The launch of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is closing in fast, and those interested in the game can get some insight into its features via a new series of trailers. The first of these videos was released today, and it sees Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart fans learning about weapons and traversal.
The trailer is narrated by Zurkon Jr., a clear reference to the recurring characters Mr. Zurkon and Mrs. Zurkon. After talking of an “almost launch party” for the game, the intense robot turns its attention Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s traversal mechanics. Gamers will be able to move around their environments in a few new ways, and this trailer touches on two of them. While none of the wall-running segments from the State of Play demo are showcased in the video, both the Rift Tether and Phantom Dash get time to shine.
The Rift Tether comes first, and it sees Ratchet opening two yellow tears in spacetime. Once opened, the Lombax pulls himself through the rifts, instantly reaching the area that where the rift first sat. This teleportation could provide a big advantage in combat, as it gives Ratchet the chance to flank his enemies. It will also feature in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s side activities, with players entering pocket dimensions. As for the Phantom Dash, the tool is not only used to reach distant ledges. It also gives players the ability to dodge in combat, which is a welcome improvement from past games.
Once the traversal section is over, Zurkon Jr. highlights the game’s many weapons. The robot also touches on how the guns make use of the PS5’s DualSense technology. Not only will players feel different vibrations when firing the guns, but the adaptive triggers will allow alternate firing modes to be used. When players press halfway down on the Enforcer shotgun’s trigger, for example, a single shot will be fired. A full press will fire the second shot, adding another layer to what would normally be a standard weapon.
Several weapons from Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart are shown as well, including some previously unseen gadgets. The Blackhole Storm is a proper minigun, with the NegaTron Collider essentially being a plasma cannon that hits enemies with a laser of energy. The Cold Snap grenade launcher freezes enemies, while the Ricochet sees bullets bouncing onto the same target repeatedly. The Lightning Rod chains electricity between foes, while the Buzz Blades’ saws are seen shredding through enemies.
At the end of the trailer, Zurkon Jr. teases the next deep dive video, which will be taking a look at Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s planets. In the lead-up to launch, it seems like gamers will get plenty more opportunities to see the game in action.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart launches June 11 on PS5.