Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault

Review

Common Sense Media says

Fast-paced action romp with cartoony violence.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning2
Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
Very Good: Engaging, very good learning approach.
Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
Not for Learning : Not recommended for learning.
Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault is an "Everyone 10+"-rated action game built on comic violence. As with other Ratchet & Clank games, these games involve silly weapons (alien in nature) and zany enemies that are usually robotic or creature-like. There is also humor and mildly crude references in the game, too, and a gun that gives off a loud belch.

  • Positive messages1
    This is a sci-fi action game that pits cartoon-like characters against robotic and creature-like enemies, using a wide variety of bizarre weapons. Because you can play as either side of the conflict -- especially with the cross-platform multiplayer support between PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita -- the game doesn't necessarily have a good or bad message.  
  • Positive role models1
    You can play as various characters in the Ratchet & Clank universe, most of which are "good guys" who fight against evil -- but the game does support online multiplayer that pits players against one another on both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions. Even if you could only play as good guys, which isn't the case, you're still destroying enemies using violence, which isn't good for a role model.
  • Ease of play4
    This game is easy to pick up and play and will not take long for players to get accustomed to the controls. Because the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita controls are virtually the same, once you play one version, the other should be natural and intuitive, too. 
  • Violence3
    The game is founded on cartoon-like fantasy violence. Played from a third-person perspective, gamers will use weapons -- mostly unrealistic in nature, such as energy blasters, silly rocket launchers, and a burp gun -- to destroy enemies. There is no blood or gore when the enemies are fired at and destroyed.  
  • Sex2
    The game has some mild comic mischief in the dialogue sequences, such as “the malfunctioning crotch-etizers" and "You wrote some really disturbing fan fiction."
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What kids can learn

2

Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault wasn't created with educational intent, and we don't recommend it for learning.

Subjects
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Arts
  • Hobbies
Skills
  • Emotional Development
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
    cooperation, teamwork
  • Responsibility & Ethics
  • Tech Skills
  • Health & Fitness
See more details

What's it about?

RATCHET & CLANK: FULL FRONTAL ASSAULT is a third-person action game starring many familiar characters from previous Ratchet & Clank games -- including the pointy-eared alien Ratchet, the robotic Clank (in various forms, including Giant Clank), and Captain Qwark. The game dispenses with any meaningful story and dives right into the action, where players must defend their base from waves of aggressive E.T. intruders on three different planets. Players have access to a huge assortment of weapons, co-op and competitive play (both online and on the same console), various modes to choose from (player vs. player, base defense) and support for cross-platform play between the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PlayStation Vita (PS Vita). Therefore, one gamer can be on one system and another player can be on another; saved games can also be accessed on either the PS3 or PS Vita. Those who buy this value-priced PS3 game also get the PS Vita version for free as a digital download.

Is it any good?

 

Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault is good but not great. On one hand, as a $20 title -- and you get the handheld version, too -- there's a lot of value here. Plus, the action can be fun, frenetic, and as silly as previous games in the franchise. The environments in which you fight in are varied and the addition of a "tower defense" mechanism while protecting your base is a good idea. You have your choice of characters, weapons, and planets to fight in. But on the flipside, the action feels like deja vu compared to other Ratchet & Clank titles and the game lacks a lengthy single-player campaign, big story, and memorable scenes. As the price point reflects, this is more like a mini-game that, while fun, isn't going to be remembered as one of the better titles of 2012. It's a decent purchase, especially if you want to play against others online -- even on another platform.

Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about whether Sony's cross-platform play -- in games like this and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale -- is a trend we should see more in the future. Do PlayStation 3 (PS3) gamers want to play with PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) players and the other way around? Is it cool you get the PS Vita code for free if you buy the PS3 game?

  • Families can also talk about beloved video game characters such as Ratchet and Clank. Do you enjoy a game more when you are familiar with the characters?

This review of Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault was written by

What kids can learn

2

Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault wasn't created with educational intent, and we don't recommend it for learning.

Subjects
  • Language & Reading: following directions, reading
  • Math:
  • Science:
  • Social Studies:
  • Arts:
  • Hobbies:
Skills
  • Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, strategy
  • Creativity:
  • Self-Direction: achieving goals, time management
  • Emotional Development:
  • Communication:
  • Collaboration: cooperation, teamwork
  • Responsibility & Ethics:
  • Tech Skills:
  • Health & Fitness:

What's it about?

RATCHET & CLANK: FULL FRONTAL ASSAULT is a third-person action game starring many familiar characters from previous Ratchet & Clank games -- including the pointy-eared alien Ratchet, the robotic Clank (in various forms, including Giant Clank), and Captain Qwark. The game dispenses with any meaningful story and dives right into the action, where players must defend their base from waves of aggressive E.T. intruders on three different planets. Players have access to a huge assortment of weapons, co-op and competitive play (both online and on the same console), various modes to choose from (player vs. player, base defense) and support for cross-platform play between the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PlayStation Vita (PS Vita). Therefore, one gamer can be on one system and another player can be on another; saved games can also be accessed on either the PS3 or PS Vita. Those who buy this value-priced PS3 game also get the PS Vita version for free as a digital download.

This review of Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault was written by
Parent
January 7, 2013
AGE
8
 
Learning3
OH. I didn't know that. WAAAAH I THOUGHT I WAS MEGAS GOOD AT KEEPING SEKWITS! [enternyoronchuruyuasanreference]
[emoved by mod] There. It's in invisible text. JUST HELP ME OKAYYYY Last edited by Lightnin (2010-08-27 09:07:26)
What other families should know:
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This review of Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault was written by
Topics:magic and fantasy, adventures, bugs, monsters, ghosts, and vampires, robots, space and aliens
Platforms:PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Action/Adventure
Developer:Sony Computer Entertainment
Release date:November 27, 2012
Price:$19.99
ESRB rating:E10+ for Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence (PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita)
This review of Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault was written by

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