Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

While Size Matters is considered the superior Ratchet & Clank game on handheld devices, it still doesn't really say much. To put it simply, Size Matters and Secret Agent Clank are promising spin-offs with very questionable executions. Which is unfortunate, because on paper Size Matters is almost perfect. A handheld Ratchet & Clank game that very closely replicates what made the mainline games so great? Absolutely! And while it mostly delivers on that promise from a gameplay and level design perspective, other aspects including the gameplay and level design are still unpolished.

Let's get the story out the way first. Ratchet & Clank, since its inception, has always had animated stories with digestible plotlines, alongside some humorous and mature writing to go along with the mostly family-friendly adventures. Every Ratchet & Clank game before this has had some very notable writing, in terms of its memorable comedy, vibrant worldbuilding, and entertaining characters. Size Matters has none of those. The charm and quality of the narrative is VERY dry compared to the mainline games. Humor is gone, dialogue is lazy, characters are extremely flat and the story is really just there to give context to gameplay scenarios, rather than to tell a consistent story. But it's really shocking to see how appalling the script actually is here. The story is so rushed and all of the charm from the characters has been reduced to the flattest of personalities. It's so very strange how little personality the story has here, especially coming from a mainline series that's very well-known for their cartoonishly comedic stories.

At least the gameplay fares much better, but even it has problems. The basic foundation of the gameplay is exactly what'd you expect from the mainline games and it plays mostly well. Except there are design choices that make the gameplay a bit more infuriating. Sometimes inputs don't register as consistently. The way health damage works here is also far too punishing compared to the mainline games. Most of the weapons here are kind of boring and lack the punch. And boss fights are really bad. Cheap, in fact. The best part about this game is really the level design and how the open-ended nature of the mainline games translates well into a handheld game. Exploration and some of the platforming is really compelling. Some of the maps/levels here are genuinely well-made, ultimately being the highlight of all of my playthroughs of this game.

I've been comparing the game to its mainline installments, which isn't very fair. So, how does the game stand on its own? Well, the story is still very simplistic and half-baked. The gameplay (combat and platforming) is still the best that the PSP library has to offer (even on PS4/PS5, it is still mostly competent) and many new fans will find it really enjoyable.

Size Matters is a good attempt at translating the mainline philosophies of Ratchet & Clank on console to the downscaled nature of the PSP. It's still a good handheld game in that regard. As a standalone game, Size Matters delivers on its gameplay front. As a spin-off, it is questionable and very obviously rushed in many of the series' defining aspects. It's mostly fun while it lasts, but it leaves far too much to be desired in other aspects of presentation.

It's good as a porteble rac and I think it deserves the title rac 5. On ps2 it meh.the clank mini games are decent. But it's incredibly difficult. I mean who makes it so the second to last final boss harder than the final boss.

This was my first Ratchet & Clank game, and I wanted to write a positive review. Until I played some of the other games in the series and, wow. This game fails in comparison. The story is okay, the game is mostly fun, but there's not a lot of platforming, the puzzles if you can even call them puzzles, are very rare, Clank serves no use in this game even in the platforming sections, so it's like he's not even there, in the mini games aren't great either, especially the racing which is atrocious. And when the best weapon in Your Arsenal, the franchise famous for crazy and over-the-top fun to use weapons, is the standard pistol you get at the beginning of the game? You know you messed up. Hold a good guns require you to beat the game multiple times to unlock, and if the game isn't great the first time you play it, why should you play it again? And most of the bosses are terrible as well. Giant Clank isn't even a boss, battleship in the flying Clank Mission can piss off, you can basically only beat Luna if you have the shock rocket, the final boss had 2 really great beginning phases, the last phase was awful, easily the hardest in the series. Overall the game is kind of fun, and you do have to cut it some slack, because it wasn't even made by insomniac, and if you're new to the series I'd recommend playing this game first. Only because if you played the other games, and came back to this one you would have no fun with it you'd be spoiled. Oh and yeah the game does have a shrink ray, but you only use it for like three levels, in the grind locks. And that's in the cutscenes you don't even use it in game. Missed opportunity. Mediocre game.

I vividly remember my first time playing this game on the PlayStation Portable, I was 10 and infatuated with the PSP (which I didn't own yet). My cousin lent me hers, and this was the only game she had. I never got past the 1st level at that time - but thanks to today's emulators, I have been able to revisit this game and finally experience it fully.

To be clear, I haven't played any other Ratchet & Clank game to compare this with. This is my first game in the series and hence will be reviewed as such.

First off, the most appealing aspect of the R&C series is the aesthetics. The character and level design, the armors, gadgets and weapons are all really visually attractive. Same goes for this game, with each armor, weapons and levels different from the other, making the game aesthetically wholesome. Even the soundtrack is catchy and goes with the gameplay experience of each level.

Despite the game being made for a portable console, it definitely packs a punch - providing not just a fun story campaign, but also amazing replay value with all its collectables and upgradable armors and weapons.

On the less-positive side, the game becomes occasionally frustrating due to the unforgiving difficulty (especially the final boss) and the awkward camera and controls (especially in confined spaces). However, I feel you can't really blame the developers on the controls, given that the limitations stem from the PSP's lack of dual analog sticks.

In fact, I think the developers really made the best out of the limitations, where the gameplay still manages to be really fun and engaging. I've played other PSP games where the camera and controls were unnecessarily complicated, and this game fares much better in this regard.

Overall, the game is extremely fun for both kids and adults, and easily garners a 9/10. I'd highly recommend playing this, especially since the game's now available for free (along with million other games) due to easy-to-get emulators for both Mac and PC.

Wow, what a great game!!! I was skeptical at first about it being on PSP but my expectations of it were met with all the goodness of its PS2 cousins packed into one disc with a few new weapons and characters thrown in for good measure. The story is pretty interesting with neat little twists and actually fills in the gaps between the 3rd and fourth installments. With great graphics, tight game-play, stellar voice acting with a plot akin to the style of those 1950's sci-fi TV shows, this game is another great addition to your PSP library. My only two gripes with the game is the length and some of the voices. There's only ten or so levels in the game, which is not bad, but more levels would've been better. As for some of the voices., I felt that they could've been more dramatic as when you kill enemies for example. Still those are minor quirks in an otherwise impressive game and I recommend it to anyone who likes these types of games or if they're new to the franchise. And the upcoming PS3 game Ratchet&Clank future is looking mighty sweet so get that game as well.