Title Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters Date 02.27.2006 Genre Action, Platform Platform Sony PSP Developer SCEA Publisher SCEA

Once again, we have another gem in our hands. This game delivers all the fun and excitement of the Ratchet and Clank series, despite being on a handheld this time around. If you have enjoyed the previous Ratchet and Clank games, then don't hesitate to pick this one up, and I will tell you why.

Graphics
This is definitely one of the most visually impressive games you can find on the PSP. You will be amazed by what it's capable of. The quality of graphics does not degrade at all from the previous PS2 titles. The only minor difference is that the overall size of a world is noticeably smaller, but all the action that takes place is exquisite. There are many moments where there are excessive amounts of enemies and combat going on and there is no slowdown whatsoever. I couldn't ask for more.

Gameplay
Just like the previous Ratchet and Clank games, your objective is usually going from planet to planet and making it from point A to point B, while blowing up plenty of enemies along the way. Now what makes this series so special, this game included, is that you will acquire a large array of weapons, which all must be used strategically. Every weapon will have its purpose in a particular situation. And with the use of these weapons, they will level up, becoming more powerful and undergo an increase in ammo capacity.

There are also numerous mini games that you will find along the way. There are hover-board races that you can participate in and win money and new gadgets. Clank also has a whole lot of games he can partake in as well. There is this arena where several killer robots battle it out in a fight to the death. There is also another mini game that resembles the game Lemmings. Your objective here to direct a series of robots to a certain part of the stage my giving commands, such as blowing up a platform, or swinging over a gap. Then there is this sport game where you have to toss a robot through a goal while competing against the CPUs. It's all very entertaining and complements the rest of the game well.

This game also features on-rail shooting levels that resemble Starfox and the Gummiship levels in Kingdom Hearts. They're very simplistic. You just have a basic laser and a limited amount of homing missiles, and a boss that always meets you at the end of the course. Nothing special, but it breaks up the pace well. There are also several cheats and costumes you can unlock by acquiring these hidden bolts that are scattered throughout the different planets. You can also view all the cut-scenes you have unlocked throughout the game.

Online
This is also another welcomed addition which adds even more value to this great game. Once you are connected to the online server, you are able to either join a current game, which can hold up to 4 players, or make your own. There are several different modes of play, such as your typical death match or capture the flag. All your scores and states are saved to your profile. One downside to the online is that your very limited, as there are only four maps to choose from and a maximum of 4 players. Not to mention, it sometimes takes awhile to get a game started.

Control
This is an important enough aspect that is worth mentioning. Due to the lack of buttons on the PSP, the controls do suffer quite a bit. The analog nub is used for moving around while the L and R buttons are used to rotate the camera. The control pad is used for strafing which can get pretty wild. Moving back and forth between the nub and control pad can really throw off your camera and control. You also need to hold L and R to crouch and L and R plus a running jump to do a long jump. So in the end, your only pushing an extra button, but what hurts the most is definitely the camera and your control while moving and strafing. What I'm going to tell you is, if you like action/plat-forming games, then there's no reason not to pick this up. It's definitely one of the better titles on the PSP.

Pros
Great graphics
Fun combat
Online (not the best, but better than nothing!)

Cons
Bad control
Short game

Game Score

B+

Reviewed By: Contributed