Ratchet & Clank (PlayStation 2)
Release Date: November 4, 2002
Ratchet, a member of a fictional fox-like species known as the lombax, is a timeless mascot of action platformers on PlayStation whose legacy now stretches across five platforms and more than a dozen games. But it all started with the 2002 original. Does the game hold up? Well, that’s a matter of opinion. (Kotaku’s stance on the matter is that the 2016 remake is better.) But the staying power is undeniable, thanks to a parade of well-received games, right on through last year’s eye-wateringly beautiful Rift Apart. — Ari
