Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clank was released on November 4, 2002, in North America and Europe for the PlayStation 2. In the game, Supreme Executive Chairman Drek plans to take pieces from other planets across the Solana Galaxy and create one new planet for his people, the Blarg, whose planet has become polluted and uninhabitable. Aside from the two protagonists, the game also introduces Captain Qwark, who appears in the following games, as both enemy and ally.
The game introduced features such as the ability to purchase items, weapons, and unlocking gadgets as the game progresses, which have become a staple of the series in following games. The first in this series does not feature the upgrade system of experience earned for enemies killed; instead, the player may purchase stronger, gold versions of select weapons using a combination of hidden Gold Bolt items and regular bolts.
Ratchet & Clank 2 : Going Commando
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (also known as Ratchet & Clank 2: Locked and Loaded and Ratchet & Clank 2 in Japan) was released on November 11, 2003 in North America for the PlayStation 2.
Abercrombie Fizzwidget, boss of the Megacorp company, hires Ratchet and Clank to retrieve the "protopet", an artificial creature stolen by a masked thief. The duo retrieve the protopet and confront the thief, but "he" turns out to be a female, Angela Cross, who helps them investigate the protopet's true origins. They find out that Abercrombie Fizzwidget is Captain Qwark in disguise and that he created the protopet to spread disaster across the galaxy. He plans to frame Ratchet, Clank and Angela, and then destroy the original protopet to restore his reputation as a hero. Qwark then films himself attempting to "cure" the original protopet using a device made by Angela. The device backfires, and turns the protopet into a huge mutant monster that the duo will have to defeat as a final boss. Following this, it is revealed that Qwark kidnapped the real Fizzwidget in order to conduct his plans.
The game takes place in a different setting than the first installment, this time in the Bogon Galaxy. In Going Commando Ratchet competes in hoverbike races and engages in spaceship battles. This game uses the leveling system for weapons that appears in every succeeding game; using a given weapon enough – and thus gaining enough experience – causes it to evolve into a more powerful version with upgraded stats and new abilities. The weapons in Going Commando possessed two different levels (also two buyable, extra levels) and was expanded upon in later games to have more levels, from 5 to 99. Ratchet's health upgrade system is also based on experience, where an additional health point is granted after enough enemies are killed. Going Commando also introduced regular strafing to gameplay, whereas Ratchet could only strafe with the thruster pack in the first game.
Ratchet & Clank 3 : Up Your Arsenal
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (known as Ratchet & Clank 3 in some parts of Europe (like the UK) and Japan and Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal in Australia) was released on November 3, 2004, in North America for the PlayStation 2. The main plot consists of galactic invasion by an alien race known as the "Tyrhannoids", led by the game's main antagonist, Dr. Nefarious, a robotic madman determined to destroy all biological life in the galaxy, either through extermination or transformation into robotic versions of themselves. The game sees the return of protagonists Ratchet and Clank alongside new allies including Sasha Phyronix, captain of the Starship Phoenix which also serves as a staging area for the player. Captain Qwark makes a reappearance, and is a playable character in "Vid Comics" found throughout the single-player campaign. The player can complete various mission across different planets, space stations and asteroids in order to progress the plot and earn bolts, with the game climaxing in a battle between Ratchet & Clank and Dr. Nefarious, resulting in Dr. Nefarious and his butler, Lawrence, stranded in deep space.
The third installment of the series retains the experience and upgrade mechanics of the previous game, with weapons becoming increasingly devastating with increased use. Combat and platforming mechanics are also relatively unchanged as is the weapon purchase system, with bolts remaining as the primary currency throughout. Vehicle and weapon choice has also been extended, offering a large arsenal of new weapons and transport. You can also purchase upgrades for your ship for Raritanium at "Slim's Ship Shack" and paint jobs at the Starship Phoenix, depending on the number of skill points you have accumulated. The game also features 4-player split-screen play, or up to 8-player online if an internet connection is available, and features an array of game modes including Capture the Flag and Deathmatch.
The game was released in 2004 to critical acclaim, with praise being drawn to the quality of the mutiplayer components of the game, graphics, sound, characters, level design, story and overall gameplay. The game currently has an average score of 91% on Metacritic.
