Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart fans were given a lengthy look at the game through yesterday’s State of Play, with plenty of focus placed on the side content and combat improvements that have been made for the duo’s latest adventure. However, it seems like Insomniac has put just as much work into the movement systems, as Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart will see its leading Lombax exploring with ease.
One of several highlights from the State of Play footage, players can see Ratchet wall-running through a specific part of Nefarious City. Possibly inspired by Insomniac’s work on the Marvel's Spider-Man franchise, Ratchet can now speed across specific walls, allowing him to move a greater distance and adding variety to platforming. While it does not seem like Ratchet will be able to move across every wall, as arrows are shown on the one that he does use, this is still a great addition.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart fans will also be able to dash, which is another entirely new concept for the series. With the press of a button, Ratchet will move forward, covering a decent bit of space with the movement. An interesting animation will also play, which shows two faded versions of Ratchet behind him — giving gamers a visual cue that the dash has been performed successfully. Unlike wall-running, this traversal update will surely have a major impact on combat, with Ratchet able to dash away from gunfire or flank enemies by speeding around some cover.
Insomniac confirmed that players will be able to chain these moves together, allowing the movement to feel even smoother in-game. The PS5’s DualSense features will likely make the wall-running and dash abilities feel great to perform as well, adding to the quality of the addition. The last traversal mechanic mentioned is the rift tether, which allows players to open portals and instantly teleport to a different part of the arena by going through the rifts.
As of now, it remains unclear if Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s new protagonist Rivet will be able to make use of these abilities. While she is just as important to the game’s narrative as Ratchet, and will likely be playable for an equal amount of time in the main story, it does not guarantee she will have the same exact movement as her fellow Lombax. Two separate platforming styles could make Ratchet and Rivet feel more unique, with the former relying on tech and the latter using Clank to get around.
Regardless of whether Rivet shares these movement improvements, though, they are great to see and could make the game a lot more engaging the entire way through. With the older Ratchet and Clank games never making use of such features, the addition is a welcome change of pace.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart releases June 11, 2021, for PS5.
