Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart PC Review

Publisher: PlayStation PC LLC Released: Jul 26, 2023

OS: Windows 10 (version 1909 or higher) Storage: 75 GB available space

"Review Copy Provided By PlayStation"

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Rocks on Steam Deck!

Hey, portable gaming lovers! Grab your Steam Deck, curl up on your sofa, and dive into an explosive adventure with Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Yes, that’s right! Ratchet & Clank made its way to Steam, and although the PS5 version offers the intended experience, who could resist some on-the-go action with a bit of graphic compromise? Now, I’m a sofa lounger, controller-in-hand kind of gamer. My Steam Deck was mostly collecting dust until Rift Apart gave me the perfect reason to nestle into my favorite sofa crevice. This gem allows you to venture beyond your desk, spine-twistingly comfy, and embark on a dimensional journey with our beloved Lombax duo, Ratchet and Rivet.

Worried about performance on Steam Deck? Fret not! A bit of smart setting tweaking caps the gameplay at a mostly smooth 30fps. And though I failed my ambitious 45fps quest in open areas, the gameplay remained satisfyingly playable. AMD’s FSR tech compensates for the resolution cuts, ensuring the action stays as exhilarating as your grandma's rollercoaster screams. Yes, there are minor text cleanups and fuzzy outlines, but amidst the flying particles and scattered items, you won’t find yourself pixel-peeping. And hey, if you crave that premium sheen, your PC and DLSS are always there for a quick rendezvous! On the ROG Ally, the game is a hit or miss as it will work sometimes and other times it won't leading to making the Ally completely crash. I don't recommend this on the Ally at all.

Now, enough about the techy stuff! Let’s talk Ratchet & Clank. Our heroes embark on an intergalactic journey, dimension-hopping to fix the mess caused by the mischievous Dr. Nefarious. From dystopian space stations to alien worlds, the adventure is as varied as your grandma's knitting patterns. And speaking of varied, the gameplay is a delightful mix of wall-running, dashing, and blasting chunky foes with an arsenal of explosive weapons. The dimensional theme even extends to the weapons, with the Pixelizer turning enemies into 2D sprite art (or technically, voxels)! The verdict? Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a masterfully crafted action platformer. It may not reinvent the wheel, but its solid level design, varied gameplay, and cohesive mechanics will plaster a smile on your face. And if you’ve got a beefed-up PC, aim for those higher resolutions and framerates. But, for those craving flexibility, the Steam Deck version is a testament to the game's scalable artwork. Yes, there were a few crashes, but with regular autosaves, it's not a deal-breaker.

In a nutshell, if you meet the system requirements, you're in for a treat with Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. So, grab your Steam Deck, plop down on that sofa, and let the interdimensional escapade begin!