Ratchet and Clank, the lombax/robot duo now starring in their ninth video game, may not be as famous as some other lovable mascots, like Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. They haven't gotten their own Saturday morning cartoon show, cereals or plush toys. And they haven't been spun off into sports games, kart racers or pinball games.
What they have done since 2002 is anchor one of the most dependably entertaining franchises in video-game history. From the original PlayStation 2 release to last year's download-only "Quest for Booty," developer Insomniac Games has continually upped the ante, with fresh gameplay gimmicks, more ambitious storytelling and more sumptuous graphics.
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is their best game yet.
