The release of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart in 2021 helped solidy the series as one of PlayStation’s most treasured and iconic properties. Like how Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart can be introspective at times, reflecting on the franchise’s history, one fan has used the game’s photo mode to recreate the original game’s box art to an insane level of accuracy.
Although Insomniac Games has received a ton of attention for its incredible Spider-Man games and the upcoming Wolverine title, one should not forget its beginnings of Spyro the Dragon and later, Ratchet and Clank. In November 2002 Ratchet and Clank burst onto the PS2 scene, exuding confidence and a license for destruction as players were introduced to the gun-toting and wise-cracking titular duo. Of PlayStation’s pantheon of PS2 mascot platformers—Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, and Sly Cooper—Ratchet and Clank is the only series still being developed to this day, though there are rumors of a big return for Sly Cooper.
Twitter user CloudStrian has shared a recreation of the original Ratchet and Clank box art using Rift Apart’s photo mode. There is a lot to unpack here as CloudStrian’s render is chock full of details everywhere one looks. Right up front is the blocking, CloudStrian absolutely nailing the poses of the original art as Ratchet is standing confidently with a massive weapon, and Clank is looking over Ratchet’s shoulder while strapped to his back. What might be the most neat inclusion, though, is the modified background of the original, replacing all of the names and profiles of all the game’s weapons with the Rift Apart roster.
CloudStrian’s recreation offers a solid opportunity for fans to observe just how the direction of the franchise has changed as well. PS2 Ratchet and Clank is pretty gritty and industrial artistically (i.e. the more realistic looking weapon design) topped off by Ratchet’s excited grin and Clank’s determined expression.
Conversely, beyond technical capabilities, modern Ratchet and Clank is much cleaner and perhaps more whimsical, Ratchet himself appearing much more approachable, and the Warmonger weapon being more zany and fantastical. Insomniac Games itself shared CloudStrian’s work on Twitter, saying, “Awesome job!”
With Insomniac Games’ development docket full with Spider-Man 2 and Wolverine, there’s no telling the next time that Ratchet and Clank will be appear on PS5. With rumors of PlayStation’s Project Spartacus, an upcoming service that will let players revisit games from the PS1, PS2, and PS3 eras, perhaps Ratchet and Clank’s next appearance will be in older incarnations. The only way to play the original Ratchet and Clank currently is to obtain a PS2 copy of the game or find a copy of the PS3 Ratchet and Clank Collection of remasters, however these ports have been considered not the best way to play those games by fans.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is available on PS5.
