Rift Apart review – an enjoyable old school caper with impeccable next gen credentials

Sony’s confirmation that upcoming blockbuster sequels Horizon Forbidden West, God of War Ragnorak and Gran Turismo 7 will all be coming to PS4 and PS5 has reignited the debate over when consumers should cross the console generation Rubicon. In an attempt to add a dash of kerosene to the fire, website GamingBible recently went so far as to dismiss the PlayStation 5 as “mainly an expensive Netflix machine.”

Aside from the intentionally inflammatory headline, the article’s argument is entirely valid. Despite a steady stream of graphics and performance updates for last and cross-gen titles, the number of must-have next-gen native experiences remains worryingly small. There are mitigating factors – not the least of which is the impact the ongoing global pandemic is having on game development – but it’s saying something that the preloaded tech demo Astro’s Playroom remains one of the PS5’s best exclusives six months into its lifecycle.

The tide is beginning to turn — but it’s slow progress by any measure. Following April’s PS5-only shooter Returnal comes Ratchet and Clank’s latest escapade – although the two games couldn’t be further apart in terms of audience spectrum. Housemarque’s badass offer often felt like a masochistic experiment; Rift Apart has such broad mainstream appeal that it could be gifted with Happy Meals.

That’s not to disparage the next-generation gourmet ingredients on offer here, mind you. Veteran developers Insomniac have harnessed the power of the PS5 to create a lavish series that combines rich CG environments and Hollywood-grade character models with expansive screens packed with retina-burning special effects. Playing the opening tutorial level feels like stepping into an animated cartoon – a sensation that rarely dissipates over the dozens of hours of Rift Apart’s amiable campaign.