System: Sony PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network)

Publisher: Sony

Reviewer’s rating: ***

ESRB rating: Everyone 10+

Game type: Platform adventure

Kind of like: The original “R&C”

Best feature: New “Ratchet & Clank” for only $15?! Sweet!

Worst feature: Few, if any, new weapons

The bottom line: Sony’s standout sci-fi series goes back to basics with “Quest for Booty,” a budget-priced, downloadable treat for “Ratchet & Clank” fans that serves as an episodic narrative bridge between last year’s “Tools of Destruction” and next year’s planned follow-up.

As it follows Ratchet’s quest to locate his kidnapped robot pal Clank, “Booty” throws out all the side quests, mini-games and battle arenas that have become part of the series’ successful formula, instead focusing on the platform action at its core. Running, jumping, shooting bad guys, collecting bolts and solving puzzles is as fun as ever, mainly because developer Insomniac seems to have a limitless supply of fresh, impossibly clever (and graphically stunning) level designs.

Unfortunately, we’ve seen most — if not all — of the weapons and gadgets included here, which is a shame because the inventiveness of Ratchet’s arsenal has always been one of the series’ hallmarks. We do get a couple of new uses for his wrench, including a “tether” ability that lets you manipulate bridges, platforms and catapults in interesting new ways.

While the game is brief (about four hours), it still packs in enough of the trademark “R&C” action and humor to tide fans over until the next full-length installment.