Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

A Lombax with a serious arsenal and his little robot buddy set off into your pocket — and, surprisingly, lost almost none of their big-screen charm along the way. Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters brought the beloved action-platformer-shooter series to the PSP with the ambition of delivering a full-fledged adventure, not just a trimmed-down side trip.

At the heart of the experience is what always made the series famous: the crazy, inventive arsenal. Ratchet collects and upgrades a whole range of wacky weapons and gadgets, from classic blasters to weapons that turn enemies into something else entirely, and switching between this weapon circus mid-action is half of all the fun. Added to that are platforming sections, puzzles with the likeable Clank, and collectibles that tempt you to explore every corner.

The game combines snappy third-person action with platforming and the humor that was always typical of the brand — a colorful sci-fi world full of jokes, oddball characters, and self-irony. The pacing alternates wild shooting with calmer passages, and it is all held together by the friendly chemistry of the main duo.

The move to a handheld console was a technically ambitious undertaking. The game tried to preserve the visual richness and gameplay of the console entries on a smaller screen and with different controls, making it one of the more impressive platformer titles on the PSP. For fans of the series, it was a welcome chance to take Ratchet along anywhere.

Size Matters is proof that a charismatic brand can work even away from its home hardware, as long as the port is handled with care and respect for what makes the original fun.

Why play it: A full-fledged pocket portion of action-platforming with a crazy arsenal and the series' signature humor — Ratchet and Clank in your pocket.