Size Matters takes place after the events of Ratchet: Gladiator. Ratchet and Clank have decided to take a break from saving the universe and go on vacation on the planet Pokitaru. While relaxing on a beach, they meet a strange girl named Luna, who is writing a school report on heroes and asks if the duo could demonstrate some of their skills. During the demonstration however, Luna is kidnapped by robots (?), which sets in motion the events for another planet-hopping adventure.
You can always tell who the locals and tourists are.
If you’ve played previous Ratchet and Clank titles, Size Matters doesn’t change any of the series’ core gameplay mechanics. Levels typically consist of a linear pathway and you have to traverse through them while destroying anything that moves. Along the way, you collect bolts which are used to purchase new weapons such as the classic Agents of Doom, and the all-new Bee Mine Glove that shoots a hive of robot bees at enemies. The game also implements a few RPG elements, namely upgrading your weapons and health meter by gaining experience.
Size Matters does do a few things differently from its predecessors. Instead of simply purchasing a full set of amour, you now have to obtain the individual pieces (gloves, helmet, boots, etc). Taking this into account, the developers have integrated a new mix and match system, which lets you combine parts from different sets. For example, if you were missing the helmet from the Wild Fire amour, you could improvise by wearing a Crystamx helmet. As an extra incentive for wearing a complete set though, Ratchet will gain new powers such as the ability to set foes on fire by attacking them with his wrench. While the system isn’t ground-breaking, it’s a quirky feature which brings something new to the formula.
Another staple that returns are mini-games. These include Star Fox-like shooting levels that see you travelling through space, and even a robot rumble arena where you have to battle robots in menacing vehicles that wield blades and missiles. Occasionally, you’ll also have to compete in hover board races, however, they are overshadowed by uninspiring track designs and wonky controls. Turning, for example, felt very underpowered and quite often we would find ourselves crashing into walls. The PSP version suffered from similar problems, but it’s a real shame the developers didn’t take the time to at least make the controls feel tighter and improve the experience.
The space shooting levels are a lot of fun.
As mentioned, the PS2 port lacks polish, which easily makes Size Matters the worst game in the series. Firstly, despite the second analogue stick, the camera system is still very annoying and fiddly. When you’re moving about, quite often the camera jerks around and will focus on a wall or some other irrelevant piece of scenery. Even in the middle of a boss fight, you’ll find yourself constantly repositioning the camera because you can’t see what you’re doing. Secondly, the frame rate is noticeably lower than previous PS2 outings. It’s not to the extreme that the game becomes unplayable, but it still lacks the sense of fast paced action which made other titles more appealing.
Additionally, there are two multiplayer modes in the form of Iron Lombax and Capture the Flag. In Iron Lombax, you have to obtain power cells and return them to your team’s generator, while the latter mode is self explanatory. Unfortunately, there is no online support and you’re limited to two players via splitscreen play. Because you don’t have the option of playing against an AI opponent, the multiplayer modes are simply boring and don’t stack up against other games available on the market.
The multiplayer modes just aren't appealing with only two players.
Despite Size Matters being praised as one of the better looking games available on the PSP, the difference between the systems' power is demonstrated here, as this PS2 port looks absolutely horrific. Environments are jagged and unappealing, and the cutscenes look like they were from an early launch title. At times, objects even look like they were taken directly from a PSone game, it simply is a poor job and will leave fans disappointed. The soundtrack, while not as catchy as previous titles, manages to keep an upbeat electronic theme going throughout the adventure.
In the end, the PlayStation 2 port of Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters is a straight port of the PSP version, which is simply not good enough. Despite the second analogue stick the camera is still fiddly, the frame rate is noticeably lower than previous games and the visuals are poor. Fortunately, the core gameplay mechanics are still there and the game retains the series’ charm, but you’ll want to think twice before picking this title up.
Loading...
