Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus doesn't rely on nostalgia

Moving forward while looking back

Ratchet and Clank is following a popular trend in gaming right now: its wrapped up in a blanket of nostalgia. The first Ratchet game came out in November of 2002, and after 11 years and 8 installments to the main storyline of the two main characters, there is a lot of material to go back to. But Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus doesnt just rely on old ideas to woo the gamer. In our preview session with the games Director, Brian Allgeier, it was obvious that the development team of this project is really trying to keep the series fresh. For us this has been a reward for long time fans, he said, We know that a lot of people have grown up with Ratchet and Clank[and] we wanted more of a mature story for our fans who would appreciate the complexity.

This manifested in a few different ways. The first is Vendra, the villain of this game. Shes a bad chick and she makes you know that with a vicious action in the first few minutes of the game. In the past Ratchet and Clank villains have been a quirky mixture of intimidating and cooky, but in this all the cookiness is focused onto other baddies in the game, leaving Vendra surprisingly terrifying. Another way the series is growing up is through the storyline of the title characters themselves. Instead of the bickering couple we once knew, there is real history between Ratchet and Clank now, and therefore there are real wounds that Brian and rest of the dev team can surface. Of course the crazy weapons and goofy humor that you all know and love is still in the game, and you can check that out when the game releases on November 12th.

Click through the screenshots for additional information.

The game is rife with familiar baddies, like these Thugs 4 Less

Insane weapon choices make their usual appearance

Ratchet and Clank still have their quirky and touching relationship

And you'll find that they've grown to maturity as characters.

Flying, running on walls, anti-gravity: this game isn't contained to the ground

A old friend in a new light

Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus still brings to the table the stylized, ridiculous, and outrageous attitude that you've come to know and love from the series. Yet, just like you over the course of the series, the game has matured and grown to being more than just a humorous experience. Get ready to laugh, cry, and explore with the duo on November 12th.