8 Reasons Ratchet And Clank Is The Best PS4 Exclusive So Far

5. The Simple Charms Of Smashing And Collecting Things

The pursuit of collectibles ranges from the innocent lands of Mario and Sonic, all the way up to the towering skyscrapers and ruins of Crackdown and Assassin's Creed. There's something so endlessly enjoyable about seeking out treasures and hoovering them all up.

It's one of the best visual flourishes in R&C, too, as scores of shiny bolts home in on you in swarms. There's nothing better than cracking open multiple crates as you bash enemies in the process, only for the resulting mess to zip into you faster than Neo does Agent Smith.

Weapon and item upgrades now operate on a hexagonal pattern reminiscent of Final Fantasy X's Sphere Grid. Collecting certain shards means you can spend them encircling a central hexagonal tile, each step of the way adding points to the item, as the final core piece completes a set. Lastly, packs of cards can be amassed and traded for a variety of character boosts and stat bonuses.

It may sound strange to describe such things as major positives, but seriously, don't underestimate the sheer fun of these ancillary parts coming together to enhance the overall fun factor.