Release date: 29 August 2024
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC
Ratchet & Clank Fans, rejoice, Akimbot is coming later this summer and brings with it a whole shoebox full of love letters addressed to the PlayStation platformer. Evil Raptor, the team behind the MediEvil-inspired Pumpkin Jackhas once again proven that they can copy a successful formula and refine it with a few additional ingredients to make the offer even more attractive. Akimbot follows two robots, Exe and Shipset, who have just escaped the clutches of the Roboglioni mafia family and are fleeing from the bots using very Italian code (they even wear funny little old-school hats).
The platforming gameplay is incredibly fluid and seamless, with double jumps and sprints allowing you to move around the beach environment with relative ease. It’s simplistic but effective, and the level design feels like it’s gently nudging you in a direction rather than tying you to rails. Combat is similarly simple: Exe can melee enemies with a blade, shoot them with an AR, and choose one of four special attacks from a merchant I discovered almost immediately in my demo. You’ll also need some firepower here, as one scene where a massive ship with turrets rained hell down on me was pretty difficult.
Akimbot is fast and entertaining and feels like the perfect game for Ratchet & Clank Fans who want easy platforming, fluid combat, and an unusual duo at the helm. – Alyssa
