Current Events > Do you consider Ratchet & Clank a classic/iconic game series

(+) Yeah! (+)

I think it's right on the verge of that. It's been around for over 20 years now.

I just think being a Sony IP hurts it because Sony's never been as good at marketing kid friendly games (I say that with complete respect because I love R&C, but that's what it is). If it was on Nintendo it'd be much more popular.

Sure. I don't care either way lmao

Scotty_Rogers posted...

Sure. I don't care either way lmao

Have you played it?

Yeah, its one of my favorites

It feels like one of those franchises that keeps chugging along but isn't really a huge deal. So maybe classic but not iconic?

Of course.

Punished_Blinx posted...

It feels like one of those franchises that keeps chugging along but isn't really a huge deal. So maybe classic but not iconic?

Yeah I totally get that. Insomniac is such a great dev. I'm glad that even though they're making big budget Spiderman games now they still do R&C and make it look just as beautiful graphically.

WolfFangFist posted...

I think it's right on the verge of that. It's been around for over 20 years now.

Actually, it's been around for just about 20 years. First game released on November 2nd of 2002.

Of course. Shame ND gave up on Jak and Daxter.

Also, here's some Ratchet and Clank commercials.

https://youtu.be/uH2dM_LLKJg

the0rebirth posted...

Actually, it's been around for just about 20 years. First game released on November 2nd of 2002.

Yeah you're right. I was thinking 2001. Mixed it up with Jak and Daxter maybe.

Strider102 posted...

Shame ND gave up on Jak and Daxter.

Such a damn shame. I like zombies and Indiana Jones as much as the next guy but those PS2 Jak games scratch a specific itch.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Qwarktastic!

absolutely. r&c, crash, sly, and j&d were some of my favourites growing up

WolfFangFist posted...

Have you played it?

Going Commando was my first PS2 game

Anyway, I love Ratchet & Clank and have been playing since the first game's release, but I wouldn't call the series iconic because it's always kinda just been...there. Never reaching the world-renowned heights of Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog, or even the lesser-but-still-widely recognized heights of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon. You can tell the developers wanted so badly for the franchise to have more mainstream appeal when they basically rebooted the series to be "kid-friendly" from the movie onward, but if anything, it just seems Ratchet and Clank has lived beyond its natural lifespan. Many people still agree that A Crack In Time should have been the end, and now the series exists in a sort of "meh, competent but nothing special" vacuum.

But yeah, I love the first four games (1-Deadlocked) and thought the Future series was adequate. Personally, it's been mostly downhill since All 4 One, and as the user above said, it's just been chugging along ever since.

Yeah.

Great series. Classic for sure. Not really iconic.

The Going Commando Bouncer is a SAINT!!

the0rebirth posted...

Anyway, I love Ratchet & Clank and have been playing since the first game's release, but I wouldn't call the series iconic because it's always kinda just been...there. Never reaching the world-renowned heights of Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog, or even the lesser-but-still-widely recognized heights of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon. You can tell the developers wanted so badly for the franchise to have more mainstream appeal when they basically rebooted the series to be "kid-friendly" from the movie onward, but if anything, it just seems Ratchet and Clank has lived beyond its natural lifespan. Many people still agree that A Crack In Time should have been the end, and now the series exists in a sort of "meh, competent but nothing special" vacuum.

But yeah, I love the first four games (1-Deadlocked) and thought the Future series was adequate. Personally, it's been mostly downhill since All 4 One, and as the user above said, it's just been chugging along ever since.

I totally agree and I think the kid friendliness really started with A4O. They should just go back to what made it special in the first place.

And they should bring back David Beaugard (sp?) because those funky PS2 soundtracks kick the shit out of the generic crap they use now.

It's pretty much been a main reason for me getting every Playstation since PS2. I asked for a PS2 for Christmas along with R&C after trying it in a Toys R Us.

PS3 I got when MGS4 released, but I also wanted to play the R&C Future games.

PS4 I got with GoW, but immediately got the R&C remake.

And I got Rift Apart right after I finally got a PS5 last month.

Dude I'm so glad there are so many big time Ratchet fans out there. Y'all get me. Growing up my friends didn't care for it.

WolfFangFist posted...

And they should bring back David Beaugard (sp?) because those funky PS2 soundtracks kick the shit out of the generic crap they use now.

Agreed.

WolfFangFist posted...

I totally agree and I think the kid friendliness really started with A4O. They should just go back to what made it special in the first place.

True; the Future series switched things up by taking on a larger-than-life, epic adventure approach (compared to the more tongue-in-cheek, episodic style of the PS2 games), but the series didn't exactly feel "kiddy" until A4O, and only got worse over time. Which is pretty sad, because R&C had such a distinct identity with its satirical undertones and risqu humor.

And they should bring back David Beaugard (sp?) because those funky PS2 soundtracks kick the shit out of the generic crap they use now.

DAMN RIGHT THEY SHOULD. The musical score has been generic orchestra for the longest. The best tunes from the entire series still derive from those first few games!

I tried the first game out and I was pretty disappointed after hearing how great it was. Something about it felt very unpolished. And the gameplay itself wasn't that engaging. I mean to go back to it and give it another shot. Actually I think I already did, so it'd be a third shot. But I don't really get the fuss so far.

FurryPhilosifer posted...

I tried the first game out and I was pretty disappointed after hearing how great it was. Something about it felt very unpolished. And the gameplay itself wasn't that engaging. I mean to go back to it and give it another shot. Actually I think I already did, so it'd be a third shot. But I don't really get the fuss so far.

The first game suffers from not having a lock-on.

Absolutely. One of my personal Top 10 IPs if all time.

For those who started around the PS2 era, I'd think so. For those who already saw earlier characters like Crash, or even further back Sonic or Mario, as being their iconic characters, probably not so much.

pegusus123456 posted...

The first game suffers from not having a lock-on.

Yeah, IMO the best of the PS2 ones was Up Your Arsenal.

the0rebirth posted...

Anyway, I love Ratchet & Clank and have been playing since the first game's release, but I wouldn't call the series iconic because it's always kinda just been...there. Never reaching the world-renowned heights of Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog, or even the lesser-but-still-widely recognized heights of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon. You can tell the developers wanted so badly for the franchise to have more mainstream appeal when they basically rebooted the series to be "kid-friendly" from the movie onward, but if anything, it just seems Ratchet and Clank has lived beyond its natural lifespan. Many people still agree that A Crack In Time should have been the end, and now the series exists in a sort of "meh, competent but nothing special" vacuum.

But yeah, I love the first four games (1-Deadlocked) and thought the Future series was adequate. Personally, it's been mostly downhill since All 4 One, and as the user above said, it's just been chugging along ever since.

Well said, Supes.

Wasn't there a Ratchet and Clank movie that flopped in theaters, too? Lol

Scotty_Rogers posted...

Wasn't there a Ratchet and Clank movie that flopped in theaters, too? Lol

The "remake" of the first game is really more an abridged version of the movie and it's terrible.

It depends on your definition of iconic. It's certainly not Mario or Sonic big, but it's not far below Crash or Spyro.

If there were a PS2 nostalgia package, Rachet and Clank, Jak and Daxter and Sly Cooper would be right at home.