Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart ushers in the next generation of games in this hugely popular series that has been around for nearly 20 years. However, I have never played it before.

Diving into an existing franchise can be daunting. There are characters with complex histories, story arcs that span years, and universes built from the ground up. It can be daunting to get in too deep. In-jokes and references to previous works abound, along with the assumption that we actually care about the characters and their fates. If you don't have some emotional attachment to the game world and its inhabitants, the experience tends to be negative.

I entered "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart" completely clueless. Within minutes of the opening, however, I was on board with the game.

The game opens with a cutscene featuring a new character, the female Lombax Rivet. In this regard, the series' most persistent fans will be in exactly the same position as new users. The looks of this PS5 game are great, and Jennifer Hale does an excellent job as Rivette.

The style and humor of this title is immediately recognizable. Eventually, we cut to a scene where the heroic duo attends a large parade honoring their heroism, which they have been doing since 2002.

All I knew about the two characters before this was that one was tall, cute, and hairy, and one was short, cute, and shiny. But, oh dear, they both look good! There were a few supporting characters here and there in the intro, but I was so caught up in the festivities that I didn't pay much attention to them. Fans of Ratchet & Clank may be appalled, but that doesn't really matter.

The introduction of a functioning dimensionator (essentially, a portal maker to enter another dimension) and a droll villain (Dr. Nefarious) who isn't afraid to use it, gives followers of the series the same series of surprises we had when we first learned about this universe .

The plot is simple and straightforward, the visuals are everything one would expect from a next-generation console, and by utilizing the dual-sense controller for gameplay, everyone will ooh and aah their way through the experience with the same sense of awe and wonder.

The other-dimensional versions of the supporting characters are sure to tickle the fancy of those who have spent years getting to know them. A few comments exchanged between the characters suggest how different they are from the "regular" versions of themselves, but you don't need to know much about them to get on with saving the universe. And thankfully, Insomniac doesn't bombard you with copious amounts of lore and unnecessary backstory.

Solid gameplay, lovable characters (who need to be plush right away), and stunning, vibrant graphics that just scream "Pixar": if you have a PS5, Rift Apart is a Rift Apart is a must-play for any PS5 owner, regardless of whether or not you're familiar with the exploits of past heroes.