Ratchet and Clank have been busting up intergalactic goons for seven years. A Crack in Time is the ninth franchise title, and the final piece of the Future story arc. With that kind of history, one might expect the formula to become a bit stale. Not so, in fact. Even in its advanced age, the franchise feels incredibly fresh, a true credit to the creative minds behind it. Thanks to humorous dialogue, dazzling visuals and memorable boss battles, A Crack in Time stands as the apex of the series.

Things pick up where Quest for Booty left off, with Ratchet still in search of his robotic pal. This time around, he’s aided by Captain Qwark, who makes his triumphant return following an absence from Quest for Booty. The lovable oaf never does much aside from emit pseudo machismo, but his colorful personality is certainly welcome. Qwark is one of my favorite franchise characters, and his presence definitely amplifies the funny.

As the game opens, Clank  is being held at The Great Clock, a massive and powerful machine that holds time together. Clank is, however, completely oblivious to the situation, unconscious and under the “care” of Dr. Nefarious. Turns out Nefarious has forged a tenuous partnership with the Zoni, hoping to use The Great Clock for his own evil endeavors. Since the titular duo’s split up, it’s no surprise that for much of the experience, gameplay is cut into Ratchet levels and Clank levels.

Ratchet gameplay sticks to the proven formula. You traverse colorful environments and obliterate outlandish enemies with over-the-top weaponry. There are, of course, new locales to explore and new toys to tinker with, but the core mix of shooting and platforming remains intact. At this point though, that should be a given.

A Crack in Time keeps with the tradition of absurd weaponry, boasting an impressive arsenal of old favorites – Mr. Zurkon, the RYNO, the Mag-Net Launcher – and new toys. There are even some novel twists on previous ideas. As an example, the Rift Inducer 5000 summons groping green tentacles, instead of sucking foes into a void. Of the new armaments, I prefer the Spiral of Death, a fan-created weapon that launches a boomerang-like energy spiral. It’s a beast when upgraded to the Spiral of Carnage, releasing three shots instead of one.

Outside of the story missions, the galaxy is cut into sectors, each of which functions as a miniature sandbox. There’s even a radio, which picks up four stations. I suggest Pirate Radio, hosted by Captain Romulus Slag and Rusty Pete.

Within each sector are smaller planets that house valuable items like gold bolts and Zoni. These are optional undertakings, but it’s beneficial to complete them. Zoni upgrade Ratchet’s ship, Aphelion, making space battles against Nefarious’ goons much easier. Gold bolts fatten your bank account, but also unlock extra skins. I’m partial to the Nefarious costume, a comically stubby version of the mechanical madman.

Clank gameplay, on the other hand, places heavy emphasis on puzzle solving, and requires far more brainpower than the exploits of his partner. As the suave heartthrob, you use time-altering gizmos – Time Bombs for instance – to navigate The Great Clock, which has erupted in chaos thanks to Dr. Nefarious. Dispersed throughout the machine are challenges that require clever manipulation of temporal pads. The object of each is to open a path for Clank, using nearby toggles to eliminate any obstacles. The pads are used to create separate recordings of Clank, allowing you to dash for the exit while the copies depress the buttons. The initial challenges are incredibly easy, but the puzzles increase in difficulty as you progress. Oftentimes, you have to make multiple recordings on a single pad, and some challenges max out at four pads.

Ratchet games generally offer tons of variety, and A Crack in Time certainly keeps with that tradition. By separating the duo, the develope can tailor specific gameplay elements to the strengths and abilities of each character. At the same time, nothing feels tawdry or unnecessary. The result is a tremendously polished experience that offers plenty of variety, without a bunch fluff. Most of all though, it’s just plain fun.

Visually, the game is stunning, offering a smorgasbord of colorful, delicious eye candy at every turn. I don’t harp on graphics that often, but it’s pretty awe-inspiring stuff. I’d deck my house with in-game assets if possible. They’re that sexy.

A Crack in Time is an absolutely spectacular game, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. There’s an obscene amount of fun to be had, whether you’re a longtime fan, or a Ratchet greenhorn. I’ve been a follower since  the PlayStation 2 heyday, and A Crack in Time shattered my expectations, usurping Up Your Arsenal as my favorite chapter of the franchise.

PS3 owners, don’t let this one slip through the cracks.

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