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Content review for this game:
Pertaining to content listed in the upper left corner of this site.
Mild violence: (This is the first game in the series) While constructing his own spaceship so he can finally explore the galaxy, Ratchet (the main character, who resembles a cat, with ears similar to the Star Wars character, Yoda) sees a strange object fall from space not too far from his position. When Ratchet reaches its location, he finds it to be a small robot, whom he then names Clank (his side-kick: a small robot with a personality/appearance that falls somewhere between C3PO and R2-D2 from Star Wars). Clank shows Ratchet a video of Drek, the main villain, who is building a device to destroy planets. He uses the remains of these planets to build himself a new one, as his home planet has become too polluted to inhabit. Time to finish building your spaceship, and find some way to stop him...
The story itself is full of silly, slapstick, sarcastic, and clever humor, with many comments like, "Afraid to go out at night? Afraid to to go out during the day? Just Plain Afraid? Then you need..." There are many more of these spoof-like infomercials that advertise in-game products and info reels promoting jobs at the main villain's facilities. So in other words, it is sarcastic and a bit over-the-top, but pretty harmless, cartoony, and all done in a fun, light tone.
The violence is very fantastical, with mass explosions, crashes, constant fire from the enemy, and pretty much utter mayhem and frantic chaos. Although you fight a variety of wild creatures, the majority of your enemy consists of many different types of robots. Ratchet will be fighting these enemies with a couple dozen (fully upgradeable) weapons. The majority of these weapons have exaggerated and ridiculous fire-power, like a laser blaster, a gun that sucks enemies in like a vacumm, a glove that shoots out bombs, a rocket launcher, etc. Ratchet can also attack enemies with his wrench. When Ratchet disposes of an enemy, it will explode into a cloud of bolts (the game's currency), metal (if a robot), colorful firework-like particle effects, and/or puffs of smoke. Beyond this, the overall tone of violence is pretty mild, the cutscenes' action is comparable to Looney Toon's over-the-top antics, and the actual gameplay is no worse (in fact, maybe a bit more mild) than the sometimes chaotic and moderately violent cartoons kids watch today.
Mild language: The ESRB didn't mention this, though it is very mild. There is one scene near the beginning of the game where Drek (the main villian) almost says, "Kiss my a**!" in frustration during a broadcast, but is stopped before he can say a**.
Crude humor: The ESRB also didn't mention this. There is a spoof-like commercial at the end of the game that's for a product called the Personal Hygienator, and it goes: "Do you have a problem with unwanted hair? Is painful itching in your nether regions causing you undue embarrassment? (in quiet, cautious voice) Do you just plain stink? Then allow me to demonstrate!" The camera then cuts to the reactions of Ratchet and Clank as they watch the commercial. After watching for a few seconds, Ratchet then says in a panicked voice, "Turn it off! Turn it off!" The scene ends there. No one quite knows what the Personal Hygienator actually does, as it's never shown being used. There is also a later enemy in the game called Amoeboids. These creatures pretty much resemble a large goopey, green mass of snot, and act as such when you destroy them.
Content-wise: Kids 7+ could definitely watch this game. The graphics are colorful, the characters are very animated, and the cutscenes are full of action. They could also play around in portions of the early levels, just don't even expect them to get past one objective, let alone one level. The controls are just too complex, and all of the enemies are far too challenging, starting straight from level one.
Difficulty-wise: The base formula in every Ratchet and Clank game is: land on a planet, destroy all enemies in your way, get to the other end of the planet, watch a cutscene, find a clue about what planet to go to next, and repeat. During these missions you'll mostly be shooting and hitting things, but you'll also be jumping and hovering (with the help of Clank) from platform to platform, collecting bolts (the game's currency), grinding on rails, walking on magnetized walls, swimming, hoverboarding, and many other things during the course of the game.
The default controls consist of circle button to shoot, X button to jump (tap X twice for double jump, and hold it to hover), square button to swing your wrench, triangle button for quick weapon select, right-stick to move, left-stick to control camera, L1 to strafe, and L2 to zoom in and look around. Ratchet can also high jump and long jump. These are the base controls, and change slightly during the swimming, and hoverboard racing portions.
Every level has dozens of breakable crates scattered throughout; filled with bolts, health, and ammo. Enemies also shed bolts when you destroy them, and these bolts act as the game's currency for buying and upgrading all of your weapons. All levels have more than one weapon kiosk, which is used to buy new weapons and ammo. Weapons will also level up automatically (and gradually) the more you use them, resulting in increased fire power and new abilities.
The majority of the platforming will be done by using Clank. Clank sits on Ratchet's back like a backpack, and (by the third level) is equipped with a built-in, mini helicopter that comes from his head, which is used to hover over small gaps, and jump extra high to reach normally unreachable platforms. To traverse larger gaps, Ratchet will use the Swingshot, which will grab onto certain hooks in the sky, and swing him to the other end. Other than using it as a weapon, Ratchet will use his wrench to open certain doors, by grabbing onto unscrewed bolts, and turning them until the closed door opens.
A key moment in the game puts you in the shoes of Clank. Clank can enter smaller places than Ratchet, and activate devices to further progress certain levels. Although Clank isn't equipped with guns, he can hit things with his fists and control groups of fellow robots. Clank will use these robots to traverse the area by giving them commands (with the quick weapon select menu) like Attack, Follow, Wait--and he'll also have to have a certain amount of them to unlock doors and progress to the end. There are also a few (non-optional) areas in the game where you compete in hoverboard races. These portions consist of racing around a track with other hoverboarders, as you try to make it in first place. Although they're pretty challenging (and can get a bit frustrating at first), they're pretty easy to complete once you've memorized the tracks.
Difficulty-wise, This game is probably the second hardest in the series (the first being Going Commando), with enemies that start out very aggressive (and accurate), and a not too forgiving health system, with you only being able to take 3 hits (at the beginning) before dying. Another frustrating thing is, if you die, you'll have to start from the very beginning of the area, and that could get old for some younger gamers. The secret to beating any Ratchet and Clank game semi-comfortably is to upgrade, upgrade, upgrade. Whenever you have the chance to buy a new weapon, or get it to a higher level, do it, as you'll have to, to counteract the ever-ramping difficulty. So, I could definitely see some interested and determined kids 10+ complete this game, especially if they take the time to constanly upgrade their equipment, level up weapons, and take time to earn plenty of bolts.
Fun for: If you think this is game exclusively for kids, it's not. For one, the game is very challenging, and the story's humor will only be fully appreciated by adults. Also, there are many extras to unlock (like cheats, concept art, skins, etc.), and to do this, you'll have to complete obscure tasks to gain skill points on each planet and collect hidden, gold bolts. This game is also moderately long (at least 15 hours), especially if you upgrade all your weapons and find all the extras.
Closing comment: This is a great game that started a great series. Though it isn't the best in the series, it has some really fun levels and gadgets, and the story is genuinely funny. However, if you've ever played more than one Ratchet and Clank game, you know the series overall gameplay, controls, mechanics and formula stay exactly the same. So, if you like the formula, you'll love every game. But if you've played one Ratchet and Clank game, and didn't like it, you won't like any of the others either. Content-wise, it's pretty mild, and if it wasn't so challenging, I would recommend it for ages 7+ (I bought it for my 7 year-old cousin and he had a hard time). But because of its difficulty, I recommend this game for ages 10+.
