Our Ratchet & Clank Q Force PS3 Review

Page Updated: This particular review has been updated to concentrate on the PlayStation 3 version and revisit the game 13 years later to offer hindsight.

As someone who’s followed the Ratchet & Clank series since its early PS2 days, I approached Ratchet & Clank: QForce with curiosity rather than caution. This entry, known as Full Frontal Assault outside of PAL regions, tries something unorthodox for the series: it blends classic third-person action with tower defence elements. The result is an experimental but surprisingly enjoyable hybrid, albeit one that stumbles in its single-player execution.

From the start, I was glad to see the return of the classic third-person camera.

It instantly felt more like the Ratchet I remembered. But beyond that, QForce isn’t your typical planet-hopping collectathon. Instead, I found myself defending bases, constructing turrets, and managing generators while still engaging in familiar combat. It was hectic, fast, and at its best – genuinely fun.

Each mission dropped me into a compact map with no weapons or bolts to start, and I immediately felt the pressure ramp up. I had to track down weapon stations, bash crates and enemies for bolts, and set up my defences before the next enemy wave hit.

With six generators to protect and enemies constantly trying to destroy them, I had to move quickly and think strategically. The hoverboots, ziplines, ramps, and boost pads gave me the speed to keep up with the chaos, something I really appreciated during intense moments.

Playing solo, though, was where I started to struggle. I couldn’t reliably defend and progress at the same time. Every time I tried to collect bolts or secure a new weapon, a wave of enemies would spawn and force me to drop everything and sprint back to base. It became exhausting – and frankly, frustrating – trying to do everything at once.

I also wasn’t a fan of having to locate weapon stations just to get my arsenal up and running. Once I learned the maps, it became less of an issue, but on a first playthrough, it felt like a pace-breaking hurdle.

Co-op, on the other hand, made all the difference. I played online with a friend, and the experience immediately felt more balanced and fun.

One of us could focus on gathering bolts while the other stayed back to defend the base. We could split objectives, communicate strategy, and finally play to the game’s strengths instead of wrestling against its structure. That’s when QForce really clicked for me.

I also gave the competitive multiplayer a go. The 1v1 and 2v2 matches were a clever extension of the game’s main mechanics—buying enemies to send at your opponent while defending your own base. I genuinely enjoyed a few rounds, but I couldn’t ignore how barebones it felt. With only three maps, one mode, and no unlocks or progression system, I found myself losing interest fairly quickly.

QForce is extremely short. I wrapped up the main campaign in just over five and a half hours. There are only five missions total, one of which is a boss fight and two that reuse the same map layout.

That said, I was still tempted to jump back in and chase gold bolts, skill points, and time trials. There’s at least some replay value here for completionists like me.

If you’re looking for something that’s similar, there’s nothing closer than the Spyro Reignited Trilogy. Although, I personally preferred Spyro over this.

Tonally, I appreciated that the humour and charm hadn’t gone anywhere. The new villain – a petty, awkward kid – made me laugh more than once, and the banter between Ratchet, Clank, and Qwark felt true to the series.

It’s not a story-driven game, but it didn’t need to be. The personality came through where it counted.

All things considered, Ratchet & Clank: QForce felt like a bold experiment, and for me, it mostly worked. It brought something new to the series without totally abandoning its roots. I just wish the single-player experience had been more balanced. If you’re a solo player, I’d be cautious. But if you’ve got someone to team up with, it’s an enjoyable, fast-paced spin on the classic formula.