Ratchet & Clank

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 523 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 459 out of 523
  2. Mixed: 51 out of 523
  3. Negative: 13 out of 523
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  1. thedarkpau
    Oct 13, 2011
    7
    pretty good platformer. Doesn't quite compare with sly cooper and ty the tasmanain tiger, but is still a very fun game to play. I enjoy a lot about this game. The skill challnges are fun to do. The reason i gave it a seven was because of its bosses. Very boring bosses and just not enough of them.
  2. NickG.
    Mar 20, 2003
    5
    This is a game for fantasy loving children and it just doesn't cut it for the older age groups, not worth getting.
  3. KyleK.
    Dec 3, 2003
    7
    This is a good game but it gets boring. Wicked gadgets though. Cant wait for ratchet and clank 2.
  4. L_S_T
    May 21, 2020
    7
    Ratchet and Clank hit the shelves in late 2002, and since then has had 15 games in the last 18 years (including mobile) and even a theatrical released film. The history of Ratchet and Clank is long and storied, with extremely high highs and very, very low lows. Revisiting where it all began so long ago is a mixed bag, but a welcomed treat nonetheless.

    You begin on the planet Veldin,    Ratchet and Clank hit the shelves in late 2002, and since then has had 15 games in the last 18 years (including mobile) and even a theatrical released film. The history of Ratchet and Clank is long and storied, with extremely high highs and very, very low lows. Revisiting where it all began so long ago is a mixed bag, but a welcomed treat nonetheless.

    You begin on the planet Veldin, where the Lombax named Ratchet is repairing his ship when a crash off in the distance brings him together with a small robot nicknamed Clank. From there, you journey to planets all over the system, searching for Chairman Drek, who wants to create a new planet for his species called the Blarg, while also destroying innocent planets.

    While visiting the overrun planets, you’ll have a great time in the beautiful, vastly different landscapes each of them offer. There are plenty of planets to explore, and none ever feel rehashed in any way. From the beautiful sandy island beaches of Pokitaru and its Jowai Resort to the deathly toxic planet of Orxon, you will always find many new and unique attributes to each planet. While there are a good amount of enemy types on each planet, there is a very large overlap in the enemies used, so don’t go in expecting every planet's villains to be as interesting as the world around them. The many characters that you meat throughout your travel, however, more than make up for that. So many charming, memorable, and funny beings help you save the galaxy.

    Within these planets, however, lies the frustrating platforming. In general the movement, specifically the turning, felt sluggish and slow. Too often I cursed myself because while on thin, metal walkways, Small turns would send Ratchet flying in that direction more than he would on normal ground. Eaten inputs and weird camera angles quickly rose my death count to falling off the map. Sometimes I would even jump on a grind rail, and just slip right off to my death. With this comes the frustrating at times checkpoint system. Points of the game became infuriating when you would be sent back to the very beginning of the level after fighting through many sections of enemies just to die to a bad camera angle.

    If there is one thing Ratchet loves, it’s his weapons. Ratchet has 15 different weapons at his disposal. Some of these weapons are your typical run of the mill guns, like a machine gun and flamethrower. But what Ratchet and Clank does great is change things up. Crush robots with your very own metal fist, throw mini kamikaze robots out and watch them wreak havoc, or stand by and turn your foes into chickens. There is something for everyone out there, if you are able to be accurate. Most weapons have an auto lock system, but you need to be so close for it to work that it’s almost useless in many cases. Self aim can be helpful, but also not recommended most of the time due to having to stand still while aiming. Because of this, defeating the final boss became a chore. Sometimes the world would spawn plenty of ammo boxes to replenish in between phases, while some attempts were left with literally nothing to help, relying on the slowest, most painfully grindy boss fight imaginable.

    Ratchet and Clank is a great foundation that doesn’t stick the landing cleanly. Even though terribly frustrating at times, there is still so much to enjoy about it. Ratchet and Clank is a solid blend of run n gun and platforming, but the movement is much too limiting to accomplishing that consistent sense of enjoyment.

