Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

The majority of the critics praised the story of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, considering it to be very good. They highlighted several positive aspects, such as the introduction of new characters like Rivet, the expansion of the franchise's universe, and the exploration of themes like friendship, forgiveness, and self-belief. Hey Poor Player commends the twist provided by the dimension jumping device and the meta take on the characters' concerns about their past heroism. The Games Machine mentions that the story is completely independent and enjoyable even for newcomers. The Daily Star describes the story as tightly written, feeling like a blockbuster summer movie, and exploring different relationships with weighty emotional moments. The Sydney Morning Herald adds that the dimensional cataclysm separates the heroes and introduces alternate versions of the characters, adding emotional stakes to the gameplay. The story is also praised for its engaging narrative, well-written dialogue, and good humor by Screen Rant, GameByte, and Game Revolution. However, there are a few critics who had some negative opinions about the story. Digitally Downloaded mentions that the story lacks depth and context, focusing on safe and straightforward storytelling. TheSixthAxis notes that the plot is somewhat dry and earnest, with abrupt gear changes to deliver moral messages, and highlights the absence of humorous characters like Captain Qwark. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is very good, with engaging narratives, well-developed characters, and emotional moments. The positive aspects of the story, such as the introduction of new characters, expansion of the universe, and exploration of themes, greatly outweigh the negative opinions. The charming and whimsical tale, along with the well-timed humor and subtle pop-culture references, make for an enjoyable and entertaining experience. The majority of the critics highly recommend the game's story, praising its sophistication, engaging narrative, and emotional payoffs.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praised the familiar yet enjoyable core gameplay, which involves running, jumping, and shooting with a wide variety of zany and unique weapons. Hey Poor Player, Power Unlimited, The Games Machine, Merlin'in Kazanı, Telegraph, Daily Star, Guardian, Screen Rant, Push Square, Noisy Pixel, VG247, IGN Portugal, The Sydney Morning Herald, But Why Tho?, Washington Post, ZTGD, Game Informer, GameGrin, GameByte, Digitally Downloaded, TierraGamer, Stevivor, GamesBeat, CGMagazine, GamesRadar+, Post Arcade, Critical Hit, Game Revolution, and TheSixthAxis all highlighted the enjoyable combat, inventive weapons, and the seamless flow between locations. The gameplay was described as frenetic, adrenalinic, tremendous fun, and addictive, with impeccable pacing and a bonkers arsenal of weapons. The game successfully combines platforming, shooting, and puzzle-solving elements, offering a balance between action levels and narrative-driven cutscenes. The addition of new mechanics, such as dimensional shifting and alternate dimensions, was also praised for providing a fresh perspective and avoiding repetition. While the majority of critics had positive opinions, a few minor negatives were mentioned. GameByte noted that the game was slow to start but became enjoyable once abilities and weapons were unlocked. Game Revolution mentioned some issues with character models and enemies getting stuck on objects. CGMagazine pointed out that the gameplay largely felt consistent and unchanged from previous entries, with the exception of the Rift mechanic. However, these negatives were overshadowed by the overall positive sentiment towards the gameplay. In conclusion, the gameplay of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart received high praise from the majority of critics. The game offers a familiar yet enjoyable experience with running, jumping, and shooting mechanics, accompanied by a wide array of imaginative weapons and upgrades. The combat is described as addictive, with impeccable pacing and a bonkers arsenal of weapons. The addition of new mechanics, such as dimensional shifting and alternate dimensions, provides a fresh perspective and avoids repetition. Although a few minor negatives were mentioned, the overall consensus among the critics is that the gameplay is incredibly fun, engaging, and well-balanced, making Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart a near-perfect example of how to make action work in a video game.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart are overwhelmingly positive. The majority of the critics praised the game's visuals, describing them as stunning, gorgeous, and next-gen. Hey Poor Player specifically mentions the beauty of the fur on the Lombaxes and outstanding reflections using raytracing. Power Unlimited states that the game is one of the most beautiful ever made. Telegraph praises the sumptuous CG environments, character models, and retina-scorching special effects, comparing the experience to stepping into an animated movie. The Sydney Morning Herald highlights the stunningly colorful worlds, particle effects, and constant explosions, all taking advantage of the PlayStation 5 hardware. The negative opinions regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart are scarce. However, one aspect that could be considered overwhelming for some players is the level of detail and constant movement on the screen, as mentioned by Daily Star. This can be overwhelming at first, but it also adds to the immersive experience of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the Graphics and Visual Design of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart are exceptional. The game is praised for its stunning visuals, attention to detail, and technical prowess. Critics like Guardian and Game Informer specifically mention the awe-inspiring landscapes, colorful alien worlds, and stunning vistas. The game is considered a masterpiece in terms of graphics, with several critics comparing it to animated movies and praising its ability to showcase the capabilities of the PlayStation 5. The use of ray tracing, HDR, high-speed frame rendering, and 4K visuals is also highlighted by critics like Post Arcade and Game Revolution. The overall sentiment is that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart sets a new standard for graphical presentation and attention to detail in video games.

