Last week, Sony brought the goods in thePlayStation 5 gameplay revealfeaturing over an hours worth of announcements, trailers and gameplay demos. Among the lineup of brand new games wasRatchet and Clank: Rift Apart, a next-generation sequel to Insomniac Games 2016 reboot with a brand new story, a cool portal mechanic that allows players to quickly travel to new worlds, and most notably, a mysterious female Lombax that instantly took the industry by storm.
The announcement ofRatchet & Clank: Rift Apartis obviously great news for PlayStation fans considering thatRatchet & Clank (2016)was one of PS4’s most underrated gems. Having said that, with the reveal coming alongside the return of two PlayStation icons in the form ofSackboy: A Big AdventureandAstro’s PlayRoom, could the new game be a sign of something even greater? If Sony is doubling down on mascots, thenRatchet and Clank: Rift Apartcould be good news for other PlayStation icons to make their return.
RELATED:Days Gone 2 on PS5 Needs to Address These Major Issues
Jak and Daxter
AfterCrash BandicootandSpyro the Dragon,Jak and Daxterare right up there as one of the most iconic pair of characters in PlayStation’s arsenal and it just so happens that anewJak and Daxtergameis rumored to be in development for PS5. Created byThe Last Of Us Part IIdeveloper Naughty Dog,Jak and Daxterfirst made an appearance on PlayStation 2 withJak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacyin 2001, followed by three sequels,Jak 2,Jak 3, and finally,Jak X: Combat Racing. All four games have been ported as a singular Collection to PS3, PS Vita, and PS4, meaning that if Sony is planning to bring the series back, it’s likely to be an entirely brand new game as opposed to a trilogy remaster likeCrash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy.
Not unlikeRatchet and Clank, theJak and Daxterseries (excludingJak X: Combat Racing) are third-person action-adventure platformers that became a cultural phenomenon during the PS2 era for its loveable and iconic titular characters. However, unlike other popular platformers at the time,Jak and Daxtermanaged to distinguish itself from the rest in the gameplay department by focusing on large open-world environments with no loading times. WithRatchet and Clankback in full force and taking care of the linear single-player experience,Jak and Daxterwould be the perfect companion game and another great entry point for a younger audience.
Sly Cooper
When it comes to icons of the PlayStation 2 era that came from well-known first-party studios, bothRatchet and ClankandJak and Daxtersit right next to another popular platforming series,Sly Cooper.Funnily enough,Sly Cooperis also rumored to have a new gamein development, although those rumors are technically for the PlayStation 4. Developed by Sucker Punch Productions, the studio behind the upcomingGhost of Tsushimaand the belovedInFamousseries, Sly Cooper debuted on PS2 with 2002’sSly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, followed by three sequelsSly 2: Band of Thieves,Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, andSly Cooper: Thieves in Time.
The series follows an anthropomorphic raccoon and master thief known asSly Cooper, the latest descendant in a long line of master thieves that pass on their knowledge and skill through a book called the “Thievius Raccoonus,” hence the name of the first game. Although ultimately working to stop crime, Sly Cooper and his two best friends, Bentley the turtle and the brains, and Murray the hippopotamus and the team’s powerhouse perform elaborate heists all over the world. Overall, the series was praised for its art style, platforming, stealth gameplay, and once again, an iconic set of lovable characters. If Sony is looking to revive any series as beloved asRatchet and Clankfor the PS5,Sly Cooperdeserves to be at the top of the priority list.
RELATED:Ghostwire: Tokyo and Deathloop are PS5 Console Exclusives
Sony’s dedication toRatchet and ClankandSackboyon PlayStation 5 proves that there is room for the family-friendly mascots to return in a big way for the next generation. WhileRatchet and Clanknever truly went away considering the 2016 reboot, the last few years have been full of beloved PlayStation icons from the early years includingCrash Bandicoot,Spyro the Dragon,PaRappa the Rapper, andevenTony Hawkto a certain degree, as well as remakes of PS1 classics likeMediEvilandPatapon.
PlayStation was making a statement during the PlayStation 5 gameplay event when it coupled the announcement ofRatchet and Clank: Rift Apart,Sackboy: A Big Adventure, andAstro’s PlayRoomwith playful indie titlesBugsnax,Kena: Bridge of Spirits, andStray. The PS5 could mark amajor return to form for Sony, hopefully spelling out good news for some other iconic characters likeJak and Daxter,Sly Cooper, and maybe, just maybe, evenCrocorGex.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apartis in development for the PlayStation 5.
