When Insomniac Games decided to go back to the beginning, people were nervous. Remakes are tricky. They usually either change too much or play it so safe that they feel like a museum piece rather than a living, breathing game. But Sony Ratchet & Clank PS4 wasn't just a simple facelift. It was a weird, beautiful, and slightly chaotic hybrid of a movie tie-in and a nostalgic love letter. It basically took the DNA of the 2002 original and injected it with the high-octane DNA of the Future saga.
It's fast. It’s gorgeous. Honestly, even on a base PS4, the lighting effects in Metropolis still look better than many "next-gen" titles released today.
If you played the original on the PS2, you remember the clunky camera. You remember Ratchet being a bit of a jerk. In the 2016 version, that’s all gone. Instead, we got a "reimagining" narrated by Captain Qwark from a prison cell, which gave the developers a free pass to change the story however they wanted. It’s a meta-narrative. It’s a bit silly. But most importantly, it’s one of the tightest platformers Sony has ever published.
The Weird Logic of a "Game Based on a Movie Based on a Game"
Marketing for this game was a nightmare. You had a feature film hitting theaters and a game hitting consoles simultaneously. Most "movie games" are trash. We know this. They are rushed, buggy, and feel like they were made in a weekend. Sony Ratchet & Clank PS4 broke that curse because Insomniac was effectively remaking their own work while using assets from the Rainmaker Entertainment film.
The result is a game that looks like a Pixar movie but plays like a high-end shooter.
One thing that still surprises people is how different the tone is. The 2002 original was a bit grittier. Ratchet and Clank actually didn't like each other for half the game. In the PS4 version, they are best friends almost instantly. Some fans hated this. They felt it lost the "edge" of the early 2000s. But looking back, the shift toward a more "heroic" vibe made sense for the broader audience Sony was chasing.
The gameplay is where the real magic happened. They brought in the strafing mechanics from Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal. If you try to go back to the PS2 original now, the lack of side-strafing feels like walking through mud. The PS4 version is fluid. You’re flipping, jumping, and blasting through Veldin and Novalis with a level of precision the series hadn't seen until that point.
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Why the Combat Loop is Addictive as Hell
Let’s talk about the weapons. This is the heart of the franchise. You don't just get a pistol; you get the Combuster. You don't just get a grenade; you get the Fusion Bomb.
But the real MVP? The Groovitron.
Throwing a disco ball into a crowd of terrifying warbots and watching them do the 70s hustle while you pelt them with rockets is objectively hilarious. It never gets old. There is a specific psychological satisfaction in seeing "Level Up" flash across the screen when you use a weapon enough. It’s the RPG-lite elements that keep you playing until 2 AM. You want that V5 upgrade. You need to see what the Omega version looks like.
The game also introduced the Raritanium upgrade system. Instead of just buying a better gun, you have a hexagonal grid of upgrades. You can choose to increase the area of effect, the ammo capacity, or the rate of fire. It gives you a sense of ownership over your arsenal. You aren't just using a tool; you're building a weapon of mass destruction.
The Problem With the Narrative
Okay, let's be real for a second. The story in Sony Ratchet & Clank PS4 is the weakest part. Because it had to sync up with the movie, it feels a bit chopped up. There are scenes that jump from one beat to another with very little transition. Characters like Cora and Brax are introduced as part of the Galactic Rangers, but they don't really get much development.
The original game was a satire of corporate greed and consumerism. Chairman Drek was a terrifying, cold-blooded businessman. In the PS4 version, he's a bit of a buffoon who gets overshadowed by Doctor Nefarious. It’s a trade-off. You get better graphics and gameplay, but you lose the sharp satirical bite of the early 2000s writing.
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Technical Prowess: It Still Holds Up
If you fire up this game on a PS5 today, it runs at a buttery smooth 60 frames per second thanks to a 2021 patch. Even though it's technically a last-gen game, the art direction carries it. Insomniac used a lot of clever tricks with particle effects. When a crate breaks, the bolts don't just disappear—they fly toward you with a satisfying "clink" and a subtle vibration in the controller.
The environments are dense. Look at Pokitaru. The water tech was years ahead of its time. You can see the refraction, the way the light hits the tropical beaches, and the sheer scale of the flying enemies in the sky. It doesn't feel like a series of hallways; it feels like a galaxy.
