Fans are ecstatic that Insomniac Games has returned to the legendary Ratchet and Clank series with 2021's Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart for the PS5. Even though it has been eight years since a proper sequel – the 2016 Ratchet and Clank was a remake of the debut entry – Rift Apart remains as faithful to the series as ever while making the gameplay exceptionally smooth.
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PS5s are still hard to come by, and Rift Apart only gives fans more reason to keep an eye out for one. Putting the ideas into a game was a long journey, though, as the ten entries below show.
The Original Captain Qwark Actor Couldn't Return
Jim Ward voiced Captain Qwark from the original debut entry up until the 2016 remake. Sadly, he was unable to reprise the role for Rift Apart due to medical issues. He had a life-threatening bout with COVID-19 and is additionally battling Alzheimer's Disease.
The afflictions have caused him to retire from the profession. Scott Whyte took over the role for the new title.
Rift Apart Broke PS5 and Series Records
Insomniac Games shouldn't feel too bad about only having the second biggest launch for the PS5 with Rift Apart. The first place spot goes to another Insomniac release, Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
It is also incredibly impressive to see it is the second biggest launch for any Ratchet and Clank game in the UK, considering the relatively small install base for the PS5. It makes sense for every PS5 owner to want this game since there are few PS5 exclusives of this caliber.
The Entire Studio Worked On The Project
Many of the prior Ratchet and Clank games on the PS3 and PS4 were handled by secondary studios. To make Rift Apart the biggest project yet in the series, the entire Insomniac Studio was onboard.
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Many of the PS3 entries in the series were smaller, taking only between three and six hours to complete. Rift Apart is a full-length game with varied environments and massive setpieces.
It Was Built From The Ground Up For The PS5
Upon the game's announcement, one of the biggest questions on everyone's mind was whether or not it would be coming to the PS4. Insomniac quickly stated it would be exclusive to the PS5 and that it was made for the console from the start.
The PS4 could not accomplish the lightning-fast load times necessary for the seamless transition between dimensions. It is unfortunate fewer people can play them, but at least there is an excellent 3D platformer waiting for gamers once they find a PS5.
It's A Wonderful Life Was A Source Of Inspiration
One does not expect a family-friendly platformer from 2021 to take inspiration from a classic 1946 film. Insomniac pointed out It's a Wonderful Life as a major influence on the narrative.
Part of the dimension-hopping narrative was exploring the idea of what the world would be like without the two heroes and what type of person Ratchet would be without a friend like Clank. This also influences the idea that while Rivet is Ratchet's counterpart, she is not simply a copy or polar opposite of him.
Rivet's Name Was Kept Secret For A Long Time
During the leadup to release, the identity of the female Lombax was a particular mystery. Fans know it is extremely rare to see another Lombax because Ratchet is supposed to be the only one of his kind.
Insomniac kept this new character's identity under wraps until just two months before release. Considering the relationship between the two Lombaxes, it only makes sense for her name to be Rivet — another tool.
Jennifer Hale Auditioned For The Role Of Rivet
Jennifer Hale voices Rivet and is yet another memorable character on a list of iconic roles on her resume. Some of her most notable roles include Commander Shepard from Mass Effect and Naomi Hunter from Metal Gear Solid. Her impressive career is not what landed her the role, however.
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Like any actor, Jennifer Hale still auditioned for the role and caught the studio's attention before they realized who she was. The voice of Rivet somewhat resembles Emma Emmerich's voice from Metal Gear Solid 2 but is still wholly unique.
Mark Mothersbaugh, The Composer, Is A Rockstar
Mark Mothersbaugh composed the music for Rift Apart. He has worked on several iconic game soundtracks in the past including producing the soundtrack for the first three Crash Bandicoot games and the Jak and Daxter trilogy. He also scored such high-profile films like Thor: Ragnarok.
Long before all this work, however, he was a part of Devo. The seminal group started out as a performance art project and slowly transformed into a new wave rock band.
The Original Concept Had Two Ratchets
When the idea of alternate dimensions was settled on, early concepts had the idea of Ratchet meeting an exact copy of himself. Ultimately this idea was dropped for being considered both too cliche and easy.
Making the alternate universe different rather than a polar opposite makes for a more interesting story and dynamic between the characters.
Ratchet And Rivet Originally Played Differently, And Testers Hated It
Ratchet and Rivet share resources, abilities, and upgrades. While the decision might not make the most logical sense, Insomniac stated it was the best way to make the gameplay as seamless as possible.
When the two characters originally had different abilities and upgrade paths, playtesters either favored one over the other or wanted to stop playing altogether. Switching between Ratchet and Rivet and upgrading them separately would ultimately feel like doing twice the work in the campaign.
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