Back when Panic’s Playdate handheld launched, Ratcheteer ended up being one of its launch window games. Now under four years later, this little The Legend of Zelda like title is back as Ratcheteer DX. It’s still a solid game, just more accessible to a wider audience, and the new design choices ensure it still pays tribute to those early Game Boy and Game Boy Color action-RPGs.
Ratcheteer DX takes place in a world in which people live in colonies, and our avatar is a rookie who helps maintain the machines for it. However, something’s tampering with the mechanisms keeping people safe and alive. When you set off to perform maintenance and keep the power going, you find that there could be issues in other areas related to survival components like water treatment. You end up going around the colony, fixing issues, dealing with hostile creatures, and saving the day after heading off to restore power and rescue an abducted mentor. While this is a Game Boy Color style adventure, some of the story elements can get surprisingly deep when it comes to personal ideologies and the current climate.
Replace Link’s sword with a large mechanic’s wrench, and you’ll have no trouble figuring out how to succeed in The Legend of Zelda like Ratcheteer DX. Our protagonist visits different towns and “dungeons” like a power plant, water treatment plant, cryo colony, and greenhouse to deal with hostile beings infesting them. There are light puzzles that can involve moving blocks, turning gears to make paths with a wrench, using light to trigger switches, or a drill shield to break walls. Swinging the wrench is enough to clear out some movement-hampering debris and enemies, and it’s also possible to do a charged spin attack. Unlike Link, we’re able to jump around right away, which adds platforming elements immediately. But the progression is very similar to Nintendo’s titles in that we reach an area, talk with people and read books for lore and insight into what to do next, explore dungeons, and get keys that allow us to pass through locked doors and reach the boss’ room.
It’s all handled pretty well. As you’d expect from this sort of game, each dungeon area tends to possess its own theme and gimmick, which usually ties into an ability we find at or near there. For example, the Cryo Colony features a lot of gushing water from pipes, which can be used gain momentum to an area or be blocked with the Drill Shield, and said drill is also used to gain access to new areas via breaking walls. Since the game is also pretty short and can be cleared in around four hours, it also doesn’t wear out its welcome or get repetitive. That said, I do think some gameplay elements work better than others, and the Cryo Colony and its water spouts ended up being one of the more frustrating moments during my playthrough.
As for the new additions, Ratcheteer DX looks great! The Game Boy Color aesthetic suits it well. The color choices Shaun Inman went with are perfect and suit different areas and situations. I do think it looked more impressive as a monochromatic Playdate game. The updated soundtrack is also great and sounded very rich and clear on the Switch.
Ratcheteer felt really impressive when it debuted on the Playdate, and the DX version is just as enjoyable on the Switch. I do think it felt a little more special when bound to the limitations of Panic’s handheld. It still looks and runs quite well, and this short, top-down action-RPG can be a pleasant way to enjoy an afternoon.
Ratcheteer DX is available on the Switch and PC, and the original game is on the Playdate.
Ratcheteer DX
Ratcheteer felt really impressive when it debuted on the Playdate, and the DX version is just as enjoyable on the Switch.