Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Review - 7 Ups & 1 Down

6. "Pocket Dimensions" & Instant World Transitions Show What The SSD Can Do

Again, if you're anything like me, you've been waiting for a game to throw on your TV and simply think "Okay, this is what a PS5 can do. THIS is what I didn't even realise I was paying money for".

In Rift Apart's case, the showstopper from even the earliest trailers was instant transition from one biome to the next, as story-wise the evil Dr. Nefarious has fractured space and time, leaving our heroes to tumble between dimensions.

Now, there are sequences where you're essentially "on rails", falling through wormholes that still show off entire worlds being rendered in seconds as you pass by. However, the real executions on what Insomniac can do come from "Pocket Dimensions", and later a level set in the "Blizar Mines", that sees you changing the entire landscape with the tap of a crystal.

The latter really is unbelievable to see in motion, and as for Pocket Dimensions, these are miniature "between realms" puzzle levels that load instantly once you tear a hole in the side of a level.

Combined - and with zero loading across the board - 2021's Ratchet & Clank is a masterclass in what the newest generation of hardware can bring us.