Ratchet and Clank Remakes Itself, Yet Refines Nothing

Fourteen years ago, the climax of the first Ratchet and Clank hinged on a betrayal: superhero blowhard Captain Qwark (think The Tick in space) turning on Ratchet. Now, in the 2016 installment, that twist becomes a framing device as Qwark, from a prison cell, narrates the story to his fellow inmates. It's a canny way to explain away any narrative differences between the original Ratchet and Clank and this one--but also a winking move toward self-awareness. "We know, we know, you've probably heard this before…. This newest title in the series about the space adventures of a gun-toting fox-cat-dude and his no-nonsense robot has plenty to recommend it.