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I've been a Ratchet and Clank fan for a long time, and I'm glad to see this game added to the series; especially after All 4 One.
Into the Nexus goes back to classic Ratchet and Clank mechanics. With the same type of platforming you'd find in the previous games with a new mechanic where you create a stream of gravity to push and pull you towards the next area, and also to secret areas. The awesomely unique weapons are back like the Nightmare Box that scares enemies for a bit, the Winterizer that turns enemies into snowmen, and Mr. Zurkon is back and he brought Zurkon Jr. and Mrs. Zurkon with him!
I played on the Legend (difficulty) which I felt added the perfect amount of challenge to the game for me. It really made me spend more time during fights trying not to get hit, rather than just plowing through the enemies and beating the game. Speaking of combat, I loved how much would be going on during boss fights and even some mob fights, especially the final boss. There were so many things going on on the screen that it looked like pure chaos, and I loved it. Destructapalooza, the lava surrounded arena you love from other Ratchet and Clank games is back again. While I found it enjoyable I didn't find it too much of a challenge to completely beat it.
The story itself was solid, thought I wouldn't say it's anything special, it was just pretty short. I probably beat the game in about 7-8 hours and that includes backtracking to get all of the golden bolts and Ryno VII holo plans. But for $30 I absolutely feel that I got my money's worth for this game. But, keep in mind, that when you beat the game you unlock Challenge mode which is a sort of new game plus. Challenge mode is a new harder mode where you keep all your weapons and armor, and you can play through on a harder difficulty. When not in challenge mode your weapons can only level up to level 3, but in Challenge mode you get 3 more levels, and you get extra armor to unlock as well.
And one quick note, maybe it was just my system, but I noticed many times that the sound would completely cut out for a few seconds when transitioning to some screens. It mostly happened when my weapon leveled up and the system was trying to quickly load the weapon upgrade screen that pops up. But it didn't detract from the experience and I don't take any points away for it, it was just a little annoyance.
If you're a fan of classic Ratchet and Clank then you need to pick up Into the Nexus. It is an awesome addition to the franchise and Insomniac did another great job!
Pros:
Classic Ratchet and Clank Platforming and Combat
Unique Weapons
Gorgeous Environments
Cons:
Short
Small Sound Glitches
Destructapalooza a Tad Too Easy
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If you're a Ratchet and Clank fan, then chances are you've been pretty disappointed these last few years. Ever since A Crack in Time, the series has progressively declined. They even started featuring the Lombax hero in cheesy Playstation Move titles just to make them sell better. Whenever I originally saw the trailer for Into the Nexus, the comments were filled with people who wanted them to cancel the series for good. In fact, when I went to pick up this game from my local Gamestop, they told me I was the only one in my town that pre-ordered this game. But that didn't stop me. I went home and tried my luck. And you know what? This was the most fun I've had playing a Ratchet and Clank game since Up Your Arsenal!Story: Ratchet is on board a prison ship carrying a deadly criminal named Vendra. Vendra's goal is to use a reverse dimensionator to bring her species into our world. When Vendra's twin brother springs Vendra, it's up to Ratchet and Clank to stop her before she brings the Nether and their terrifying leader, Mr. Eye, into our world and destroying the galaxy!
Gameplay: Now on to the good stuff. Like all Ratchet and Clank games, Insomniac likes to experiment with new elements into each of their games, this one, focuses on a zero gravity element. You have unique shoes that allow you to pull yourself onto certain platforms and perform gravity jumps to other platforms. Also, about 2 levels in, you get your hands on a modified Levitator (This game has a lot of Going Commando's influence) which allows you to fly as long as you have fuel and fight in mid-air. All of these elements are exceptionally well done. I really hope they keep all these elements in the future games, the modified levitator is my personal favorite, they basically perfected mid-air combat, a feat most gaming companies have never accomplished. The gravity jumps are also very fun. The first level which had a large amount of these, was just incredible. There will even be certain bosses where you have to fight upside down, which is a blast to do. These elements keep the Gameplay fresh and inviting.
Music: Beautifully crafted orchestral pieces for every aspect of this game. Whether it be the doom music when you fire the RYNO, or the cheesy market music when you go in and upgrade or purchase a weapon. It's all here, it makes for a really in depth experience.
Weapons: I figured a Ratchet and Clank game review deserves a separate section for weapons, since that's half their charm. And you'll be happy to know, that there was not one weapon in this game that I hated leveling up. Unlike most of the Ratchet and Clank games of the past, every weapon in this game is fun to use. There are no silly gimmicks like useless holo-shield launchers, or the frustrating self steering tornadoes, these weapons are all unique and fun to use.
