Insomniac Games decided to remind everyone that on this very day, twenty years the Ratchet: Deadlocked title was released on PlayStation 2. The date of October 25, 2005 seems like ages back when PS2 was the king of the gaming world, and Ratchet was still very much around but with his edgier phase. The developer not only marked this occasion with the new release of some lovely concept art but also with the gamers’ wildest reactions, one of which was a strong but very loud demand: just bring back this game already!
What really is Ratchet: Deadlocked then? It was the fourth game in the titular series but it strayed from the path the first three took. Ratchet was no longer the classic superhero and did not embark on the usual platforming adventure but rather he engaged in gladiator-style combat in a deadly arena. The game had a dark atmosphere focused on battles and introduced many unforgettable weapons and mechanics that later characterizes the whole franchise. One of the many, the antagonist Gleeman Vox, was so insane that he caused the debate among gamers about whether he was wild enough for Insomniac to even think of him.
The Insomniac tweet rekindled memories and requests started to pour in. Gamers couldn’t be more frank when saying, “Get this game back!” others claimed it was “uno de los mejores de la saga” (translation: one of the best in the series). The sentiment was almost unanimous – the game should be available on modern systems like yesterday.
Twitter user, NefariousLombax made it public that they started the 20th Anniversary replay which meant in other words that they are keeping the tradition of playing the first three games on anniversaries every seven years. They said Deadlocked is still very enjoyable indicating the game has well by far the during time of two long decades. Meanwhile, KingDeadlock was feeling very nostalgic and post “it is hard to believe that it has been 20 years. I have so many memories and I am very much enjoying reliving them just to feel the nostalgia again. This is undoubtedly one of my all-time favorite games and it was a huge part of my childhood.”
The remaster requests were coming in thick and fast. FanficWriter339 stated that they would be playing if the game ever gets remastered for PS4/5; they also mentioned, “Combat was fun but playing it at 60 FPS would be something else.” DowaHawkiin was even more direct: “Would reeeeeeeeeeally like if this game was remasteded along with the original trilogy.” Note that they misspelled it remasteded but we are pretty sure they meant remastered! Frankly, the typos just add authenticity.
Not every player made the same request. CynicalSwedeX was asking for a somewhat similar porting opportunity to PC when he said, “To celebrate we get the original 4 on PC? (Pls i beg)” while PittBigley told them that they have both physical and digital copies on PS3 but still asked when will it be “the pc port?” This clearly indicates that the demand for Ratchet is already there in the PC gaming community which is not surprising considering how the series has always been and still is quite popular.
The jokes about age started to come thick and fast. DHawkiin calculated that “If Ratchet was 18 in this game, that would make him 38 today!” Well, this is somewhat depressing to be honest. Our favorite lombax is almost 40 already? But I guess time flies when you are saving the universe and blowing up robots.
But the question still stands what was it that made Deadlocked special? For a majority of players, the answer is the shift to more intense combat and the addition of arena-type gameplay. The weapon systems were incredulously absurd but in a good way, and the co-op mode was rather innovative for its time. Player omar_ratchet referred to it as “The Bast GamePlay in PS2” which appears to be a typo but the point is clear – the gameplay was excellent for its time.
The debate even shifted to other Insomniac games, with WanderAtrus questioning if Wolverine would eventually come to PlayStation since Microsoft had changed its stance and turned more of a third-party publisher. However, the main focus was still on Ratchet, with several users asking for a new adventure to follow the release of Wolverine. Game News Club summed it up really well: “Please bring back Rachet & Clank with a new adventure after Wolverine comes out! I hope something’s in the works!”
All these posts are clear evidence that Ratchet: Deadlocked has been an impactful game for a whole generation of gamers. The very fact that it is still being talked about twenty years later, that it is being replayed, and that there is still a demand for modern ports are all indicators of its extremely good quality and lasting appeal. The combination of the weapons, the humor, and the excessive actions created a truly unforgettable experience.
Moreover, Insomniac has been doing a fantastic job with its latest Ratchet games such as Rift Apart, which exquisitely demonstrated how stunning the series can look and play on today’s hardware. Nonetheless, the demand for the old games to receive the same treatment is still quite considerable. Maybe the 20th-anniversary commotion and player enthusiasm will finally allow these classics to be returned somehow. On any account, the legacy of Ratchet: Deadlocked as one of the most favored entries in an already excellent series is firmly built. Let’s celebrate twenty years of chaos and hope there will be even more to come.
