The Ultimate Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart PC Review You Can't Afford to Miss!

In recent years, Sony has expanded its lineup of PlayStation-exclusive games for PC. While games like God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn have been highly praised, there have been some disappointments, such as the underwhelming PC port of The Last of Us Part 1. However, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, the latest PlayStation-published title to make the transition to PC, has managed to avoid these pitfalls and offers a primarily high-quality experience for PC gamers.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the latest addition to Insomniac's popular action-platformer series. Originally released in 2021, it stood out as one of the few true exclusives for the PS5 at the time, taking full advantage of the console's superfast SSD to deliver unprecedented graphics and technical advancements for the franchise. Garnering rave reviews in 2021, this critically acclaimed game is now accessible to PC gamers.

As one might expect, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a highly demanding game. The recommended requirements for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart indicate the need for at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 graphics card, 16 GB RAM, and an SSD. However, even with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, 32 GB RAM, and SSD, we experienced a single crash while playing on the highest graphics settings. Apart from this minor glitch, our testing revealed that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart performed flawlessly.

Playing Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC at max settings with all ray-tracing options activated elevates the already stunning graphics to new heights. The game's visuals are truly jaw-dropping and stand out even on lower settings. However, it would be a disservice to experience it on anything less than its full potential.

To fully enjoy Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC, it's essential to have a rig that surpasses the recommended requirements. Additionally, having a DualSense controller is highly recommended. The game takes advantage of the unique features of the DualSense, such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, which greatly enhance the gameplay experience for many players. While some may consider the controller gimmicky, others will find it genuinely enriches their time with the game.

Regardless of the chosen playstyle, players will undoubtedly have an enjoyable experience with Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. This game offers the classic Ratchet & Clank adventure, combining exciting platforming and intense shooting sequences. Players are equipped with a variety of imaginative gadgets to overcome the never-ending waves of enemies they confront. With its fast-paced gameplay, players effortlessly transition between dimensions in the blink of an eye. The game's character-driven storyline captivates Ratchet & Clank fans from the opening sequence all the way to the end credits.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart introduces a storyline where the main characters, Ratchet and Clank, are separated. Clank forms an alliance with a version of Ratchet from an alternate universe named Rivet, while Ratchet teams up with Kit, a female robot who is essentially an alternate-universe Clank. Familiarity with the previous Ratchet & Clank games is not necessary to enjoy the story of Rift Apart, but players who have experienced the earlier titles will appreciate the references and feel more involved.

However, one of the major downsides of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC is that PC gamers who exclusively play on this platform do not have a legal means of playing the previous games in the series. This means that although the story of Rift Apart is accessible to newcomers, it is still not ideal that PC gamers cannot start the story from the beginning and instead are required to join in on the ninth main installment of the series (or tenth, if the 2016 Ratchet & Clank remake is included).

PC gamers who opt for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart might find themselves disappointed by its brevity. Previous Ratchet & Clank games have offered substantial endgame and additional content, enhancing their replayability. In comparison, Rift Apart lacks the same level of depth in this regard. Although there are some activities to engage in apart from the main story, it is possible to achieve 100% completion in a short span of time. In fact, players can accomplish this feat within 10 to 15 hours without exerting much effort.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart's relatively short duration may prompt PC gamers to consider their options before spending $59.99 on it. Furthermore, the fact that Rift Apart has been heavily discounted on PS5 multiple times since its 2021 release and is readily available on PS Plus Extra makes it harder to justify purchasing it on PC. However, for those without access to a PS5 and who don't mind shorter games, rest assured that the time spent with Rift Apart will be of high quality.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC is an almost flawless adaptation of the outstanding PS5 game, offering PC users the opportunity to enjoy its thrilling action sequences, emotionally charged character moments, and cutting-edge visuals. This year has seen a number of poorly optimized PC ports, but Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart breaks the trend and redeems the PlayStation-to-PC ports after the disappointing Last of Us Part 1. Regardless of the platform, it is an incredible game, though it is undeniably cheaper to play on PS5, which fans should consider.

Released in 2021, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart marked the highly-anticipated return of a beloved PlayStation franchise. In this exciting installment, players join the dynamic duo as they encounter a mysterious Lombax from a parallel universe. Rift Apart is designed exclusively for the PlayStation 5, taking full advantage of the console's innovative DualSense wireless controller. With haptic feedback, players can immerse themselves in the game's action, while adaptive triggers enhance weapon mechanics. Thanks to the PS5's lightning-fast SSD, loading times are practically non-existent, allowing for seamless planet-hopping at incredible speeds. Additionally, the game's audio is enhanced by Tempest 3D AudioTech, elevating the epic quest to save the universe. Adding to the excitement, Rift Apart was announced for PC in 2023.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is available now for PC and PS5. Game Rant was provided with a PC code for this review.