Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty

Somewhere in my heart there is a special place for duos: Tom and Jerry, Batman and Robin, Ham and Pineapple. In recent years Ratchet & Clank also worked their way onto that select list with a series of excellent platforming adventure titles.

After the cliff-hanger ending of Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction (ToD for short), Insomniac chose to develop a short follow-up "mini-adventure". The story picks up directly after the end of the previous title and follows Ratchet's attempts to track down Clank after his kidnap by the mysterious Zoni.

The game looks incredible with some clever graphical tweaks improving the already excellent visuals from ToD. There were some jaw-dropping moments where I was really glad to own a PlayStation 3 as I explored a sunny island where it was clear what the next-generation consoles are all about.

Pleasingly, knowledge of the other games isn't essential and a handy recap at the start quickly brings you up to speed. The characters from ToD are developed and the trademark humour is still present and there are some nice subtle adult touches which really made me laugh. The voice acting actually adds something to the game here, fitting in with the style and tone perfectly.

Quest for Booty is an incredibly polished package, much like its predecessor, with a good attention to detail. The game mechanics remain identical to the series' roots combining platforming with action which separates it from most other genre titles. A limited range of weaponry returns from ToD but you rarely feel like you need more.

Whilst there are no new weapons, there are plenty of innovations in the puzzle department with some clever touches helping to make it feel different and fresh. The wrench, essential for breaking boxes and collecting bolts, now has the ability to manipulate certain objects. This seems like a minor addition, but it actually impacts on the gameplay significantly with some clever and challenging puzzles utilising this. Springs need to be compressed to act as jump pads, platforms need to be rotated so they can be stood on or slid to act as stepping stones over huge drops. It is a credit to the developers' skills that they make it feel like it has always been a part of the series.

The other main puzzle addition is the intelligent incorporation of light and dark into the gameplay. Ratchet can now use the wrench to pick up items, such as flaming rocks or glowing bugs and use them in the environment. In one memorable section exploring a pitch black cave, you must use fluorescent creatures to guide you over narrow walkways and scare off enemies who are afraid of the light.

Yet, whilst Quest delivers the same refined and well balanced Ratchet & Clank experience, the length of the title is a serious issue. Whilst the game is a "mini-adventure" I completed it in a single sitting in around two hours, as it only has 4 levels, broken up into smaller stages. I can see this taking some inexperienced gamers a maximum of 4 to 5 hours which is still a very short length.
The title has little replay value as it acts as a self-contained story and lacks the challenge mode of the previous titles. There are some secret items to find and weapon upgrades, though these aren't too well hidden and many can be picked up on the first play through. The brevity wouldn't be such an issue, were it not for the high asking price of £14.99 which leaves you feeling short changed. The game feels like it was designed to be a bite sized adventure and if it were priced accordingly it would be easier to enjoy.

Quest for Booty is an excellent platforming title and provides enjoyable adventuring for the few hours it lasts. Yet the short length tends to mar the experience and prevent it being an essential recommendation from the PlayStation Store. Hopefully, a price reduction will occur soon which will make it far more appealing, especially to help ease the wait for the next full sequel in autumn 2009.