Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

Size matters but does this PS2 port?

	Version PS2, PSP	Developer High Impact Games	Publisher SCE	Genre Action

By Ian Dransfield

I liked the original Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters - I even went so far as to say: "Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters is a good game, and a fine addition to any PSP collection." High praise from such a highly-respected member of the community such as myself, I'm sure you'll agree. But then something silly happens, something you cannot get your head around and something that just, well, annoys you.

The double entendre doesn't work on the PS2 version of the game. Thus making this one of the most pointless ports of all time.

We'll overlook the fact that it's a direct port, not polished up, not increased in any element and not made more suitable to a home console environment in any way. We'll ignore the fact that it's lazy, sloppy and boring of the developers to simply port it straight across - even though Syphon Filter was marginally tarted up to make it look at least a bit more like a PS2 game.

We won't ignore the fact, however, that the euphemism in the title of the game was written specifically because the game was for a handheld. A small version of the home console that is about an eighth the size of the home console. Small, hence the title 'Size Matters'. It's a knob gag, and as we all clearly agree, knob gags are amazing. This one even managed to raise a smile from me.

So why have they kept it for the PS2 version? IT MAKES NO SENSE. Inferring that the size of the P(eni)S2 actually matters is daft, as everyone accepts it as a standard console size. The P(eni)SP, on the other hand, is small - hence, the "size" "matters." It's borderline clever. Using it on the PS2 makes no sense. I don't get it any more, it isn't a joke, it's just a crap subtitle.

More than being a lazy port of a game that shows it's only good on the handheld; this is a sign that the marketing sods that decided this should be released on PS2 just to eke out a bit more cash have no imagination. They could have changed the title and just made sure to mention it wasn't a new game, just a port and then the new title would have made sense in the situation. But no, they lazily kept the exact same knob gag and ruined my life. Thanks a lot.