Ratchet: Deadlocked
Ratchet: Deadlocked (also known as Ratchet: Gladiator and known as Ratchet & Clank 4 in Japan) was released on October 25, 2005 in North America for the PlayStation 2. Deadlocked deviates from the previous installments of the series by reducing the platforming and puzzle elements and focusing on the combat aspects. Also, cheats became less comedic and more cinematic, including weather and color options. You can also make Alpha and Omega modifications to weapons as you aquire them. In Deadlocked, Ratchet, Clank and Al are captured and forced to compete in an intense, murderous, underground sport called Dreadzone, run by the media mogul Gleeman Vox. For the first time in the series, Clank is not a playable character nor accompanies Ratchet on any of the levels. However, a playable skin named "Alpha-Clank" is available for use as a skin in the "Co-Op" and "Multiplayer" modes of the game.
During "Co-op" play, the team-mates will have to stay close together, otherwise a timer will appear. The players will need to get back to their team-mate before the timer expires; if they fail this, both players will die.
In the beginning of the game the player can choose the difficulty of the game, from "Couch Potato" to "Exterminator". Gladiator supports online play and a cooperative mode. Additionally, for the first time, you can not get Gold (Ratchet and Clank 1) / Platinum (Ratchet and Clank 2) or Titanium Bolts (Ratchet and Clank 3) in the game.
Though Deadlocked was not included in the retail high-definition collection of the original trilogy, a high-definition version of the game will be released as a downloadable title on the PlayStation Network in late 2012.
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters was released in North America on February 13, 2007 on the PlayStation Portable and March 11, 2008 on the PlayStation 2. The development was performed by High Impact Games, composed, partially, of former Insomniac Games employees. While on a much needed vacation, Ratchet and Clank's rest and relaxation time is suddenly cut short as they soon find themselves lured into a mysterious quest. Following the trail of a kidnapped girl named Luna, Ratchet and Clank rediscover a forgotten race of genius inventors known as the Technomites. Luna turns out to trick Ratchet later on in the game. In this game, Ratchet and Clank use a whole new variety of weapons that may seem familiar to those who have played the series before. As in previous games, the R.Y.N.O. is a weapon available for purchase at a high price. The skill points and weapon upgrading systems also make their return. Also returning are optional weapon upgrades that can be purchased from Slim Cognito, a merchant from Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal. These modifications give the weapons additional features, such as lock-on mods, additional firepower and extra abilities. The armor system has been altered. There are seven types of armor available, all of which are found in different pieces (helmet, body, gloves, and boots) on different planets. Once a complete set of armor is found and they are equipped, it gives the player special abilities such as upgraded wrench attacks. All different kinds of armors can be combined for special abilities and additional protection. In the end they find the ruler of the Technomites, named Otto Destruct, and the fight ends with Otto losing. Qwark gets angry that Otto told him that he was his father, when in fact Qwark's parents were killed by defective Technomite technology. He tries to switch brains with Otto, but it ends up as Skrunch and Otto switching brains and Qwark gets shrunk.
Secret Agent Clank
Announced at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, Secret Agent Clank was developed by High Impact Games, the same company who made the PlayStation Portable game, Size Matters. It is available for the PlayStation Portable and was released on June 17, 2008. This game was also released for the PlayStation 2 on May 26, 2009. The game focuses more on Clank as the playable character, due to Ratchet being wrongfully imprisoned and needs rescuing by Clank in his super spy motif suggested from previous games. While Clank can use martial arts action and high-tech, cleverly disguised weapons to defend himself, execute bombs from his cuff links, and throw boomerang bow-ties, there is a need to use stealth at times to progress in the game. He finds that Ratchet is being framed by Klunk, Dr. Nefarious' creation of Clank. Eventually, Clank and Klunk will battle each other; this serves as the final boss fight of the game.
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
An Insomniac Games production revealed at Gamescom 2010 in Cologne, Germany on 17 August. The game has Online Multiplayer and 4 player Co-Ops featuring the use of drop-in/drop-out, offline/online gameplay. The game mainly focuses on cooperative play. Teammates can work together, even using weapons between players. Players can take control of Ratchet, Clank, Captain Qwark, and Dr. Nefarious. It was released on October 18, 2011.
In Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One, Ratchet and Clank stopped their adventures as superheroes after the election of Captain Quark as the Galactic President. Dr. Nefarious tricks him into going to Luminopolis by telling him that he would have gotten a prize for his heroics acts. Quark invites Ratchet and Clank to come with him and, after arriving, they realize the trick, but it's too late because Dr. Nefarious brings back to life a Light-Eating Z'Grute that Ratchet and Clank defeat. After Killing the Light-Eating Z'Grute they all get captured by a mysterious drone, but they break free thanks to a little girl called Susy. After escaping they realize they are on an unknown planet and that if they want to get back home they will have to cooperate. Fortunately they make it to Susy's village where they find out that the drone is called Ephemeris and that the one who created it is a scientist called Frumpus Croid. However, they all want to go back home even if it means setting Ephemeris free. After hearing the sad story about the death of Susy's parents by the hand of Ephemeris, they decide they have to stop this drone. During the game they find lots of Dr. Croid's videos that explain how Ephemeris was taken by his partner Nevo Binklemeyer as well as Dr. Croid's pet, Mr. Dinkles. Thanks to Commander Smog, the commander of Nevo's army that was defeated by the heroes, they find Dr. Croid but realize he has gone crazy. After retrieving the coordinates of Ephemeris, they go there and find out that the one that is manipulating Ephemeris isn't Nevo but Mr. Dinkles. They discover that Mr. Dinkles was possessed by the spirit of one of the most terrible ancient races, called the Loki, that was trapped in the pets body to prevent it from taking over the universe. The Loki inside Mr. Dinkles abandons his body and enters the body of an enormous alien coming from Rykan V (Planet from ToD). The Creature is an Apex Predator of Rykan V, the Grivelnox. The heroes have to fight it as the final boss.
After defeating the alien, the Loki spirit, not finding a body, dissolves. Ratchet and Clank decide to restart their adventures as Galactic heroes and when reinforcements come to bring the heroes back home. Lawrence, the pilot of the ship, descends beside the four and, while Qwark is making possibly one of his most intelligent speeches, Dr. Nefarious tricks them and flys away with the ship. Ratchet decides he is going to pilot the weaponized drone, Ephemeris, back to Luminopolis with the hope of Quark, as president, pardoning their arrival in a supe
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault (Ratchet and Clank: QForce outside of North America) was announced 30 May. The game sees the return of the classic third person camera used in the original games, and features a co-op option. The game was announced as part of a 'surprise' from Insomniac Games to mark the 10th anniversary since the original game was released. The new twist is a kind of tower defense, where Ratchet has to fight enemies over 5 levels on 3 different planets. It was released on November 27, 2012 on the PlayStation 3 with the PlayStation Vita version delayed until January 2013.
Ratchet & Clank was released on November 4, 2002, in North America and Europe for the PlayStation 2. In the game, Supreme Executive Chairman Drek plans to take pieces from other planets across the Solana Galaxy and create one new planet for his people, the Blarg, whose planet has become polluted and uninhabitable. Aside from the two protagonists, the game also introduces Captain Qwark, who appears in the following games, as both enemy and ally.
The game introduced features such as the ability to purchase items, weapons, and unlocking gadgets as the game progresses, which have become a staple of the series in following games. The first in this series does not feature the upgrade system of experience earned for enemies killed; instead, the player may purchase stronger, gold versions of select weapons using a combination of hidden Gold Bolt items and regular bolts.
Ratchet & Clank 2 : Going Commando
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (also known as Ratchet & Clank 2: Locked and Loaded and Ratchet & Clank 2 in Japan) was released on November 11, 2003 in North America for the PlayStation 2.
Abercrombie Fizzwidget, boss of the Megacorp company, hires Ratchet and Clank to retrieve the "protopet", an artificial creature stolen by a masked thief. The duo retrieve the protopet and confront the thief, but "he" turns out to be a female, Angela Cross, who helps them investigate the protopet's true origins. They find out that Abercrombie Fizzwidget is Captain Qwark in disguise and that he created the protopet to spread disaster across the galaxy. He plans to frame Ratchet, Clank and Angela, and then destroy the original protopet to restore his reputation as a hero. Qwark then films himself attempting to "cure" the original protopet using a device made by Angela. The device backfires, and turns the protopet into a huge mutant monster that the duo will have to defeat as a final boss. Following this, it is revealed that Qwark kidnapped the real Fizzwidget in order to conduct his plans.
The game takes place in a different setting than the first installment, this time in the Bogon Galaxy. In Going Commando Ratchet competes in hoverbike races and engages in spaceship battles. This game uses the leveling system for weapons that appears in every succeeding game; using a given weapon enough – and thus gaining enough experience – causes it to evolve into a more powerful version with upgraded stats and new abilities. The weapons in Going Commando possessed two different levels (also two buyable, extra levels) and was expanded upon in later games to have more levels, from 5 to 99. Ratchet's health upgrade system is also based on experience, where an additional health point is granted after enough enemies are killed. Going Commando also introduced regular strafing to gameplay, whereas Ratchet could only strafe with the thruster pack in the first game.
