Despite the interesting and varied gameplay offered in Size Matters, which was actually praised when the game came out for the PSP, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters can be a disappointment for PS2 owners. Unfortunately, there are quite a few glitches in the PS2 game that can make it frustrating. Most of them involve less-than-perfect control implementation, which results in poor character handling and awful camera problems.

The camera often gets stuck in the weirdest positions, making the game look amateurish and outdated. The buttons that should re-focus the camera behind Ratchet's back don't really work as expected. The title also contains a few mini-games, which would be nice and refreshing if they worked well. However, they're no fun when the controls are as imprecise and frustrating as they're on the sky-racing portions of the game, where you almost feel like you have no control over Ratchet maneuvers.

Another downside of playing Size Matters on the PS2 is the graphics. When you compare this title to previous PS2 installments, you'll realize the visuals here are weak. Most environments and objects look blocky, and the textures seem distorted, especially when the camera gives you a close-up of an item or character. If you were to play it on a smaller TV you might not notice this as much, but if you plan to play Size Matters on a bigger-size TV, the graphics are less than acceptable, even when selecting Progressive Scan and Widescreen (16:9). This is not to say the game was poorly made; in fact, the environments actually have a good amount of detail and the characters are cool and original. The problem is that this doesn't translate well into the big screen, just like it happened with GTA: Liberty City Stories when it made the jump from the PSP to the PS2.

The dialogue and character voices are one of the best aspects of the game. Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters still has the witty humor that characterizes the series, and the quality of the voice-over work still breaks the standards. The background music, cheery, catchy, and lighthearted, also fits the theme. The sound effects simply blend in. They don't make you jump out of the seat, but they're fine. Overall, the game feels like a well-made cartoon.

Just like on the PSP, the game offers a multiplayer mode. However, it is a little weak; considering there are many other great multiplayer games out there, I doubt this game will be one of your top choices. The multiplayer simply consists of two-player, split-screen competition with goals like "capture the flag," item collecting, and other kinds of fast-paced contests. It will be fun for an evening, but it probably won't be something you'll repeat after you move on to the next game.

As you may know, Ratchet & Clank games aren't known for their in-depth, wonderful stories, but the light plots are usually good enough to give some sense to the mindless but fun action the games are actually known for. However, if you pair that up with the weak gameplay and the obvious graphics and controls downgrade, you will realize this PS2 port just can't be compared to its Ratchet & Clank PS2 predecessors or the stellar PS3 game, Tools of Destruction. If you missed Size Matters because you don't own a PSP, here's your chance to play the entire title and say you haven't missed a single Ratchet & Clank game. However, make sure you keep an open mind, because this game feels like Ratchet & Clank "light." It's low-carb, low-fat, and sugar-free - if you know what I mean.

By Maria Montoro
CCC Site Director