Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Breathes New Life into the Multiverse Plot
The well-trod ground gets a different perspective with Insomniac’s latest tale
As I popped the Platinum trophy for Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and rejoiced to the sound of that metallic ding — for a trophy called “Masters of the Multiverse” — I was impressed with how well the story of Insomniac’s bullet-hell with a heart of gold has evolved. It’s no fluke though, as the PlayStation Studios developer has been putting more emphasis into their narratives with its stellar Spider-Man series.
The second entry in that franchise, Spiderman: Miles Morales, is a genuine attempt at creating the feels within its players. With Rift Apart, however, Insomniac forgoes the coming-of-age tale in favor of a storyline that’s just as popular, albeit leaps and bounds more perplexing than puberty: The Multiverse plot.
Without getting into the science, or hypothetical rules rather, of parallel universes, the most fascinating stories about the multiverse should offer its audience more than just a cool space-time theory to chew on. Instead, the idea of a multiverse — where supposed variations of our known reality simultaneously exist — should force us to take a real, hard look at ourselves and sometimes our society too. The multiverse should ask us to make meaning of our lives and question whether the life we’re living is the best one out of all possible realities. Of course, purely as a plot device, the multiverse is just cool as hell and allows for some (literally) out-of-this-world mash-ups.
So what makes Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart special amongst the myriad of tales from the multiverse? On the television side, this year has also seen Marvel’s Loki take on his own time jumping, dimension-hopping endeavor. Like Rift Apart, the show offers a different spin on doppelgangers, interdimensional thresholds, and the cataclysm that would occur if disparate worlds ever collided.
What Rift Apart does differently though is, rather than follow a singular perspective, the game puts the player in the shoes (erm…hover boots) of both Ratchet and his multiversal counterpart Rivet; then, as tightly woven as alternate realities are theoretically said to be from one other, as Ratchet/Rivet you must decide that the reality you’ve been dealt, no matter how terrible or meaningless, is the one worth living in.
Again, credit to Insomniac for adding such emotional weight to a summer action game about wonky space portals. From the moment you take control of Ratchet he’s in a vulnerable place. It has been a while since his last good deed and the pressure of never finding another one of his species, let alone living up to the expectations of the fabled Lombax, weighs heavily on Ratchet’s shoulders. The hero’s just about ready to hang up the ol’ Omniwrench until his Dimensionator — the game’s version of Rick Sanchez’s portal gun — is stolen and Ratchet is transposed into another reality. This is a reality where he’s faced with far worse circumstances than debating whether or not his past heroics are worthy of a parade.
It is in this alternate dimension where Ratchet is urged to find his purpose again. His universe’s Megalopolis city is almost utopian compared to its counterpart; whereas the alternate Megalopolis is ruled by a maniacal emperor whose regime roams the streets searching for resistance to crush. The organizer of this rebellion is none other than Ratchet’s doppelganger, the aforementioned Rivet; and she’s introduced as cheery and confident as Ratchet used to be.
However, Rivet has her own big wounds, both physically — she lost her arm fighting for the resistance — and emotionally, as she’s lived a lonely battle-hardened life. As a result, she’s never put any thought into having a partner. Still, seeing that friendship is an obligatory theme of the franchise, Rivet is eventually enlightened to the wonders of having a BFF.
It’s at this point where Rift Apart’s multiversal exploits could’ve gotten overly cliché, but instead, the game finds its stride by subverting the expectations a little. Insomniac’s other new edition to the series, Kit, fleshes out the multiverse further, as she becomes the emotional lynchpin of the plot. Kit, or KT, is a variation of Clank; as such, she is also a reformed warbot who’s deviated from her predetermined purpose.
Insomniac wastes no time making the player empathize with its new heroines, as both Rivet and Kit feel a similar sense of isolation and brokenness, given that the two are connected by a shared trauma that is unbeknownst to them. It’s not until the final act that Rivet and Kit meet, but only after being taught the nuances of companionship from Ratchet and Clank. A lesson on how to build a relationship that is not only pragmatic but also existentially fulfilling.
Ratchet and Clank are not merely “battle bros,” or allies who have each other’s back when fighting evil, but the two also share an endearing social bond. Theirs is a connection that makes one see the other as an important piece to their being. This could have been an easy aspect for the plot to exploit, making either Rivet or Kit envious of the perfect version of themselves. But Rift Apart veers from typical multiverse motifs — if only for a moment — to experiment with the idea of parallel universes while not buying into the philosophy that these alternate existences are better or worse than our own — just different.
At a pivotal turning point, Rivet and Kit refuse each other’s company, a result of the reveal that Kit obliterated Rivet’s arm while still under the control of Nefarious. This causes the two heroes to forgo idealism in favor of an attitude that’s far more nihilistic. Of course, the Ratchet and Clank series is not dark in nature, and so Rift Apart ends on a very optimistic note, for both its creators and their characters. The game promises more Rivet and Kit adventures, as well as teasing possible crossovers with other PlayStation franchises, thanks to a series staple, the RYNO, a kind of grenade launcher that pulls debris from alternate dimensions. Despite the series’ need for a happy ending, at least Rift Apart tries its hand at tragedy before the good guys and gals inevitably win.
Even Dr. Nefarious, the long-time series baddie, also goes through a profound change of heart. After meeting his own double, the eviler Emperor Nefarious, the robot-scientist reneges on his mission of finding a dimension where he “always wins”. He recognizes the fallacy of his optimism — becoming the Emperor’s new lackey is not exactly what the doctor was hoping for. His defeats to Ratchet and Clank become relatively more palatable now, and so Dr. Nefarious doesn’t hesitate in aiding the titular duo in the video game’s version of an Avengers finale. It’s not an ideal victory for Nefarious but it’s a win nonetheless.
Ultimately, this is where Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart delivers where others fail when it comes to the multiverse. It shouldn’t be the allure of a better, alternate existence that intrigues us, nor that these other realities can somehow improve our own, but that our reality is good enough as is — flaws, failures, setbacks, and all.
