To extend the storyline of Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction, and to temporarily satiate the rabid appetites of R&C fans; Insomniac games has released Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty on the PSN.
Storyline:
Quest for Booty (QFB) takes place a little bit after the cliffhanger ending of Tools of Destruction (TOD). Ratchet is jetting around the galaxy with Talwyn in an attempt to rescue Clank and it turns out that he needs to be helped by the pirates from TOD. Speaking of the pirates, Rusty Pete is more liquored up than usual and spends half of his time talking to the head of Capt. Slag like it was Urich from Hamlet.
In order for Ratchet to find a way to communicate with Clank he has to find some Magoffin known as the Fulcrum Star that only Capt. Slag knows how to find. During this quest you find out about the past of Capt. Slag as well. QFB does a decent job of setting up the next game in the franchise which is do out in 2009. Judging from how this short little expansion ended it should bring back the hilarity that was showcased in Up Your Arsenal.
QFB in its own right seems like a downgrade when it comes to the script. It wasn’t as funny as previous entries, but it still made me laugh more than most games that I play. Using the liquored up Rusty Pete as narrator was a pretty good idea, but he doesn’t do as good of a job as Captain Quark. Quest for Booty lasts 3-4 hours, but no R&C game can be considered complete without Capt. Quark making an appearance.
Gameplay:
QFB provides more action in the platforming variety than of the shooting kind. You won’t find any new weapons and oddly it won’t read your save file from TOD and give you those weapons at their current level. The only weapons you have access to are the Combuster, Shock Ravager, Predator Launcher, Fusion Grenades, and the Nano Swarmers. You also get the Alpha Cannon but you get it so late in the game that I only fired it off twice before I hit the end credits. The weapons max out at level five and you can’t even start over with a save plus feature.
Another component lacking in the R&C formula is armor upgrades. You run around in the same costume from beginning to end. Insomniac also went back to the old school leveling up so your health only goes up by increments of one. Another thing missing are the Titanium Bolts, which don’t exist unless they are really well hidden.
To make up for the total lack of weapon innovation they made some tweaks to the wrench, which adds to the puzzle and platforming aspects of the game. Your wrench can do two new things. You can use it to send out a magnetic beam to manipulate objects such as catapults and platforms to help you get across the map. Another thing the wrench can now do is grab and throw creatures. Particularly the creatures that give off light and explode and knowing when to hold onto them or throw them is interesting.
The added gameplay mechanics do a good job of spicing up the old puzzle mechanics. I can only hope that they make an appearance and greatly influence the new game that is due out next year. This is because it makes the simple platforming mechanics introduced in previous games more in depth. Granted you’re not going to scratch your head over a puzzle for too long, but it does make them more fun and slightly more varied.
While QFB isn’t as grand in scope as a full game it still manages to give you a good amount of entertainment for your money. Depending on your skill level and familiarity with the franchise you will probably blow through it in one if not two short sittings.
Graphics:
QFB is using a more updated version of the same engine that provided the stunning Pixar like graphics in TOD. Maps are still vibrant in color and grand in scope. QFB always does a good of showing you the size of each map by launching Ratchet into the air so you can see the mountains and lush forests underneath you.
There is still a lot of detail in the characters and it’s always nice seeing Ratchet’s ears flap in the breeze as he’s rail grinding. There appears to be a slight amount of frame rate slowdown every now and then, but it’s rarely when the action is happening.
Sound:
Explosions are always crisp and loud and the voice acting is great. Though the music just tends to fade into the background; when you do notice it you can’t help but notice how it adds to the sense adventure. I also like how the music plays to the pirate theme. I say this because it’s hard not to notice the Pirates of the Caribbean like theme music.
Replay:
It’s short and sweet and there’s nothing to really do after you beat it. You can beat it on hard, but that’s it. It’s pretty much just a nice companion piece to Tools of Destruction and if you want something to do after beating that you can load this up.
Overall:
While it’s obvious that the Ratchet and Clank franchise thrives when it has its full cast, a weapons load out big enough to enslave the Zentradi empire, and enough planet hopping to make Captain Kirk jealous; it still proves to be entertaining when it’s downsized. It’s a buy for those that can’t wait for the Lombax’s newest adventure, but for those willing to wait or don’t have every game it’s probably best to take that $15 and put it towards one of the PS2 games. But in it’s own right it does serve as a really good expanded demo for the franchise, making it a really good gateway experience for newcomers.
"Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty (PS3)" is on sale August 21, 2008 and is rated E10+. Puzzle.
