The ending to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart isn't the most complicated video game conclusion, but it's a happy ending with the promise of a nice future for the beloved series. Insomniac Games came up with the concept of dimensional rifts to explore the PlayStation 5's impressive hardware through instant transitions between multiple worlds without necessitating a loading screen in Rift Apart, and the story that's been crafted to accompany this mechanic was delightful.
[Warning: Spoilers for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart below.]
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart begins with a celebration of the heroics of the titular heroes. As a part of this ceremony, Clank reveals that he rebuilt the Dimensionator for Ratchet so that he could access the Lombax dimension. But Dr. Nefarious intervenes and steals the Dimensionator, which is ultimately destroyed in the ensuing conflict. The destruction of the Dimensionator rips the fabric of reality apart and begins a multidimensional adventure to fix the chaos that has now broken out. Along the way, Clank meets another Lombax named Rivet and Ratchet comes across a warbot he calls Kit, who happen to be that dimension's versions of themselves.
The story of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is fairly straight forward. The group works together in an effort to rebuild the Dimensionator, only for Emperor Nefarious to steal it for himself, culminating in a massive battle in Ratchet and Clank's Megalopolis. Alongside the forces of multiple dimensions, Ratchet and Clank team up with Rivet and Kit to stop Emperor Nefarious and repair the damage caused by the Dimensionator. Once the battle has ended and the dimensions have been saved, Rivet and Kit decide it's time to head back home, but Ratchet mentions that they should all make a pitstop along the way. The following credits sequence shows a little bit of what the group was up to in that time, including replacing Clank's missing arm with one that matches Rivet's.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart's Ending Sets Up A Future For Rivet & Kit
Rivet and Kit were wonderful additions to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and it would be disappointing if they just never made an appearance again. Fortunately, the game's ending does leave the door open for a potential follow up. With the multiverse saved and the Dimensionator back in Ratchet and Clank's possession, there's no reason that these characters can't continue their multidimensional adventures. Whether it's in the form of DLC, a sequel or even a spinoff, there's plenty of room for Rivet and Kit to stick around for a while. And that's probably a safe bet, given the terrific performances of Jennifer Hale and Debra Wilson.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart isn't a long game and it's hardly one that is going to win any awards on the strength of its narrative, but it does provide a charming backdrop to its incredibly fun gameplay. Rivet and Kit are great characters and their backstory provides a nice little twist along the way in explaining how Rivet lost her arm. It's also entertaining to see the alternate dimension versions of Captain Qwark, Rusty Pete and Skidd McMarx messing about with comical takes on the original characters.
While Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is excellent for showing off the power of the PlayStation 5, the Pixar-like animation quality of its cutscenes, sense of humor, and great characters lead to a fun adventure through multiple dimensions. Its happy ending leaves the door open for a potential follow-up with Rivet and Kit as well.