Insomniac Games' forthcoming remake of Ratchet and Clank for the PlayStation 4 gets an official release date in April as well as brand new gameplay footage.

During this year's PlayStation Experience in San Francisco, Ted Price, President and CEO of Insomniac Games, divulged the release date of the Ratchet and Clank remake for April 12, 2016, as it should come out close to the official movie inspired by the title. On top of the good news regarding the game's availability, a fresh demo was also revealed, featuring tweaked gameplay features in addition to a new cache of weapons and objects for players to wield.

Ratchet and Clank's updated controls should prove to be a boon to current-gen gamers, as they appear to be more fluid and intuitive, while weapons like the one that makes enemies dance, and the Pixelizer—a shotgun-type of firearm that transforms foes into pixels—express the original title's fun and wacky sensibilities. For a more in-depth look at some of the features and gear in action, check out the PlayStation Experience stage demo below.

[HTML1]

Although Insomniac Games' Ratchet and Clank has a solid release date as of now, it's important to note that the PS4 remake was delayed in the past just so its profits could tie into the film version. Bearing that in mind, hopefully no hang-ups occur during the theatrical release's production schedule that could hinder the remake's release once more.

The last time we encountered Ratchet and Clank was by way of a trailer at Paris Games Week, as it featured the remake's gorgeously enhanced graphics, of which are still on display in the above video. Should some gamers still be skeptical about the title's visuals, one ardent fan created a video to compare the PS4 port to the PS2 version, showing the superior upgrade given to the remake.

In a gaming landscape littered with shooters that are either set in bleak future dystopias or post-apocalyptic realms, the impending reemergence of Ratchet and Clank should be a breath of fresh air. With its colorful visuals, solid gameplay attributes, and lighthearted tone, hopefully the title's release will bring about the much-needed return of 3D platformer games.

What do you think about Ratchet and Clank's showing at this year's PlayStation Experience? Did the gameplay demo get you excited for its release early next year? Let us know in the comments section below.

For the sake of clarity, Insomniac Games' remake of Ratchet and Clank is set to release on April 12, 2016 exclusively for the PlayStation 4.

Source: Insomniac Games – YouTube (via VG 24/7)