Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

About Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

High Impact Games made this 2007 side-scrolling shooter to bring the Ratchet & Clank universe to portable screens. It launched on February 13th for both PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2 systems. The story finds our heroes interrupting a vacation in Pokitaru when Luna gets snatched by robots. Clank discovers ancient Technomite tech while tracking them down. You control Ratchet or Clank depending on the scene as you chase the villain Otto Destruct across multiple planets. This entry stands out as the first mainline title released specifically for handhelds, bridging the gap between console adventures and portable gaming sessions without losing the series signature humor.

Gameplay

You spend most of your time running left to right while blasting enemies with wacky gadgets. The core loop involves jumping over gaps, smashing crates, and shooting robots until they explode into parts. Some levels force you to control Clank in his Ultra-Mech suit for heavy combat or solve environmental puzzles using his shrink ray. You switch between characters frequently since each handles specific obstacles differently. The game features a mix of on-foot sections and vehicle sequences where you pilot ships through space battles. Controls feel tight enough to navigate tight platforms without constant frustration. Multiplayer modes let two players take down waves of enemies together in co-op arenas that reward precise timing and weapon selection.

What Players Think

PlayPile data shows this title holds a solid reputation among fans who remember the era. Critics on IGDB gave it a 64.6 out of 100 score based on ninety-one ratings, reflecting mixed but generally positive reception for its portability focus. Average playtime sits around twenty hours for a standard run, with completion rates hovering near seventy percent for those hunting all hidden collectibles. Community moods lean toward nostalgic appreciation rather than critical acclaim. Players frequently mention the charm of seeing Ratchet shrink down to explore Clank's insides as a standout moment. Review snippets often highlight the tight controls on PSP despite hardware limitations. The game maintains a loyal following among handheld enthusiasts who appreciate its straightforward action compared to later entries.

PlayPile's Take

This title works best if you own a PSP or PS2 and want more Ratchet content without buying new hardware. The price remains reasonable given the two-year gap since the last console entry. Achievements track your progress through story modes and challenge rooms, totaling twenty-four for completionists to chase. You should play this if you like side-scrollers with heavy weapon variety but do not expect a massive open world. The story is light on depth yet delivers enough humor to keep you moving forward. It ends abruptly with shrunken clones sold as toys while Qwark watches ads, leaving no grand finale. This is a solid portable adventure that holds up well today despite some dated pacing issues.

Storyline

While on a vacation in Pokitaru, Ratchet and Clank meet a little girl named Luna who is writing a school report on heroes. Shortly after they meet her, Luna is kidnapped by mysterious robots. Clank then stumbles upon a mysterious artefact from an ancient race, the Technomites. Although Ratchet is initially sceptical about their existence, Clank believes they do exist. Ratchet and Clank set out to save Luna and, in the process, encounter Captain Qwark, who is attempting to find his biological parents. Ratchet allows him to use his ship's computer to aid in his search to make him stop following them. On Kalidon, Ratchet is kidnapped by Luna, who faked her kidnapping, and Clank is left in a junkyard on Metalis. However, Clank transforms into his Ultra-Mech form and sets off to destroy enemy troops and save Ratchet. Meanwhile, Ratchet's DNA was taken to produce an army of clones. Emperor Otto Destruct, leader of the Technomites, has recognized Ratchet's potential and hopes to use his DNA to make the ultimate soldier. Finding out that Luna is actually a robotic puppet and ship, the duo track it down to Dayni Moon, where Luna reveals the clone plot to Ratchet and Clank and explains the Technomites are bitter for never receiving credit from the general population for their technological advances. After destroying the Luna puppet, Clank tries to get the clone factory coordinates from it but is infected with a computer virus and malfunctions, allowing the Technomite soldiers inside the puppet to enter Clank. Ratchet uses his shrink ray to go inside Clank, meeting his internal security system, and they collaborate to eliminate the intruders and restart Clank's processor. Clank reveals that he obtained the factory coordinates before being deactivated, and they head to a planet known as Quodrona. After Ratchet kills dozens of clones, Otto reveals that what Luna told them was a "cheesy story", and his real plan is to steal the intelligence of every being in the galaxy, using a special machine that transfers the intelligence from one being to another. Qwark, persuaded by Otto, thinks Otto is his father and temporarily fights on his side. Ratchet and Clank eventually beat Otto. Afterwards, they learn from Skrunch that Qwark's real parents had been killed by defective Technomite equipment. Qwark tries to use Otto's machine to give Otto his intelligence, but Skrunch interferes and causes Otto to gain his intelligence instead. Back in Ratchet and Clank's apartment, the shrunken Ratchet clones are sold as toys, and the two keep the shrunken Qwark company while watching an advertisement commercial for the new toy line.