Ratchet & Clank, PS4 review: ‘easily the most impressive visuals on the PlayStation 4’

Remastered versions of classic games are generally a mixed bag – a majority return with a minimal visual spit and polish, looking to attract those who perhaps missed them the first time round. Others, few and far between, opt for a complete overhaul - capitalising on more powerful hardware to improve almost every aspect of the game.

Ratchet and Clank not only falls into the latter category, but sets the benchmark for any 'reimagined' title to follow.

Sticking closely to the plot outlined by the 2002 original, and produced alongside this year's upcoming motion picture, players take control of mechanic Ratchet, a feline-like creature known as a Lombax, and Clank, a cute, diminutive robot. After Clank crash lands on Ratchet's home planet, the pair team up to stop Chairman Drek, who's trying to create a new world by taking other planets apart. A simple plot, yes, but the way developers Insomniac tell the story is inspired.

Within a few seconds you'll realise just how much work has been put into this upgrade. For one, the visuals are up there with the very best we've seen – easily the most impressive yet on PS4. Character models boast an incredible level of detail, both during the Pixar-standard cutscenes and in-game. A well-written script provides plenty of laugh out loud moments, many coming from the cowardly and narcissistic Captain Qwark.

Then there are the worlds, which are as beautiful as they are varied. Whether it's the barren dusty land of Veldin, Kewan's bustling sky-high metropolis or the oppressive Nebula G34, each one is packed full of character and inspired level design.

While stages are not open world, they are big enough to encourage players to veer off the main path and explore and undertake side quests, often resulting in well-deserved rewards. And thanks to plenty of events breaking them up – from spaceship battles to high-speed train chases, it helps create an illusion that levels are much bigger than they actually are. Each world has its own enemies – from the deadly sand sharks of Aridia to flying robot bees on the leafy planet of Novalis.

It's not all just show. Combat is incredibly refined, balancing up-close-and-personal melee attacks with a vast selection of weaponry. These range from the flame-thrower-like Combuster to the wacky Boom Ball Gun, which fires a glowing orb that damages anything that comes close to it. It's backed up with an incredibly stable frame rate that shows no sign of dropping even when literally hundreds of nuts and bolts flood the screen.

Almost every aspect of each weapon can be upgraded – from ammo capacity, blast radius and general stopping power. This helps keep even the most basic blaster feel fresh throughout the journey and never become useless.

Clank, although spending most of the game strapped to Ratchet's back, also gets some new gear – especially handy is the propeller, allowing the pair to reach new heights.