Ratchet & Clank Are To Rift Apart On The PlayStation 5

The PlayStation 5 has finally been officially revealed [22], along with several announcement trailers for upcoming video game instalments for the system, from Spider-Man: Miles Morales to Sackboy: A Big Adventure [6] [7] [21] [24]. The trailer I have chosen to analyse is the one for Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart [29]. Since 2002, a courageous lombax who would wield his wrench and an adorable robot who would always have his back...and be on it have won the hearts of many PlayStation players for voyaging through empowering gameplay and humourous moments [30] [32]. I still love the movie based on the successful re-imagining of how the duo first met from 2016 [26], despite how negatively received it was and how it was a box-office bomb [5] [28]. After many PlayStation players shed tears of joy as they watched the showcase for the PlayStation 5 [6] [7], I am more than thrilled to analyse the announcement trailer and gameplay trailer for a brand new Ratchet and Clank game and explain some theories with you all [13] [23], even as someone who has previously discussed what to expect in an anime series based on the franchise due to its popularity in Japan [10] [41] [42].

I am delighted to see yet another addition to the Ratchet and Clank franchise [30]. [23]

The duo will strive through different dimensions [23] [29]?! No way! I can tell that Dr. Nefarious is responsible for the dimensions colliding chaotically as it turns out that he has already ruled one of them. After all, he and Chairman Drek were the crooks behind the foul deed of destroying other planets to build only one in the re-imagining [34]. The variety of different dimensions the adventurous lombax and the well-mannered robot soar through in the trailer for Rift Apart include:

•        A city that looks very similar to Aleero City [23]
•        A canyon consisting of species that resemble dragons [23]
•        Another city set in the night [23]
•        A stormy ocean travelled across by pirates on their ships [23]

The premise ultimately leads to my theory that it could take place at some point before the events of PlayStation Move Heroes, the crossover spin-off that also started Jak, Daxter, Sly Cooper and Bentley and was released in 2011, but not very well received [25]. The reason for my theory is that the premise of PlayStation Move Heroes features all three duos being sent to another planet from their universes [14], similar to how Rift Apart will be about Ratchet and Clank trying to save multiple dimensions [23].

The idea of the galactic duo travelling through different dimensions sounds quite refreshing [23]. Do not get distracted by the pretty purple auras! [29]

Let us look a little deeper into the premise of Rift Apart. I can tell that it will take place at some point after the events of the re-imagining of the first game and the movie based on it [23] [26] [34]. As for the title of the instalment, the term “Rift Apart” is a sign of the duo being tragically separated during their quest, not some sexual innuendo like “Up Your Arsenal” or “Quest For Booty” [30]. Quite unfortunately, Clank looks up and states that they were “too late” away from Ratchet’s presence at some point in the trailer [23]. This sudden conflict is quite similar to how Elsa and Anna got eventually separated once again at some point in Frozen II and how Clank was taken by the Zoni in the ending of Tools of Destruction [12] [15]. Nonetheless, there will be strong hope that the furry mechanic and the pint-sized gentlebot will reunite like how they did in Ratchet and Clank: A Crank in Time [35]. A good title for a new instalment of the franchise must fit a primary aspect of the premise. For example, the “galaxy” in Super Mario Galaxy fits the premise of Mario roaming in various galaxies [18].

Let us not forget about Clank’s solo gameplay [32] [35]. That has to return in Rift Apart to fit the premise and title, right? [23]

The graphics and gameplay, along with sharp dialogue appear to be very faithful to what made the re-imagining of the first game that was simply amazing back in 2016 [13] [34]. The battling between the duo and their enemies looks chaotic as shown in some footage that heavily resembles the gameplay in Aleero City from the fantastic re-imagining [26] [34]. There seems to be a weapon called the “Rift Tether” that Ratchet can use to swiftly bring Clank and himself to where shattered orange rifts are seen [13], which is a sign of the game offering something new to make the experience fresh. Other weapons include:

•       The Shatterbomb [13] [29]
•        The Topiary Sprinkler [13] [29]
•        The Enforcer [13] [29]

The witty dialogue from the protagonists, which is essential for maintaining the charm of the Ratchet and Clank formula is also there to balance the chaos and a bit of humour as a sign that the franchise will still be the futuristic video game equivalent of Danger Mouse [11] [13] [30] [36]. Just by witnessing an outstanding example in the gameplay trailer, I knew the developers and writers at Insomniac Games can provide such exceptional aspects for a new Ratchet and Clank game for the first half of the 2020s.

