With the addition of new mobility options, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart seeks to elevate the franchise's gameplay to a new level for the series' debut on the PlayStation 5. Mobility has always been a significant part of Ratchet & Clank's gameplay, and new mechanics in the upcoming title promise to have a major impact on the chaos.
With Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart set to release in just over a month, PlayStation held a State of Play to showcase another demo for the first new entry to the series in quite some time. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart looks absolutely beautiful and promises to capitalize on the power of the PlayStation 5, with instantaneous transportation across worlds without breaking the flow of the action. But with a bigger and better Ratchet & Clank, the gameplay needed something more too - and it appears to have gotten this, thanks to Rift Apart's increased mobility options.
While the series has maintained a consistent action platforming playstyle with strafing being a key mechanic, several new mobility options have been added to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Players will now be able to wall run, dash and use a Rift Tether to travel between dimensional tears. Wall running is pretty straight forward, although it appears to be limited to designated areas, and the dash is a typical dodge mechanic, allowing the player to avoid damage. With the Rift Tether, players will be able to quickly travel across areas and reposition themselves during a fight. All of these new mechanics will undoubtedly add to the series' history of chaotic gameplay, and mastering these new mobility options will likely be critical for players, especially on harder difficulty settings.
Combat Mobility is Critical in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Throughout the Ratchet & Clank series, combat mobility has been very important. Maneuvering through enemy attacks and environmental hazards is necessary to avoid taking damage and maximizing the player's bolt multiplier in additional challenge mode playthroughs after beating the base game. While wall running may not come into play during combat, mastering the Rift Tether and the new dash mechanic will be massive elements of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart's combat situations - and all of these new mobility options will be available to both Ratchet and the new playable character Rivet, a female Lombax.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is shaping up to be the first true test for the capabilities of the PlayStation 5, with the near instantaneous transition between different worlds and an emphasis on the DualSense controller. Ratchet & Clank is a series known for its incredibly chaotic gameplay and the addition of new mobility options will only make it more fun to play. And with the expectation that many games will be delayed to 2022 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart could quietly become one of the biggest titles released this year.