The PlayStation 5 boasts some incredible exclusives that truly show off the immense power of Sony’s latest console.
Given thatThe Last of UsPart II, a PlayStation 4 release, continues to put many modern day games to shame in terms of its polished visuals, I cannot wait to see how it actually looks running natively on the PS5 with January’sThe Last of Us Part II Remastered. I don’t need to wait until January to see greatness though. From big-budget AAAs likeMarvel’s Spider-Man2andGod of WarRagnarökto delightful freebies likeAstro’s Playroom, there are so many games out there that prove just what a powerhouse of a console thePlayStation 5is. If you’re looking for a real technical showcase though, it’s alwaysRatchet and Clank: Rift Apartthat springs to mind for me.
Take a look atRatchet and Clank: Rift Apartin action below.
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It just about works because the combat is so fun. As both Ratchet and Clank, you’ll zip through a number of different planets and galactic metropolises, armed with everything from ray guns to a ‘sheepinator’ which, yes, turns enemies into sheep. Given that the ‘cutscenes’ were actually just film scenes, there was a slightly disjointed feeling as the game alternated between scene and combat with little else but a cold loading screen linking the two.
That couldn’t be further from the case when it comes to the 2021 sequelRatchet and Clank: Rift Apart. In making the jump from PlayStation 4 to 5,Insomniac Gamesdid so much more than iron out the creases. If 2016’sRatchet and Clankwas an enjoyable yet unrevolutionary romp through the galaxy,Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apartis a portal hopping tour de force.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
The combat from the previous instalment remains, but it clearly wasn’t simply tacked on to a film this time around.Rift Apartfeatures in-engine cutscenes and perhaps most importantly if we’re talking about the power of the PlayStation 5, near-instantaneous transitions.Rift Apartgets its title from the fact that our heroes come to equip a Rift Tether, allowing them to jump through time. I’m not talking about jumping years into the future though.
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Ratchet or Rivet can spot a platform in the distance and use the Rift Tether to zip from one point to another. There are no loading screens when doing so, providing players with a thrilling sense of freedom. You’ll revisit familiar planets inRift Apartyet they feel so new simply because, alongside the addition of wall-running and dashing, traversal has been totally overhauled.
Those who have played the game will know it’s part platformer, part shooter. It already had the foundations of great combat inRatchet and Clank, albeit in a slight rough-around-the-edges state. With some tweaks to the weapons line-up and upgrade system alongside the aforementioned new traversal mechanics,Rift Apartexcels in capturing the magic of both genres - making for a game that is so much fun to play.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
I should also mention that, at one point in time, it was rare that a game utilised the power of the DualSense controller quite likeRift Apartdid. We’ve seen it done more so in the past year. BothThe Last of Us Part IandGod of War Ragnarökare prime examples but back in 2021, it felt as if 2020’sAstro’s Playroompromised us magic in our hands only for no games to actually replicate that magic and attention to detail. That all changed inRift Apart. The galaxy really comes to life through the controller’s haptic feedback, further immersing you in this enthralling adventure,
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If you’re yet to dive intoRatchet and Clank: Rift Apart, I wholeheartedly recommend you do so - and it’s available on PlayStation Plus’ extra tier which is very handy. If you’re new to the PlayStation 5, you’ll be dazzled and if you just haven’t got around to playing this title yet, it’ll remind you just what a snazzy bit of kit the PS5 is.
Topics:Insomniac Games,PlayStation,Playstation Plus,Sony