There seems to be a familiar element of self-empowerment from using a variety of different weapons for the final outcome of Rift Apart [13]. [29]

Looks like there will be a new ally who will assist Clank as a white lombax [23]. Could this mean that Ratchet will finally reunite with his species [35]? I can tell that the new adventurer is a female due to her feminine voice, along with how her tail looks very different compared to Ratchet’s tail. Oddly enough, Angela Cross, the female lombax who appeared in Going Commando had smaller ears and no tail at all [27] [33]. I suppose the character designers at Insomniac Games wanted to establish some different sexual dimorphism in the alternative timeline that was established in the re-imagining [27]. Nevertheless, the new character in Rift Apart could be a subspecies or different breed of the lombax race. Remember how the Nintendogs games for the Nintendo DS consisted of one fairly small variety of different dog breeds each [17] [19]? On the other bomb glove, my third theory about the new character is that she could be transsexual or transgender, similar to how many Catherine crusaders suspected that Rin was transsexual or transgender a year before the release of Catherine: Full Body in Japan [8] [9] [39] [40]. No matter which of the three theories will be the truth, will the new ally be likeable?

This new character also has a robotic right arm, meaning she must have lost her previous right arm during a tragic event [23]. Since female lombaxes were originally supposed to lack tails and have smaller ears [27], could she be a different lombax breed or transgender? [29]

The franchise’s logo appears to have been updated for the galactic duo’s next big steps for the PlayStation 5 [13] [23] [29]. I have nothing against changing a franchise’s logo as there is always room for improvement. The same small grey bolt by Clank’s same with the light blue “&” from the re-imagining’s logo is still there for the familiar stylising from the previous logo [16]. The font of the new logo is faintly wider and its 3D effect is greatly reduced, making it more bold and readable [29]. However, it is a shame that the previous symbolism, which was the “C” in Ratchet’s name resembling the end of a wrench and the “C” in Clank’s name resembling a bolt since the first game from 2002 has been replaced with simply the shape of a bolt in each “C” [16] [29]. But ultimately, quite similar to how the logo for the introduction of the proposed reboot of Angela Anaconda can be beneficial for dyslexic viewers with different detail and more readability [4] [37] [38], the new Ratchet and Clank logo can be approved by many consumers for providing the same redeeming qualities.

The previous logo for the masterpiece from 2016 [34]. [16]

The new logo for a new Ratchet and Clank game. [29]

The official design of the PlayStation 5 and its unexpected digital edition are beautifully futuristic [7] [22], which could make either of them and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart a match made in Nerd Heaven, even though we do not know if the game will be available digitally or not. I yearn to find out how the new female lombax copes in a dimension temporarily ruled by Nefarious. I would also like to witness a brand new instalment of the Spyro franchise that is heavily inspired from his reignited trilogy and a new Crash Bandicoot game that could be classified as the official “Crash Bandicoot 4” that is possibly under inspiration from his N-Sane trilogy for the PlayStation’s new era [1] [2] [3]. I also do no doubt that those adorable robots will cute plenty of PlayStation players out in Astro’s Playroom while plenty of survivors of the Resident Evil franchise cautiously play Resident Evil 8: Village under advised discretion in a new era of the PlayStation [20] [31]. The official release date of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart may not have been announced yet, but here is to a new galactic adventure for a noble community of Ratchet’s rangers and Clank’s comrades soon [23] [29].

