Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is elevating the series in several ways, with Insomniac doing its best to take the series to new heights. A new protagonist named Rivet is being added to provide another layer to the game’s story, while a number of side activities are being introduced that could keep fans playing for a while. Unlockable armor sets, new guns, and improved traversal mechanics are all interesting as well, though the way in which the game is using the DualSense controller and the console’s graphical power is particularly noteworthy.
In Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, gamers can see and feel the full power of the PS5 on display, and this trend will hopefully continue with Insomniac’s future projects. However, it is this expert use of the new console that would make a revival of the Resistance series truly special. Much like Resistance: Fall of Man took full advantage of the PlayStation 3 over fourteen years ago, a new Resistance could do the same. While the franchise has been dormant for almost ten years, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart proves that now is the perfect time for a comeback.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s Portals And DualSense Use
One of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s most intriguing features is its use of rifts, with the portal mechanic opening a new approach to gameplay. While this works on a small scale to let Ratchet get fresh vantage points in an arena, the larger scale uses of these rifts is even more intriguing. Players can take Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s portals to pocket dimensions for some extra exploring or use them to reach entirely new planets. Creating a seamless transition between worlds, the use of these rifts allows gameplay to be freshened up instantly. Players could enter new settings with the press of a button, giving each fight fresh scenery.
Outside of the rifts, though, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s DualSense use shows how great weapons can feel with the PS5 controller. The Enforcer shotgun, for example, is a double-barreled weapon which can be fired differently depending on how hard players pull the trigger. If pulled halfway, a single barrel is fired, while pressing down all the way on the R2 button fires both barrels. The same setup is used for the Burst Pistol, which fires single shots with a half-press and automatic shots with a full press. By using the controller’s adaptive triggers in a clever way, Insomniac is adding more depth to the game’s already diverse lineup of guns.
Carrying This Approach Over To Resistance
While 2011’s Resistance 3 sees protagonist Joseph Capelli defeating the Chimera once and for all, there is plenty of room for a prequel or reboot to take place. If a new Resistance game does come, using the portal mechanic would be a great way to make it feel fresh. Insomniac could show the Chimera invasion’s impact on the entire world, teleporting gamers from a ruined Washington DC to a destroyed version of the Eiffel Tower. The series could see a whole new approach to level design, with more variety available than ever before. While the mechanic could be used for traversal and combat as well, the most intriguing application would see it instantly opening more parts of the world.
On top of this, a new Resistance could do incredible things with the DualSense controller. Along with haptic feedback making every approaching spaceship and gunshot feel real, the adaptive triggers could add more depth to guns. Just like in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, holding down the trigger in a certain way could activate a different firing mode. This would instantly make every gun feel better to use, giving players access to more firing styles and mechanics. Upgrades could see players improving one or both firing modes, with each instantly accessible using a single button.
Much like Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is bringing a classic series to a new generation of gamers, a Resistance reboot should do the same. With the Killzone series seemingly dormant, PlayStation is lacking something in the first-person shooter space. Resistance could fill this void, and Insomniac’s recent showings prove that it can find success in just about any genre. If the game makes use of the new Ratchet and Clank’s coolest features and includes a satisfying multiplayer mode to keep fans hooked, a Resistance comeback could be exactly what Sony needs in its first party lineup.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart launches June 11, exclusively for PS5.