Verdict: This game is a masterpiece. Before playing this game, I didn't have high hopes. But now, I'm itching for more. Sadly this game is very short. (6 hours on normal difficulty, 8 hours on legendary/ hard, and about 5 hours if you don't go back and complete all the mini-missions) I could not put this game down until I unlocked all the trophies, and I still have a lot more skill points to unlock. This game gives me a lot of hope for the PS4 generation, and you have no excuses not to buy it, it's $30, what do you have to lose? It even includes a voucher for their $15 mini-game Quest for Booty. Ratchet and Clank are back! :)
Best Deals for Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus - Playstation 3
Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus is a rare title that delivers exactly what it promised. The game returns to the traditional third-person platformer shooter, with the expected side-order of puzzles. The game plays and acts like the more successful titles as opposed to the more recent slump. The game has comedy, it has a wide array of big guns, and it has the classic gameplay we love. The story is good, voice acting is strong, and Captain Qwark is as incompetent as ever.My Rating: 8.5/10
Into the Nexus is a good game, but I did have a few small issues with it. The new character designs first used in All 4 One are high-detailed but too much resembling something you would find on Cartoon Network (Ratchet from Tools of Destruction was my favorite). Ratchet's movements are a little choppy, and movement for enemies and everything overall seems a little weak.
On the upside, graphics are good and the interface is nice and clean. The gameplay only has minor differences (such as you can only shoot with R1 and have a constant crosshair) and some of the new gadgets and toys make the game really interesting. Raritanium upgrades are back, and you get a gun to turn enemies into Snowmen.
Gameplay 8/10
I give it a little lower of a score because I am comparing it to the previous story-driven, third-person titles. The Playstation 2 titles were quite similar to Tools of Destruction and A Crack in Time, but this one deviates ever so slightly. By no means the end of the world.
Re-playability 7/10
Ratchet and Clank games are good at providing ways to keep playing through skill points, difficulty levels, trophies, and of course challenge mode. It is not like an RPG where each character you pick provides a drastically different experience, but a 7/10 is favorable to what the series is known to offer.
Graphics 8/10
Ratchet and Clank games are not known for godlike graphics, but they look pretty good. The characters are detailed, guns look sharp, and the really only thing to complain about are the choppy movements.
Comedy 9/10
Always a strong suite for the series, I was cracking up early and often. Specifically at the cinematic for the new arena.
Story 9/10
The story to Ratchet and Clank never really held a whole lot of interest over me until it hit the Playstaion 3. A Crack in Time's caught me by surprise a few times, and this one might do the same to you.
Overall, Into the Nexus is a good game, worthy of your purchase. I am not disappointed one bit and the low price makes it only more enticing. Recommended to all R&C fans, no question. The series is back.
Honest reviews on Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus - Playstation 3
It feels like it's been a long time since we had a true Ratchet and Clank sequel. We had spinoffs such as All 4 One and games like Full Frontal Assault that didn't quite feel like Ratchet and Clank. Into the Nexus certainly feels like a true Ratchet and Clank game, and yet it still falls short of the glory that the two Ratchet and Clank: Future Games released earlier did (not including Quest for Booty).The game begins with our heroes escorting Vendra to the Vartex Detention Facility. Things don't go as planned, however, when her brother comes to her aid and things get a little screwed up. It forces Ratchet and Clank to have to stop her. It's a simple story that contains many of the things you'd expect from Ratchet and Clank. Though it never really hits the notes of Tools of Destruction or A Crack in Time, the story isn't bad. The only thing about it is that it's just such a short experience without feeling like a fully complete one in some respects. Previous outings have typically been bigger and filled with more intrigue but Into the Nexus is short and sweet, even when including all the side quests.
On the other hand, those familiar with Ratchet and Clank will, more or less, feel right at home as the basic formula isn't really all that changed. The game is still throwing various obstacles at you and there's still a lot of fun to be had with weapons. There's not a whole lot new here. You've got weapons like the Winterizer that turns enemies into snowmen for good measure. Other weapons such as one that gives your enemies nightmares for good measure. There are also some that return like the fusion bombs, but for the most part there's nothing that makes Into the Nexus stand out in the same way that previous games have. That's not necessarily a bad thing and at this price there's not much reason to complain. It just feels like it's not quite a leap forward when compared to previous titles in the series. It's still good and will be loved by any fan of Ratchet and Clank, but it still doesn't quite feel like the next big thing for Ratchet and Clank.
Like the gameplay, nothing about the presentation has really changed either. The character models are the same. It's still a gorgeous game with a great design. Though it doesn't look any different from A Crack in Time that's not bad at all. A Crack in Time was a marvelous looking game and so is this one. By now we know what the PS3 is capable of and sometimes the aesthetic quality is important. Into the Nexus has that. The voice acting and cutscenes are also really well done. Likewise, the music is absolutely amazing here.
In the long run Ratchet and Clank Into the Nexus doesn't do anything wrong. It just feels like it doesn't want to change anything either. A lot of the stuff here feels like they're running down a checklist of what needs to be included for a Ratchet and Clank experience. Hunting for those gold bolts or acquiring skill points can't exactly extend the length of the game by very much. Some gameplay segments are really well done (the opening moments especially) but there is certainly the feeling that this one was a little more rushed out than previous installments. What's going to keep it down the most is the excruciatingly short amount of time you'll spend getting through the campaign. And it isn't that the campaign is short that's so strange about it. It's actually that the story comes to a close somewhat abruptly. You'll feel like perhaps more could've been done with it. Nevertheless for the price it's worth checking out for Ratchet and Clank fans
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