- Performance: 1080p/30fps on base PS4, 4K/30fps on Pro, and 4K/60fps on PS5.
- Load Times: Fast for a HDD-based console, nearly instant on modern SSDs.
- Variety: You go from dogfighting in space to hoverboard racing to puzzle-solving with Clank.
The Clank sections are often the "boring" part of these games for some people, but here they feel more like a palate cleanser. They are simple "Lemmings-style" puzzles where you transform small robots into bridges, power sources, or trampolines. They aren't hard, but they give your trigger finger a break.
Misconceptions and What People Get Wrong
A lot of people think this game is just a remaster. It’s not. A remaster is like The Last of Us Part I—same game, better textures. This is a ground-up rebuild. The level layouts are different. The boss fights are entirely new. The flight levels were redesigned from scratch.
Another misconception is that it’s a "kids' game." Sure, it's colorful. Yes, there are talking animals. But play this on Hard mode or attempt the "Death by Disco" trophy (where you have to make every single enemy type in the game dance), and you’ll see it has plenty of depth. The combat requires actual strategy. You can't just spam one gun; you'll run out of ammo and get swarmed. You have to cycle through your "weapon wheel," freezing enemies with the Winterizer before shattering them with the Pixelizer.
How it Set the Stage for Rift Apart
Without the success of Sony Ratchet & Clank PS4, we probably wouldn't have gotten Rift Apart on the PS5. This 2016 entry proved that there was still a massive market for "AA" platformers. It became the most successful game in the franchise's history.
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It taught Insomniac how to handle the modern "cinematic" feel while keeping the frantic pace of a retro shooter. You can see the seeds of the dimensional rifts in the way the PS4 version handles large-scale transitions and teleporting enemies. It was a testing ground for the hardware.
Making the Most of Your Playthrough
If you’re picking this up for the first time, or maybe going back for a platinum trophy, there are a few things you should know.
First, don't ignore the Holocards. These are collectible sets that drop from enemies or are hidden in corners of the map. Completing a set gives you permanent buffs, like increased bolt drops or better weapon XP. It’s tempting to just ignore them and focus on the shooting, but the bonuses are significant.
Second, get the Map-o-Matic as soon as possible. It’s on Kalebo III. It reveals the location of every secret on your map, including the elusive Gold Bolts. Finding these bolts unlocks cheats and cosmetic changes, like turning the game's colors into a "vintage" filter or changing the look of your wrench.
Third, use the Pixelizer. It's not just a gimmick. It’s basically a high-powered shotgun that turns enemies into 8-bit versions of themselves. It’s incredibly effective at close range, especially against the mechanical dogs on Gaspar.
Actionable Steps for New and Returning Players
- Enable 60 FPS: If you are playing on a PlayStation 5, make sure your game is updated to the latest version. The jump from 30 to 60 FPS changes the entire feel of the combat.
- Prioritize Weapon Leveling: Don't stick to one favorite gun. Once a weapon hits Level 5, swap it out for something else. You want to have a diverse, leveled-up arsenal for the final boss fight against the Deplanitizer.
- Farm Bolts on Gaspar: If you're short on cash for that expensive new gun, Gaspar is the best place to grind. There are tons of enemies and destructible objects in the open "jetpack" area.
- Challenge Mode is Essential: Don't stop after the credits roll. Challenge Mode (New Game+) is where the real game begins. You keep all your weapons, the enemies get tougher, and you can upgrade your guns to their "Omega" forms. This is also where you’ll get the massive bolt multipliers that let you buy the R.Y.N.O. (Rip 'Ya a New One).
Sony Ratchet & Clank PS4 remains a masterclass in how to modernize a classic. It’s not perfect—the story is a bit rushed and the humor is safer than it used to be—but the core loop of "shoot, collect bolts, upgrade" is as addictive as it was twenty years ago. It’s a bright, loud, and joyful experience that reminds us why we fell in love with gaming in the first place. Go find the Gold Bolts, max out your Sheepinator, and enjoy one of the best looking titles on the platform.
To get started, head to the Gadgetron vendor on your first planet and focus on unlocking the Groovitron early; it makes crowd control significantly easier during the mid-game spikes. Once you reach the later planets, revisit Veldin to pick up any missed Holocards to ensure your bolt multiplier is ready for Challenge Mode.