    7.5/10    … Expand
  5. ghost-nappa56
    Aug 16, 2014
    7
    This game has aged surprisingly well and the graphics are still really good. The game is one of the funniest in the series. One of my biggest problems is that most of the weapons are useless. However the game is still very enjoyable.
  6. Kirillito
    May 9, 2016
    6
    I prefer to start game series from the start, so I can see how it evolved from one game to another. So my score is based on the 2016 impression of the game from 2002. Overall gameplay is fun and reminded me my favorite N64 Banjo Kazooie/Banjo Tooie games. Multiple gadgets and weapons makes the gameplay interesting and different. But the story is really basic, this game is for kids mostly.I prefer to start game series from the start, so I can see how it evolved from one game to another. So my score is based on the 2016 impression of the game from 2002. Overall gameplay is fun and reminded me my favorite N64 Banjo Kazooie/Banjo Tooie games. Multiple gadgets and weapons makes the gameplay interesting and different. But the story is really basic, this game is for kids mostly. Nevertheless, it's a fun game to spend a couple of evenings on. I'm curious what developers came up with in next titles.… Expand
  7. Luahanseng
    Jan 3, 2022
    7
    Ratchet and Clank 1 on PS Vita
    Game completed : January 1, 2021
    Playtime : 18 hrs This is the 2nd ratchet i completed the first 1 is the R&C PS4. I find this older game way better than the ps4. It has way better phasing and has more authentic experience. I find the game too difficult and tedious for a game made for younger audience. Overall it is supper fun but too difficult resulting    Ratchet and Clank 1 on PS Vita
    Game completed : January 1, 2021
    Playtime : 18 hrs

    This is the 2nd ratchet i completed the first 1 is the R&C PS4. I find this older game way better than the ps4. It has way better phasing and has more authentic experience. I find the game too difficult and tedious for a game made for younger audience. Overall it is supper fun but too difficult resulting to tedious experience. The story is more authentice and the ending is disappointingly short.    … Expand
  8. PixelGamer115
    May 1, 2021
    7
    Graphics: 5/10
    Soundtracks: 8/10
    Gameplay: 4/10 (Could've been higher if it wasn't for the atrocious controls)
    Story & Characters: 8/10
  9. ryanecho
    Feb 26, 2020
    7
    I used to really love this game as a kid, but it has definitely aged a bit over the years. Which largely has to do with it being the first game in the series.

    The Good: This game started an iconic series for Sony and specifically the PS2. The planets, weapons, and gadgets are cool and creative. Some of the characters have also cemented themselves as bring iconic with very little changes    I used to really love this game as a kid, but it has definitely aged a bit over the years. Which largely has to do with it being the first game in the series.

    The Good: This game started an iconic series for Sony and specifically the PS2. The planets, weapons, and gadgets are cool and creative. Some of the characters have also cemented themselves as bring iconic with very little changes (Quark, Clank, and Al). Also, they do add a since of replayability being able to keep the weapons and trade gold bolts in for gold weapons. The game has some pretty good jokes.

    The Bad: Regular sized Clank parts slow down the game and turn an Action Platformer into a Puzzle Platformer. And Clank (regular and giant) moves incredibly slow. As I mentioned earlier, the game has dated itself a bit. Which is mostly fine, but with there being no strafe, weapon upgrading, and only having a max health of 8 this wouldn't really be my first pick to go revisit.

    The Ugly: Ratchet's character/personality in this game is awful and he is very unlikable. However whenever he isn't being an **** he's just generic early 2000s Sci-Fi hero (hard to explain but I'm sure you know the one). I don't blame it on the VA but I can definitely see why in 'Going Commando', Ratchet received a new character and VA.

