Score
Gametap	10 out of 10
Gamesmaster	8.9 out of 10
GamePro	5 out of 5
X-Play	5 out of 5
PSM	9.5 out of 10
IGN	9.4 out of 10
Game Informer	9.25 out of 10
Game Trailers	9 out of 10
Official PlayStation Magazine (UK)	9 out of 10
Official PlayStation Magazine (Australia)	8 out of 10
Gamespot	7.5 out of 10
Compilations of multiple reviews
GameStats	92 out of 100 (based on 21 reviews)
Metacritic	89 out of 100 (based on 39 reviews)

The game has been met with universally positive reviews, and has been largely heralded as the greatest game on the PS3 so far.^[4]^[5] On Metacritic, it has received an aggregate score of 89 from 39 reviews, giving the game a ranking of "generally favorable reviews".^[6]

IGN, who gave the game a 9.4 out of 10^[4], said "Not only has it supplanted Going Commando as the best title in the franchise, it's also the best game of any series on the PlayStation 3 thus far -- and that's saying a lot when you're up against Oblivion, Ninja Gaiden, Warhawk and Insomniac's very own previous effort, Resistance: Fall of Man." Also on IGN's weekly PS3 podcast, they called it the best video game they've played on any platform in 2007. GamerNode, who gave the game 9.5 out of 10^[5], said "In Tools of Destruction, Insomniac is back doing what they do best, and they do it better than ever, This is the best Ratchet & Clank adventure to date, and at this point the best game the PS3 has to offer." On the other hand, Gamespot gave the game 7.5 out of 10^[7], claiming that the story "isn't very interesting" and that the game "lacks an identity." Furthermore, GameSpot claimed the game had "too much variety." However, they did praise the game for its core gameplay and graphics. Cheatcc gave the game 5.0 across the board saying it is one of the best games of all time. X-Play gave it a five out of five with its own personal episode.

Awards

Tools of Destruction earned the following award nominations and wins:

Spike TV Awards: Best Action Game.^[8]:
GameStooge Awards: Best PlayStation 3 Game, Best Action Game, Best Graphics - Artistic.^[9]

References

^ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/10/18/ratchet-clank-future-tools-of-destruction-coming-sooner/
^ PS3 Fanboy interviews Ratchet and Clank's Ryan Schneider
^ Faylor, Chris (2007-10-23). "Minor Glitch Halts Ratchet & Clank PS3, Simple Workaround Solves Issue". Shacknews. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
^ ^a ^b "Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction Review". IGN. Retrieved October 24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
^ ^a ^b "Review: Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction". GamerNode. Retrieved October 24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
^ "Metacritic: Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction". Retrieved 2007-10-24.
^ "Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction Review". GameSpot. Retrieved October 24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
^ Magrino, Tom (2007-11-11). "Halo 3, BioShock top Spike TV noms". GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ Falcon, Jonah (2007-11-11). "2007 GameStooge Award Nominations". 2old2play. Retrieved 2007-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)