TGO Daily | June 8, 2021 | Ratchet & Clank Review Roundup
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart review roundup, Chivalry 2 officially releases, more info on unique handheld console - Playdate, and Minecraft releases part 1 of update 1.17
TGO Daily | Wednesday June 9, 2021
I got to read a whooooole lot of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart reviews today! It was enjoyable to read about the utter excitement a lot of critics have revolving around this game. There’s a lot to talk about with it today, so let’s jump right into it!
Until next time,
Brandon
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Review Roundup
The reviews are pouring in for the latest addition to Insomniac Games’ collection, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. The game is slated to release as a PS5 exclusive this Friday, June 11th.
Rift Apart takes place following the events of their previous two titles, Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus (2013) and Ratchet & Clank (2016). The story follows the infamous Ratchet & Clank - adding a new character, Rivet, into the mix - as they traverse different worlds in multiple realities to stop Doctor Nefarious from causing a dimensional collapse.
Critics have been showering the game with many praises and adoration. The general consensus has revolved around the game leaving you feeling like a kid again. It brings back the good feelings of experiencing the series when you were young and has a lot of action staying consistent throughout.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is one of those rare games that brings back the feeling of being up early on a Saturday morning, binging your favorite cartoons, and high on sugary cereal.
-Rachel Weber, GamesRadar
Critics have talked about the guns feeling diverse, fun, and accessible without a grind-fest to unlock them. This couples with praise of the motion of the game feeling smooth and making for frantic and engaging, though sometimes too easy, combat.
…with what might be a teasing difficulty for youngsters - I played on normal and found it a breeze…but there are moments, especially against bosses, where you'll run very tight on ammo even with a solid aim…For adults it's exactly what you'll want, enough to suck you into a zen trance without ever forcing you to sit forwards in your chair.
-Chris Tapsell, Eurogamer
The biggest talking point, and garnering the most praise, is the look of the game as a whole. From the fur of the main characters, Ratchet and Rivet, the shine of Clank, and the lively and colorful variation in worlds.
It is immediately apparent how gorgeous this world is. As a colleague of mine has said, we’re at the point of “Playable Pixar.”
-Chris Carter, Destructoid
…I’ve rarely been as utterly blown away by what my eyes are seeing as I am here.
-Tom Orry, VG24/7
While there is a heaping helping of praise with the game, it’s not without some downsides. The more common complaints revolving around some game crashes or glitches and moments that get repeated too often.
Other valiant members of the GamesRadar team experienced a number of game crashes in their playthroughs, but reported that the game's constant checkpointing and speedy loading times means it was more of an inconvenience than a massive drama.
-Rachel Weber, GamesRadar
Samey minibosses are a bigger problem, as you’ll square off against the same version of “giant robot that slams and has a rocket launcher” many, many times.
-Chris Carter, Destructoid
Overall, critics are raving about the game, whether it’s the wonderful visuals, fulfilling gunplay, lovable characters, or the good feelings of nostalgia done right. One thing many critics are agreeing on is that Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is geared up to be a defining title for the PS5.
"Miles Morales and Demon’s Souls were superb launch titles for the PS5, but we’re now through the looking glass. The bar has been set. The PS5 has arrived."
-Tom Orry, VG24/7
Brandon’s Thoughts: Everything I’m seeing points to the game being a must-buy if you have any interest in the series or game style of Ratchet and Clank. It seems Rift Apart isn’t here to break the mold of the series, but rather live in, and perfect, what makes the series great and fun. I know it’ll be one of my first buys once I have a PS5.
Chivalry 2 Officially Released
Torn Banner Studios’ medieval multiplayer bludgeoning and slashing title, Chivalry 2, is out now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC (with cross-play planned down the road).
The Xbox Series X and PS5 are reportedly receiving ray tracing in the future, potentially with more details on this and more involving Chivalry 2 coming during the PC Gaming Show event on June 13th.
I’ve gotten to see some of the combat of the game on Twitch, and it certainly looks action-packed. The game supports up to 64 players for its team deathmatch and team objective modes. If you’re interested in a medieval combat with some similarity to For Honor, but on a larger scale, you should check out some streams and videos on it. There is also a game that came out recently called Mordhau which is quite similar.
Playdate Releases More Details
More information is now coming out regarding the Playdate, a handheld console from Panic (publisher of Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game). The console features a unique analog stick in the form of a crank on the right-hand side. It’s clearly inspired by the original GameBoy, with their own little twist, and a much better pixel density.
The Playdate will be releasing with 24 original games that Panic is calling “season one”. Every game in season one will be free, with owners receiving 2 games per week over the course of 12 weeks. It’ll be open for pre-orders in July at $180 USD.
There’s quite a bit of press surrounding it, which could mean it has potential to sellout with its pre-orders. They are starting with an order of 21,000 units. This interesting indie device is definitely something to keep an eye on.
If you’re interested in unique and small handheld consoles, check out their latest update video.
Minecraft Releases 1.17 Part 1 Update
Mojang has released the latest update for Minecraft, update 1.17. It contains a myriad of features, including but not limited to: new mobs, new items, new advancements, and a load of bug fixes.
Mojang claims the update is their most ambitious undertaking yet, and as such is releasing 1.17 as a part 1, with part 2 arriving in a few months. World generation changes are scheduled to arrive in part 2, along with more updates.
Miscellanea
Say Hello!
That’s a wrap on today’s news! If you’re enjoying the newsletter, give the signup link to a friend!
This newsletter is a companion/alternative to a mini-podcast produced by Adrian (a ridiculously amazing human). You can find the podcast on:
- Amazon Alexa devices
- Multiple podcast hosts (that is also the archive of all episodes).
- Google Home - try, “Hey Google, play ‘The Gaming Observer’”!
You can reach Brandon (that’s me!) by simply replying to this email, joining the below Discord, or on my Twitter!
Want to interact with an amazing group of people who love gaming? Join us on the Discord community! It’s truly an awesome place.
Thanks for the read <3