    I know I had more negative to say about this game than positive, but the game is still really fun. I still do like it. The gameplay and the mission/rewards are still nice you really do feel like a hero upgrading as you gain new weapons/abilities/gadgets/etc. It's just a shame who you are playing as isn't very likable. Funny how Sly Cooper was the only character to not completely change in the 2nd game in the 3 main PS2 platformers (R&C, Jak, and Sly).    … Expand
  10. Jozhster
    Feb 16, 2021
    6
    It’s cool seeing the beginning of the franchise but it’s clear that Insomniac Games were still figuring things out, the lack of strafe makes shooting more an annoyance then fun, the game is straight up cruel when it comes to handing out checkpoints. The story and ending is solid though.
  11. Tromble
    Jun 28, 2021
    5
    Ratchet and Clank is undeniably a classic of the PlayStation 2 era.
    However Ratchet and Clank's title of PS2 classic is more out of respect for the strong foundation it laid for future Ratchet and Clank entries rather than its ability to execute on this foundation.
    Much of the gameplay is excruciatingly cumbersome, cutscenes are poorly placed/paced, the soundtrack feels random and    Ratchet and Clank is undeniably a classic of the PlayStation 2 era.
    However Ratchet and Clank's title of PS2 classic is more out of respect for the strong foundation it laid for future Ratchet and Clank entries rather than its ability to execute on this foundation.

    Much of the gameplay is excruciatingly cumbersome, cutscenes are poorly placed/paced, the soundtrack feels random and often fails garner any particular sense of atmosphere.

    The bones of what would come to make Ratchet and Clank great is all here and with that there is a lot of fun to be found.

    I enjoyed my time with Ratchet and Clank in hindsight but in the moment there were many times I considered spending my time elsewhere.    … Expand
  12. konjakthesober
    Oct 1, 2021
    7
    This is a great game but after playing the games that came after it feels a lite dated. I think that this would be a ten if they had strafing, weapon level up and a few other things but right now its a 7 for me.
  13. Tobylua
    Jan 1, 2022
    7
    Ratchet and Clank 1 on PS Vita
    Game completed : January 1, 2021
    Playtime : 18 hrs This is the 2nd ratchet i completed the first 1 is the R&C PS4. I find this older game way better than the ps4. It has way better phasing and has more authentic experience. I find the game too difficult and tedious for a game made for younger audience. Overall it is supper fun but too difficult resulting    Ratchet and Clank 1 on PS Vita
    Game completed : January 1, 2021
    Playtime : 18 hrs

    This is the 2nd ratchet i completed the first 1 is the R&C PS4. I find this older game way better than the ps4. It has way better phasing and has more authentic experience. I find the game too difficult and tedious for a game made for younger audience. Overall it is supper fun but too difficult resulting to tedious experience. The story is more authentice and the ending is disappointingly short.    … Expand
  14. Chirritox
    Mar 30, 2023
    7
    Este juego lo jugamos en directo y estuvo entrerenido, fue mi primera vez jugando el primer ratcher and clank y aunque me costo bastante en terminarlo lo disfrute bastante, eso si que varias partes me hiso perder la paciciencia y el jefe final me demoramos 7 horas en pasarme con el jefe final, recomendaciones juntaan harta plata del juego, el doblaje castellano estuvo weno y carismatico yEste juego lo jugamos en directo y estuvo entrerenido, fue mi primera vez jugando el primer ratcher and clank y aunque me costo bastante en terminarlo lo disfrute bastante, eso si que varias partes me hiso perder la paciciencia y el jefe final me demoramos 7 horas en pasarme con el jefe final, recomendaciones juntaan harta plata del juego, el doblaje castellano estuvo weno y carismatico y el soundtrack estuvo weno, mi quejas serian que el apuntado automatico aveces no funcionaba y habian pocos chetpoints, y comprar armas es una lata, y si lo juegan en ps3 hay muchos bots tenganlo en cuenta pero estuvo bueno el juego.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best PS2 Game of 2002
3
#3 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2002
8
#8 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2002

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 43 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 43
  3. Negative: 0 out of 43
  1. GamePro
    90
    R & C's innovation comes in the form of all those crazy, non-gimmicky weapons and tools. This is a complex, polished platform gaming machine.
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  2. Adrenaline Vault
    90
    One of the best platformers to hit the PS2, ever.
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  3. Electric Playground
    90
    The graphics, the busy environments, the interactivity... every element taken by itself it pretty praiseworthy, stick 'em all on the same disk and they add up to good things.
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