Look at these beauties! It was worth the wait. [22]

“Ready for our next adventure, pal?” [29]

References

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The SEGA Game Gear Will Go Micro For SEGA’s 60th Anniversary

2020 marks SEGA’s 60^th anniversary [19], as well as the ironic success of the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie and the 30^th anniversary of the SEGA Game Gear, SEGA’s answer to Nintendo’s Game Boy [26] [28]. To celebrate the two anniversaries and increase the company’s cred in a similar way of how the SEGA Mega Drive Mini has potentially helped celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the original Mega Drive outside of Japan [27] [34], a miniature version of the Game Gear has been announced not too long ago [5] [6]. So far, The Game Gear Micro is raising plenty of eyebrows. I think I have a thing for analysing and stating my thoughts on smaller handheld systems. First the Playdate that has recently demonstrated its own monochrome port of Doom [8] [9] [35] [36], then the Nintendo Vita [29]…oops! I mean Nintendo Switch Lite [14] [37] [38], now the SEGA Game Gear Micro. It also looks like pint-sized versions of old school consoles might have become a trend ever since the classic edition of the Nintendo Entertainment System came around in late 2016 [30]. A miniature version of a classic gaming system can either be exceptional and honourable or…could have been much better [3] [30].

I have got to stop ticking off some Vita misters and sisters by calling the Nintendo Switch Lite “The Nintendo Vita” [29]. [14]

Apart from that, I hope many employees at SEGA enjoy the company’s 60th anniversary! [19]

The Game Gear Micro will be available in four different colours to further increase its appeal [4] [6] [25], similar to how the Nintendo Switch Lite is now available in four colours, including a new lovely shade of coral [14]. Unfortunately, I do not think the decent variety of different colours will make up for how small the screen is, how tiny it will feel in the hands of many old school gamers and how awkward the risk of having to squint to see it more clearly will feel [5]. After all, the whole thing is only twenty millimetres deep, forty-three millimetres tall and eighty millimetres wide, making it smaller than a Nintendo Entertainment System controller [25]. Heck, it is as almost as small as the screen of the original Game Gear [25]! A way to see the screen more clearly would be holding the device close to your face, which would be almost as straining as looking at the red and black gameplay from any of the games for the Tiger R-Zone [12] [18] [35] [36]. Did Sonic the Hedgehog sneak into Mario’s trailer and give four of his mini mushrooms to a bunch of Game Gears after Beat from Jet Set Radio painted them with graffiti [7] [13] [20] [33]?

Look at tiny it is!! [4]

And look at the four different colours! [4]

In addition to four colours for the Game Gear Micro, there will be four games available for each coloured system [4] [25], which is quite fascinating to a degree. For example, the black Game Gear Micro will provide:

•    Sonic the Hedgehog’s first game from 1991 [4] [6] [25]
•    Puyo Puyo 2 [4] [6] [25]
•    OutRun [4] [6] [25]
•    Royal Stone [4] [6] [25]

The games that blue Game Gear Micro will consist of will be:

•    Sonic and Tails [4] [6] [25]
•    Gunstar Heroes [4] [6] [25]
•    Sylvan Tale [4] [6] [25]
•    Baku Baku Animal [4] [6] [25]

The red Game Gear Micro will come with:

•    Megami Tensei Gaiden Last Bible [4] [6] [10]
•    Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible Special [4] [6] [11]
•    Columns [4] [6]
•    The GG Shinboi [4] [6] [21]

Lastly, the yellow Game Gear Micro will include:

•    Shining Force [4] [6] [24]
•    Shining Force 2 [4] [6] [23]
•    Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict [4] [6] [22]
• ·  Nazo Puyo [4] [6] [16]

Reflecting on the fitting but unfortunate size of the Game Gear Micro, having to buy all four colours to play every single ported game on a Game Gear Micro may not feel all that rewarding to plenty of video game collectors since the handheld’s size seems quite too impractical [25]. Nevertheless, I suppose each Game Gear Micro can at least be a unique collectors’ item for plenty of old school gamers out there. Dare to collect all four?

