Chapter 1: A Franchise Legacy

Ratchet and Clank stands as one of Sony's premier franchises. It played a significant role in showcasing the PS5's ray tracing and SSD capabilities with the well-received and technically advanced Rift Apart. The series' early installments on the PS2 introduced fun, lighthearted action, attracting a new family audience to Sony's gaming ecosystem. The PS3 era brought the Future series, a sort of reboot that offered enhanced gameplay and polish, thanks to the console's superior processing power, solidifying its status as a blockbuster in Sony's lineup.

However, the PS4 saw just one Ratchet and Clank release, which also served as a movie tie-in and fell short of excellence. How did this occur?

Section 1.1: Sony's Multimedia Ambitions

Sony has long pursued the idea of cross-media integration with its intellectual properties. Recent efforts, like the Uncharted film and the acclaimed Last of Us series on television, serve as examples. However, the Ratchet and Clank franchise marked their initial major attempt at this concept back in 2016.

Having the opportunity to watch the movie and play the game through Netflix and PlayStation Plus, I found the film to be a rather mediocre animated feature. It feels like an elongated cutscene from an unfinished Ratchet game, lacking the emotional depth of its predecessors. The film presents a series of entertaining moments without any substantial character development. Similarly, the game offers a polished iteration of the PS3 gameplay but is marred by an uneven level design.

Instead of crafting a fresh narrative, both the film and the game draw loosely from the original 2002 PS2 title. The game only incorporates about half of the original locations, and both mediums awkwardly merge elements from subsequent games, resulting in a mix of homage and clumsy execution.

Chapter 2: Voice Acting and Gameplay Quality

Unlike many adaptations, the Ratchet and Clank film boasts several returning voice actors from the games, filling key roles. Hollywood talents, including Rosario Dawson and Sylvester Stallone, handle secondary characters. This is a treat for series fans, but it poses challenges for broader market appeal.

While Dawson and Thorn feature in the game as well, their performances might be mistaken for soundalikes due to the poor direction and small roles they play. The voice work, script, and overall game design feel rushed, likely due to a reported development timeframe of just 11 months. In contrast, the graphics and sound design reflect a higher level of craftsmanship, underscoring the Insomniac team's talent.

By the time I completed the roughly ten-hour campaign, I was ready for it to end, regardless of its impressive visuals. The pacing felt disjointed, resembling a hurried remake of a classic, all while tied to a film produced by a separate studio. One moment, you’re battling familiar foes in a stunning landscape, and the next, you're navigating tedious puzzles or poorly balanced minigames. The final levels devolve into chaotic hallways filled with particles and explosions, with far more cheap deaths than one might expect from a game aimed at all age groups.

Despite these issues, the core gameplay remains enjoyable, blending platforming and action in a way that the series is known for. However, it’s not surprising that trophy data indicates only about 25% of players reached the end.

Chapter 3: The Movie’s Execution

The film, on the other hand, avoids the pacing dilemmas found in the game. It’s challenging to incorporate the sluggish lockpicking puzzles and other gameplay mechanics into a movie format. As a result, the film often feels sparse, racing through plot points without allowing for engaging dialogue.

Nevertheless, it captures the right atmosphere for the franchise, and the presence of game voice actors in the film is a delightful touch, especially in light of other casting choices in recent adaptations. The studios collaborated on assets for both the film and game, resulting in a consistent visual style. However, the film features far fewer action scenes than the game, likely due to its limited budget.

I appreciate the concept of a media company developing a game and a film simultaneously. This could potentially mitigate the pitfalls of poorly executed licensed games and create something worthwhile for both audiences. As someone who enjoyed Enter The Matrix, I believe Ratchet and Clank's vibrant universe, with its array of quirky characters and diverse planets, could have delivered a memorable animated adventure.

Unfortunately, both the 2016 movie and game falter due to evident budget constraints. The film pales in comparison to other animated features from its time, lacking in both character depth and action. The game has moments of brilliance that still hold up today, especially with a 60FPS patch for PS5, but it also features sections that feel tedious and unenjoyable.

Chapter 4: Looking Ahead

With the upcoming Last of Us television series and the modernized Last of Us Part 1 game, Sony seems to be attempting a similar strategy of retelling a franchise's origin across different media. Thankfully, it appears that this time, they have allocated the budget that a prominent franchise deserves.

While I’m relieved that the 2016 Ratchet and Clank project didn’t doom the franchise, it’s best approached with caution. It can be enjoyed without any prior knowledge of the characters or the film, but I found it to be the most disappointingly mediocre game I've played in a while. The movie, while charming in its own right, leaves you pondering how much better it could have been with adequate funding.