E3 2006 Hands On Preview
Time to
take a trip backwards into the annals of what made Rachet and Clank the hit that
it was – at least that is what High Impact Games is hoping. Comprised of
developers that used to work with Insomniac, the new PSP title, under the title
of Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, will be ready to launch in the first quarter
of 2007.
SCEA
showed off a glimpse of what is on take during a pre-E3 event in Los Angeles
recently, and the game is definitely heading back to its joyful platforming
roots, bringing back such platforming favorites as the agents of doom.
Do not
make the mistake of thinking that this game is part of the PlayStation 2 series
– not at all. This title, which is only seven months into development, was
designed specifically for the PSP and so the control scheme is spot on.
Insomniac worked with High Impact in that the former studio has given most of
the art assets to High Impact to use to ensure that R/C feel. The polygon count
is down but the game is definitely looking very good.
The
premise has the heroes on vacation when they encounter a little red-haired girl
who is doing a report on heroes. She is kidnapped and the intrepid duo go off in
pursuit of the kidnappers and, eventually, uncover a larger conspiracy.
Players
can take on the role of either Ratchet or Clank during the course of the game
and there are new weapons available as well as new suits that Clank can don.
The
camera is rotatable and first-person mode, which makes targeting easier, is
easily achieved.
Yes,
there are puzzles and lots of enemies to fight, as well as hazards. In the first
level, there is a jump across to an island that must be performed. Miss it and
you end up in the water, where a fish eats you and you begin the level anew.
The
look, sound and feel of the game will likely invoke some of the good old
feelings of the series, and though this was an early build, there is a lot of
promise already in place.
Four-play Ad Hoc and
four-player Infrastructure multiplayer modes will be available upon the game’s
release.
