Given how much we loved Insomniac Games’ Ratchet & Clank re-imagining (it’s not really a just a remaster, let’s face it), we took the time out to chat with the studio about the duo.
Did Insomniac regret the game’s $40 price point given how well it sold? Should we expect a sequel to the movie anytime soon? These and more are answered by Insomniac Games Community and Marketing Lead James Stevenson.
PlayStation LifeStyle: After seeing how well the game was critically received and how well it sold, did you regret the $40 price point?
James Stevenson: Not at all! People seemed to respond very positively to the price point and the game had terrific word of mouth.
PSLS: Has Insomniac given thought to a sequel? Leaning toward remaking other Ratchet games or taking the franchise in a new direction?
JS: We always have ideas floating around in our head, but we don’t have anything to announce at this time.
PSLS: Did the performance of the Ratchet & Clank movie have any impact on the future of the games franchise?
JS: The interesting thing here is that our core fans really loved the movie overall, so from that standpoint, the film was a success. It reinforced what’s great about our characters to the people who know them best. Maybe that’s one reason why the game sold so well?
PSLS: Are there any other Insomniac franchises they’d like to revisit on current consoles?
JS: We’re focused on other projects right now, but you never know though.
PSLS: Do you think other single-player games should follow in the footsteps of Ratchet & Clank and release at $40, instead of $60?
JS: Games release at a wide-variety of price points these days, some successfully, some not. It’s one of those things that I think has to be evaluated on a game-by-game basis.
PSLS: Ratchet & Clank PS4 was the fastest-selling game in the franchise. Is it now the best-selling?
JS: We don’t release specific sales figures as Sony Interactive Entertainment is the IP holder
PSLS: There were around seven Ratchet & Clank games on PS3. Do you think we’ll get close to that number on PS4?
JS: Given we’re already a few years into the PS4’s life-cycle and we’ve only released one so far, I’m not certain. But a lot has changed in how consoles are viewed as a long-term platform, so we’ll have to see how things play out a bit more.
PSLS: Do you have any plans to bring Sunset Overdrive, or any of your VR titles, to PlayStation?
JS: Sunset Overdrive is exclusive to Xbox One, our VR titles are exclusive to Oculus Rift. We own the IP in all four of those cases though, but each of those games was published exclusively for that platform by the platform holder (Microsoft and Oculus Studios, respectively).
PSLS: Have you heard any whispers of a Ratchet & Clank movie sequel?
JS: We haven’t had any real conversations about that. We’re focused on our current projects.
PSLS: Given that people were starting to grow tired of reboots, Remasters, remakes etc, were Insomniac surprised by the positive reception to Ratchet & Clank?
JS: I don’t think so, we knew we had made a really great and polished experience. We were really happy to have the great reception and to have so many people telling their friends.
PSLS: Has it been a success sales-wise?
JS: Well as you noted before, we announced it was the fastest selling game in the history of the franchise, so we’re quite pleased.
PSLS: Looking back on the project, is there something they wish they would have done differently?
JS: I don’t think there’s anything major, what the team accomplished was pretty great and it seems the fans and critics both agree.
PSLS: What does Insomniac think about fully priced remasters and remakes? Do they agree with the practice since they’re familiar with how much work goes into it?
JS: I don’t think we’ve thought about it too much, it really just depends on what you’re doing with each title and how you approach it.
PSLS: When can we expect the sequel? =)
JS: Ahh you think you can get us but you can’t. We’ve got nothing to share at this time. We hope folks keep enjoying the game that’s out there, it’s particularly beautiful on PS4 Pro with the update we put out. We think it’s the best looking game on the Pro, and definitely something any new Pro owner should check out.
We’d like to thank James Stevenson for taking the time out to answer our questions. Ratchet & Clank is out now for the PS4.
Related Reading:
- Insomniac Games Retrospective
- Everything Wrong With Ratchet & Clank PS4
- 7 PlayStation Franchises That Could Use the Ratchet & Clank Treatment
Ranking the Ratchet & Clank Series
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Ranking the Best and Worst of the Ratchet & Clank Series
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Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault
You can't say that Insomniac doesn't try new things. It's just that they don't always work out perfectly. Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault was the studio's attempt to blend its platforming roots with a tower defense game. It's not bad, but it's the weakest game in the series.
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Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One was another experimental title in the series. This worked out better than Full Frontal Assault, as a cooperative game worked better than tower defense. Sadly, though, it just didn't feel like a fully fledged entry, and is one of the weaker offerings. It's fun with friends, but it's not something you'll keep coming back to.
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Secret Agent Clank
High Impact Games did a solid job with their PSP spin-off, Secret Agent Clank. The stealth focused game starred the lovable robot for the first time and was a fun way to spend time during your commute. It eventually made its way to PlayStation 2, where the bite-sized gameplay didn't translate nearly as well.
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Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty actually builds upon the gameplay found in Tools of Destruction, but it's just too short to rank higher on our list. It ultimately felt like more of a teaser than a fully fleshed out game. That said, there's still a lot of fun to be had, just don't expect it to last very long.
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Ratchet: Deadlocked
Ratchet: Deadlocked was the first time that Insomniac experimented with the Ratchet & Clank formula and it was largely a success. Deadlocked focused on combat instead of puzzle solving and exploration, so your mileage may vary with how much you dig it compared to other games in the series. This ultimately makes it feel a bit more repetitive compared to its predecessors, and the lack of Clank is disappointing.
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Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters may have been developed for the PlayStation Portable, but it's a fully featured title. There's plenty of awesome weapons to unlock, worlds to explore, and bosses to beat. It's a great example of a portable entry done right.
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Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus
The final PlayStation 3 title in the series was a good one. Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus had a fun gameplay twist (gravity manipulation) while retaining the platforming that fans came to expect from the series. It's also drop dead gorgeous in spots. Into the Nexus is one of the best platformers on the system.
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Ratchet & Clank
The original Ratchet & Clank has aged pretty dang well over the past 14 years. The remastered version of the game still looks solid on PlayStation 3, and there's a certain nostalgia that gets factored in due to it starting the series. While plenty of gamers are excited to experience the magic all over again in the reimagining, there's still a lot to enjoy in the original.
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Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando was a great follow-up to the original game. The weapons were zanier, the levels were more interesting, and the gameplay was more polished. Throw in a new level of variety thanks to the game's arena combat and racing stages, and you had a game that managed to pull out all of the stops. It's one of the PS2's greatest games, and that's why it ranks high on our list.
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Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Our heroic duo's PlayStation 3 debut was a great one. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction took the series to a new level graphically, and managed to retain what made the series so beloved on PS2. It's rare to see such an acclaimed series jump generations without missing a step, but that's what happened here.
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Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is the series' peak on PlayStation 3. The humor is at an all-time high, with a memorable and engaging plot, and the gameplay is enhanced thanks to a new focus on time. A Crack in Time is the payoff from Quest for Booty and it's an absolute joy.
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Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is the apex of the series. The combat is top-notch, the plot will leave laughing, and it was a graphical marvel for the time. It's held up fantastically over time, and it's just as fun on PS3 as it was when it released in 2004. Up Your Arsenal is the best game in the series, and one of the greatest 3D platformers ever made.