The majority of the critics praised the sound design and music of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, with many highlighting the effective use of the DualSense controller's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Daily Star and Screen Rant both commended the game for immersing the players in the gameplay experience through the haptic feedback. But Why Tho? also emphasized how the DualSense controller and haptic feedback enhanced the immersion by making locations and weapons feel truly alive. This positive feedback indicates that the sound design successfully complements the on-screen action and adds to the overall immersive experience. Additionally, the critics mentioned the quality of the voice acting, soundtrack, and sound effects in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. GameByte praised the game for featuring high-quality voice acting, a great soundtrack, and immersive sound effects. The Sydney Morning Herald also highlighted the banter and comments from enemies, which added humor to the battles and showcased the well-executed sound design. CGMagazine appreciated the variety of weapons with distinct sounds, further contributing to the overall positive reception of the sound design and music. While the majority of the critics had positive opinions about the sound design and music, there were no specific negative comments mentioned in the provided opinions. This suggests that the overall consensus among the critics is highly positive regarding the sound design and music of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. The positive feedback from the critics, such as Push Square mentioning how the music immerses the player in each scene and The Sydney Morning Herald praising the well-executed sound design, further supports the notion that the sound design and music are strong aspects of the game. In conclusion, the sound design and music of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the critics. The effective use of the DualSense controller's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, as well as the immersive sound effects, voice acting, and soundtrack, were highly praised. The absence of negative comments indicates a strong consensus among the critics that the sound design and music greatly enhance the overall gaming experience.

The majority of the critics have praised the voice acting in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, with several highlighting it as one of the game's standout features. Hey Poor Player mentions that the characters are wonderfully voiced with a ton of personality, indicating that the voice actors have effectively brought the characters to life. IGN Portugal also commends the introduction of new characters with different characterizations, such as the French-accented pirate Pierre Le Fer, and praises the voice acting for being hilarious and brilliant. This positive feedback suggests that the voice actors have successfully captured the essence of their respective characters, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game. In terms of negatives, there are no specific criticisms mentioned by the reviewers regarding the voice acting in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. This absence of negative feedback indicates that the voice acting is generally well-received and does not detract from the overall experience of the game. The lack of any negative comments suggests that the voice actors have delivered consistent and high-quality performances throughout the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is very good. ZTGD praises it as one of the best in the business, with great performances, while GameByte states that the voice acting is of high quality and adds to the overall enjoyment of the game. Daily Star specifically highlights the excellent voice acting for the villain Dr Nefarious, noting that it is perfectly hammed-up. The positive feedback from multiple critics reinforces the notion that the voice acting in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its overall appeal and immersive storytelling.

In terms of the Technical Performance of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on the PlayStation 5, the majority of critics praised the game for its impressive utilization of the console's features. Telegraph and Daily Star both commended the game for its near-total removal of load times and immersive experience, with Daily Star specifically highlighting the effective use of ultra-fast loading, 3D Audio, and haptic feedback. The Sydney Morning Herald also mentioned the game's seamless transitions between levels and the adaptive tension of the DualSense controller. Game Informer and GameGrin both noted the smooth performance of the game, even with a wide assortment of weapons and enemies on the screen. CGMagazine mentioned the availability of a 60FPS performance mode, and GamesRadar+ highlighted the constant checkpointing and speedy loading times that mitigated any game crashes. However, there were also some critics who mentioned technical issues and glitches. Screen Rant acknowledged that there were some technical glitches, but considered them relatively rare and not a major issue. ZTGD mentioned specific technical issues such as getting hung up on geometry and a hard crash on the final boss fight, but assumed that these issues would be ironed out by launch. GamesBeat also mentioned technical issues and bugs, including crashes and doors failing to open. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart delivers a strong technical performance on the PlayStation 5. The game effectively utilizes the console's features such as fast loading times, haptic feedback, and adaptive tension. While there were some reports of technical glitches and issues, they were generally considered to be minor and not significantly impacting the overall enjoyment of the game. The positive aspects of the Technical Performance outweighed the negatives, with critics like Game Informer and TheSixthAxis praising the game as a technical marvel and a showcase of the PlayStation 5's capabilities.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart are largely positive. Push Square, Noisy Pixel, VG247, GameByte, TierraGamer, Stevivor, CGMagazine, and Game Revolution all mention the presence of collectibles, side quests, and additional challenges that provide enough content to keep players engaged and tempted to replay the game. These elements, such as extra objectives, secret areas, combat challenges, and great story moments, contribute to the overall positive sentiment towards the replay value of the game. The Washington Post specifically highlights the new game plus feature, allowing players to carry over their arsenal and acquire previously unavailable weapons, further enhancing the replayability. While the majority of critics express positive opinions, there are a few minor negatives mentioned. Critical Hit notes that although there are collectibles to hunt for, the number is manageable and not excessive. This could imply that some players may find the replay value lacking in terms of the quantity of collectibles available. However, this is a minor criticism and does not significantly impact the overall positive sentiment towards the replay value of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart offers a strong replay value. The game provides a variety of additional content, including collectibles, side quests, challenge rooms, and unlockables, which contribute to the overall enjoyment and temptation to replay. The presence of a new game plus feature and extensive accessibility options also add to the game's replayability. The positive opinions of critics such as Push Square, Noisy Pixel, VG247, GameByte, TierraGamer, Stevivor, CGMagazine, and Game Revolution highlight the game's ability to keep players engaged and entertained through multiple playthroughs. While there are minor criticisms regarding the quantity of collectibles, these do not significantly detract from the overall positive sentiment towards the replay value of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.