The Game Gear Micro gang will provide four ports each. That makes sixteen ports of retro games that were available for the original Game Gear at the time in total. [4] [6]

I strongly believe that my boyfriend will choose either the black one or the blue one since both of those versions will consist of an instalment of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise [4] [6]. [25]

The concept of a pint-sized Game Gear reminds me of the Game Boy Micro, a small model of the Game Boy Advance that was established back in 2005 [1] [31]. Sadly, the second redesign of the Game Boy Advance was a failure due to its lack of backwards compatibility and how it was released after the debut of the Nintendo DS [2], but it also came in a bigger variety of different colours [1] [31], including:

•         Black
•         Silver
•         Pink
•         Green
•         Red
•         Blue
•         Purple

The Game Boy Micro seemed to be almost the same size as a Nintendo Entertainment System controller [31]. Furthermore, it is no wonder the Game Gear Micro will simply be a rehash of it for the early 2020s, despite having a smaller variety of different colours [4] [6] [25]. Another notable difference is that any Game Boy Advanced game could be played on a Game Boy Micro in any colour [1] [31]. How only four games will be available depending on the colour of the Game Gear Micro might feel too limited. Reflecting on the poor sales of the Game Boy Micro back in the mid-2000s [1] [31], it looks like the Game Gear Micro might be at risk of heading down the same fate.

Not even the Pikachu edition of the Game Boy Micro could rapidly increase its sales back in the mid-2000s. [1]

The edition of the Game Boy that celebrated the 20th anniversary of Nintendo sadly did not help either. [1]

Luckily, there is an accessory that can help those who have their hands on a Game Gear Micro see the screen far more easily and that is no other than the Big Window Micro [4] [6] [25]. Its name is quite oxymoronic if you ask me. Too bad the Game Boy Micro never had an accessory to help magnify its screen. Even though I could be grateful and appreciative towards how a useful accessory would increase a device’s playability, the appearance of it slightly decreases the appeal of the handheld’s visual appearance. It reminds me of the Light Magic, an accessory that would shine its light around a Game Boy’s screen to make it easy to see in a dark room and has a magnifying glass to make it seem bigger and even easier to see, even though it seemed quite tacked on due to its fairly odd design [17]. At least the Big Window Micro has a quite cool design as it resembles a television set you would see in the 1990s, the decade the original Game Gear was released in [26]. The add-on also does not seem as excessive as the Booster [17]. Sometimes less is more and one solution to one problem is enough.

The Big Window Micro looks like a television set from the ’90s, increasing the nostalgic vibe despite making the Game Gear Micro look a little bulky. [25]

What will be next? Platform shoes that have a slot to place a Gamer Gear Micro into? It worked for the Game Boy Color at some point. [17]

In all honestly, I would prefer to play any of SEGA’s nostalgic gems on the original Game Gear from the ‘90s [26]. I would not want to risk having to squint unless I am holding the handheld closer to my face whilst feeling a little discomfort near my elbows. At least I can always attach the Big Window Micro accessory onto the system.  Despite how the Game Gear Micro seems too small and unnecessary to many ‘90s kids to play on comfortably as fairly young adults [5], it will be available on shop shelves in October 2020 [25]. I do not think plenty of our dear Vita misters and sisters would be too pleased with a PlayStation Vita Micro [28]. At some point in the rest of this new decade, I would still like a recreation of the original Game Boy called “Game Girl” with the colourful 8-bit graphics from the Game Boy Color [34], along with a recreation of the Game Boy Camera for talking far more colourful selfies with the quality of an iPhone SE selfie to balance the nostalgic vibes of handheld Nintendo gaming from the 1990s with a little more female empowerment in today’s modern gaming society [17] [32].

I think I would prefer the Playdate due to how it is proportionately bigger and can at least show something refreshing, which is an appealing chalkboard-like aesthetic on the screen [8] [9] [35] [36]. [15]

Anyway, we are yet to find out how well the Game Gear Micro will do and how much it can honour the legacy of the original Game Gear. Will it sell decently? Will it also be released outside of Japan [4]? [25]

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Why Does Vincent Brooks Keep Cheating With Catherine?

