Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault

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I am one of Insomniac's biggest fans (I even carved Ratchet and Clank jack o'lanterns for them a few years back), and RC is my favorite franchise of all time. Yet, I cannot rubber stamp any game with a lombax in it... and unfortunately, "Full Frontal Assault" (FFA) is a bit of a disappointment for this lifelong fan (although still enjoyable).

This game is fun, don't get me wrong. If you're an RC fan, it's well worth picking it up and checking it out. It's only $20, and the fact that you can play it on two consoles (PS3 AND Vita) makes it an incredible value. Qwark is here for his usual comic relief (and as a playable character!), and you just might love the different style of play, with its emphasis on turrets, mines, and resource management. If you're a tower defense fan, you should definitely check it out, as FFA provides a unique (and rather frantic) twist on the genre. But I do have some qualms with the title, which are as follows...

Admittedly, I can't be too harsh on FFA, since it was marketed as a tower defense game, and it only costs $20. Yet, this does not quite feel like an RC game... it's fun at times, but there is something off about it, and the running back and forth between my base to defend it creates a sense of anxiety that is completely at odds with the sense of wonderment and carefree exploration that RC games generally instill within me. Other things have been subtly altered as well, such as minor control button changes, and a slightly "fuzzy" graphical approach that does not look as sharp as the "Future" series (perhaps compromise was utilized to make it run on the Vita?). The story is minimal, and does not live up to the high standards established by previous RC entries.

Therefore, many RC fans, like me, will feel somewhat disappointed with FFA. As for gamers who are new to the series, I'm afraid that they might get the impression that FFA is what the RC series is typically like, and this is not accurate.

It's been three full years since RC fans have received the next installment in Ratchet and Clank's adventures ("A Crack in Time" was 2009). At best, we might get one next year, which would mean a minimum of four full years between titles. I'm not counting "All 4 One", because it was not a traditional RC game. Perhaps I was spoiled by the days of the PS2, when we were treated to a new, full fledged RC adventure every fall.

I truly hope that Insomniac gets back into supporting the RC adventures, and can give us new installments on a regular basis. I hope the lombax and robot don't go the way of other mascots, and simply release one spin off after the next. Insomniac has one of the greatest platforming formulas in the history of gaming, yet they seem to be reluctant to utilize it as of late, as they dabble in other projects. I can only hope they're working on something truly spectacular for next year... perhaps even a new RC adventure for the PS4... "IN-SOM-NI-AC we trust!"

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I won't lie, my initial reaction to first playing this game was disappointment. First thing that I would like to state is this:

THE FREE DOWNLOADABLE COPY FOR PLAYSTATION VITA WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY 2013.

With that being said, my only other complaint is that they chose to stick with the new art and character design from All4one. I really liked the design of the older games so this was a little disappointing. However, once I started playing I was more than pleased. The levels are pretty large and the game gives you a lot of room to run around, pick up upgrades and strengthen your defenses, all awhile fighting hordes of enemies. It is a tower defense game that is unlike most, because you are frantically searching for money and upgrades between waves. Not only that, but you have to launch attacks on the enemy base while crossing your fingers and hoping that your own base is not being demolished. The game is very chaotic and fun. This type of game has much more of a replay value than Quest for Booty, which was just an extra two levels and offered nothing new or relevant to the plot of the Ratchet and Clank Future series.

Overall this game has everything that a downloadable $20 PSN game should have. Its quick, frantic action based fun with the old school ratchet and clank feel to it (despite the new All4one design). The fact that you also get the Vita version of the game seals the deal. If the vita version of the game looks and feels anything like the PS3 version, I imagine it will be the best game yet for the Playstation Vita.

Buy Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault Now

I've played every R&C game and bought Full Frontal Assault on the first day that it came out.

The game is different from other R&C games but very interesting. You still collect bolts but use them to buy up defense turrets and mines to protect your base rather than to buy up weapons. You still get weapons that upgrade based on the number of enemies you've killed with them. You face an open world with "weapons drop boxes" and gold bolts scattered throughout the world. Every time you collect one of the weapons drop boxes, then you get a new weapon and the next wave of enemies is unleashed on your base. So you can control the pace of the onslaught if you want to explore and build up defenses by not collecting the weapons boxes.

The game is short. The time frame for earning the first time-bonus medal for planet 1 (Markazia) is 21 minutes. I spent 60 minutes smashing every tree/box/enemy in the place... Another medal offered for completing the level in under 13:30 minutes. Another medal offered for completing the level in under 10 minutes. To collect all time-bonus medals takes less than 73.5 minutes of game play: 10 minutes on Markazia, 15 minutes on Ebaro, 23 minutes on Proteus VII, and 22:30 minutes on Ebaro Snow Storm. You can only hit those time markers after playing through the levels to build up the weapons though. Still--all-in it's way less than 10 hours of game play without the online component.

Complaints:

1) the system for switching weapons is annoying because the game doesn't pause when you press the weapon select button. If you want to scan the weapon types for the weapon with the most ammo, then you either have to walk away from enemies while doing it or get hit. Pretty annoying, though I assume this is related to training you for the competitive play mode where you actions can't pause the actions of another live player.

2) the map system that tracks where the enemies are in relation to you doesn't zoom out far enough. You hear "Your base is under attack," teleport back to your base, and then don't know which way to go to defend your base because the enemies--while still approaching the base--are still too far from you to show up on your radar. I don't want to wait for the baddies to come to me, I want to go get those guys to build up my weapon experience points rather than rely on my placed turrets.

For $20 the game is definitely worth it if you plan on committing to the online competitive play. If you're not an online gamer, then I'd just rent the game and spend one night playing it through.

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As a current owner of all prevision Ratchet games I turned off my console after 2hrs due to frustration, to poor controls, and no story mode. This game is comprised not of levels to explore but of maps to defend, you can play solo/co-op or online. Each map takes place on a different planet. Bolts are collected to defend a tower. Guns unlocked on previous maps must be unlocked each level. Controls are not the same (worse) then previous games. Would really enjoy a R&C along the lines of the Future series or any from PS2. In sort, would rate this lower then R&C All4One...

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my kids love all the series

and i can say even i sometime enjoy it

and highly recommended

what else .......