Disclaimers:

This article contains a few spoilers from the PlayStation 4 port of Catherine: Full Body that are included mostly for analytical purposes. Feel free to avoiding reading it if you are a Catherine crusader who is looking forward to purchasing and playing the Nintendo Switch port in July 2020.  

This is an analysis of a theory about a video game character that will involve discussing serious and triggering topics, such as female-on-male rape and signs of abuse in a relationship. Reader discretion is advised, along with the strong recommendation to call the relationship abuse helpline in your country if you are being abused in a relationship.

UK – 0808 2000 247

USA – 1-800-799-7233

Australia – 1800 737 732

There is only one month left until Catherine: Full Body, the enhanced port of a twisted tale of fear, lust and indecisiveness becomes available for the Nintendo Switch [27] [28] [29]. Ever since 2011, many of those who played the original version of the tale for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 have questioned why Vincent Brooks, the tale’s protagonist just would not simply tell the beautiful woman he woke up next to that he already has a girlfriend [6] [12] [33]. I believe I have a theory for why he can hardly put the temptress aside for his girlfriend and that is no other than the possibility of him having Stockholm syndrome, similar to how I have theorised that Pauline from a certain classic arcade game from the early 1980s could have a serious fear of heights and that Sam-I-Am from the cartoon adaption of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss on Netflix could have bipolar disorder [35] [36] [41] [42]. I also remember when some Western Catherine crusaders have theorised that Rin was going to be a cis female for the Western release of Catherine: Full Body back in early and mid-2019 after the story eventually revealed that he is a cross-dressing male in the Japanese version [11] [26] [39] [40].

After being critically and cautiously acclaimed on the Playstation 4 and PlayStation Vita in 2019 [8], Catherine: Full Body will soon be ready to bring some erotic horror into the Switch era [28]. [27] [29]

Interestingly enough, there will be some free DLC for the Japanese version of the Switch port of Catherine: Full Body that provides three brand new voices for the temptress [8], along with her other ten voices for the Japanese PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita ports. Aside from that, let us explain why her target has fallen in love with her, not just because of her good looks. [9]

Stockholm syndrome is a mental disorder that leads to strong attachment to a person who has caused a traumatic experience, such as a kidnapping [23] [24] [30]. Those with Stockholm syndrome cannot be bitter towards their captors, no matter how terrifying the trauma they caused was. Harley Quinn, the Joker’s longtime “love interest” from Batman: The Animated Series, the Batman comics and so on is a prime example of a fictional character who has been suspected to have Stockholm syndrome [3] [14] [15] [16] [34]. Surely some Disney desirers have theorised that Belle from the animated adaption of Beauty and the Beast from 1991 has Stockholm syndrome [22] [25] [30] [32], but Emma Watson, the actress who played the role of her in the film’s live-action remake from 2017 denied it due to how she identified signs of the character maintaining her independence [2] [20]. But as for the black-haired bachelor in Catherine, he seems to be more likely to consist of Stockholm syndrome due to how indecisive he is and how he lacks much ambition [12]. How Vincent ended up in a troublesome love triangle may not have been a kidnapping [5] [6], but there is an aspect of the hookup and so on that has unnerved plenty of Catherine crusaders.

Harleen Quinzel on the front cover of her new graphic novel. No matter how ruthless the Joker has been to her, there just seems to be no signs of the cycle ever ending [34]. Could the same technically apply to Vincent and Catherine? [14]

I may be very relieved that there have been no accusations of pedophilia against the Brookster’s love for Rin who is considered to be old enough to work at a bar in Full Body [11] [39] [40], but I am rather skeptical about his love for Catherine [12], whether she will speak in any of her alternate voices or not [8]. [11]

The portrayal of Catherine as Vincent’s forbidden lover is highly questionable at times. Catherine may be cheerful and carefree in an alluring way, but the way she assaults him after he attempts to dump her for Katherine McBride is alarming [5]. Furthermore, some Catherine crusaders have suspected that their night in bed together was...not consensual as he was drunk at the time [1] [5] [12] [19] [21]. Although it is unclear if the two have actually had sexual intercourse or not [5] [12], it is still rather intimidating how the sex symbol warns her target that there will be some serious consequences if he slips up [5] [33]. Poor Vincent is too weak-willed to “man up” about the affair and deeply cares for all three of his lovers, including the one who could possibly be his rapist [12] [33]. The symbolism of the logo on his pink T-shirt could be a red flag. Even though I believe that the possibility of Catherine being Vincent’s rapist backs up my theory on him having Stockholm syndrome [5] [6] [12], I still would not want it to have definitely been true in the game’s story overall as it would be in very poor taste to include the premise of rape in a story solely for shock factor. 

How Catherine assaults Vincent in the toilets at the Stray Sheep could be a clear sign of him having Stockholm syndrome if he does not fully resist her after trying to dump her for Katherine [23] [24] [30]. His depression, kind nature towards Catherine and traumatic nightmares about her could also be related to him having Stockholm syndrome [23] [30]. [5]

The way Catherine threatens to Vincent with acts of brutality is also abusive, similar to how Darwin was threatened in his relationship with Jamie in a certain horrible episode of The Amazing World Of Gumball [31]. [5]

It can be argued that Vincent does not have Stockholm syndrome since he has at least tried to end his affair with Catherine as he thinks about either Rin or Katherine and is far more likely to have mild depression due to guilt from cheating, which is what I agree with due to how he has displayed signs of it throughout the game [12] [26]. Moreover, his misery continues when the overbearing beauty with beige-blonde hair breaks up with him in a rational manner [6] [10]. At least when the player chooses the Rin route, the reason why Katherine’s attitude towards Vincent’s supposed affair with Rin seems more positive must be because she is a supporter of LGBT rights and is quite happy that her former partner does not have to try to hide his bisexuality to avoid intolerance anymore [17] [26]. But as for the regular route from the original Catherine, the possibility of Vincent having Stockholm syndrome can be avoided, as long as the player tries to bring his destiny to regular human life with Katherine since she befriended him back in their high school days and they started a happy and healthy relationship when they were both about twenty-seven years old [4] [10] [13].

A happy and healthy relationship between Vincent and Katherine McBride from a lustrum ago. [13]

The same avoidance of Vincent having Stockholm syndrome can apply to leading him to Rin in Full Body since the talented pianist is far too pure-hearted to be an abusive and manipulative partner. [11]

So, does the Brookster really have Stockholm syndrome? I guess it depends on which path the player chooses. And the path that would truly diagnose him with the disorder is the one that sinfully leads him to the fantasy of “freedom” with Catherine [5] [6]. Surely plenty of Catherine crusaders did not take too kindly to the sings of being abusive the femme fatale displayed [5]. Nevertheless, she eventually becomes more sincere and far less manipulative to Vincent in three of her good endings, including an extra one in Full Body [6] [7] [8] [9] [18]. As an alternative to how I believe the talented people at Atlus can expand on the Catherine franchise in the future of gaming by establishing how the succubus appears to other men at another bar apart from Vincent at the Stray Sheep [37] [38], maybe there can be a potential semi-reboot of the original game that takes place in the alternative timeline she created in her exclusive ending from Full Body [7] [8] [18]. But whether you might have Stockholm syndrome or not, an abusive relationship should not be taken lightly. In real life, innocent victims of abuse should stand up for themselves and get help by calling the relationship abuse helpline in their country [31].

I absolutely adore Catherine’s appearance in a new timeline established in her exclusive ending in Full Body [18], but this image right here could be a red flag of how she still might be potentially abusive with a recollection of the original timeline, thus leading to Vincent having Stockholm syndrome. [7]

Until next time, Catherine crusaders and Nintendo nerds who will be ready to guide the Brookster throughout a series of nightmares on the Switch this July [27] [28] [29]. Stay golden. [7]

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