Ratchet & Clank 3 : Up Your Arsenal
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (known as Ratchet & Clank 3 in some parts of Europe (like the UK) and Japan and Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal in Australia) was released on November 3, 2004, in North America for the PlayStation 2. The main plot consists of galactic invasion by an alien race known as the "Tyrhannoids", led by the game's main antagonist, Dr. Nefarious, a robotic madman determined to destroy all biological life in the galaxy, either through extermination or transformation into robotic versions of themselves. The game sees the return of protagonists Ratchet and Clank alongside new allies including Sasha Phyronix, captain of the Starship Phoenix which also serves as a staging area for the player. Captain Qwark makes a reappearance, and is a playable character in "Vid Comics" found throughout the single-player campaign. The player can complete various mission across different planets, space stations and asteroids in order to progress the plot and earn bolts, with the game climaxing in a battle between Ratchet & Clank and Dr. Nefarious, resulting in Dr. Nefarious and his butler, Lawrence, stranded in deep space.
The third installment of the series retains the experience and upgrade mechanics of the previous game, with weapons becoming increasingly devastating with increased use. Combat and platforming mechanics are also relatively unchanged as is the weapon purchase system, with bolts remaining as the primary currency throughout. Vehicle and weapon choice has also been extended, offering a large arsenal of new weapons and transport. You can also purchase upgrades for your ship for Raritanium at "Slim's Ship Shack" and paint jobs at the Starship Phoenix, depending on the number of skill points you have accumulated. The game also features 4-player split-screen play, or up to 8-player online if an internet connection is available, and features an array of game modes including Capture the Flag and Deathmatch.
The game was released in 2004 to critical acclaim, with praise being drawn to the quality of the mutiplayer components of the game, graphics, sound, characters, level design, story and overall gameplay. The game currently has an average score of 91% on Metacritic.
Ratchet: Deadlocked
Ratchet: Deadlocked (also known as Ratchet: Gladiator and known as Ratchet & Clank 4 in Japan) was released on October 25, 2005 in North America for the PlayStation 2. Deadlocked deviates from the previous installments of the series by reducing the platforming and puzzle elements and focusing on the combat aspects. Also, cheats became less comedic and more cinematic, including weather and color options. You can also make Alpha and Omega modifications to weapons as you aquire them. In Deadlocked, Ratchet, Clank and Al are captured and forced to compete in an intense, murderous, underground sport called Dreadzone, run by the media mogul Gleeman Vox. For the first time in the series, Clank is not a playable character nor accompanies Ratchet on any of the levels. However, a playable skin named "Alpha-Clank" is available for use as a skin in the "Co-Op" and "Multiplayer" modes of the game.
During "Co-op" play, the team-mates will have to stay close together, otherwise a timer will appear. The players will need to get back to their team-mate before the timer expires; if they fail this, both players will die.
In the beginning of the game the player can choose the difficulty of the game, from "Couch Potato" to "Exterminator". Gladiator supports online play and a cooperative mode. Additionally, for the first time, you can not get Gold (Ratchet and Clank 1) / Platinum (Ratchet and Clank 2) or Titanium Bolts (Ratchet and Clank 3) in the game.
Though Deadlocked was not included in the retail high-definition collection of the original trilogy, a high-definition version of the game will be released as a downloadable title on the PlayStation Network in late 2012.
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters was released in North America on February 13, 2007 on the PlayStation Portable and March 11, 2008 on the PlayStation 2. The development was performed by High Impact Games, composed, partially, of former Insomniac Games employees. While on a much needed vacation, Ratchet and Clank's rest and relaxation time is suddenly cut short as they soon find themselves lured into a mysterious quest. Following the trail of a kidnapped girl named Luna, Ratchet and Clank rediscover a forgotten race of genius inventors known as the Technomites. Luna turns out to trick Ratchet later on in the game. In this game, Ratchet and Clank use a whole new variety of weapons that may seem familiar to those who have played the series before. As in previous games, the R.Y.N.O. is a weapon available for purchase at a high price. The skill points and weapon upgrading systems also make their return. Also returning are optional weapon upgrades that can be purchased from Slim Cognito, a merchant from Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal. These modifications give the weapons additional features, such as lock-on mods, additional firepower and extra abilities. The armor system has been altered. There are seven types of armor available, all of which are found in different pieces (helmet, body, gloves, and boots) on different planets. Once a complete set of armor is found and they are equipped, it gives the player special abilities such as upgraded wrench attacks. All different kinds of armors can be combined for special abilities and additional protection. In the end they find the ruler of the Technomites, named Otto Destruct, and the fight ends with Otto losing. Qwark gets angry that Otto told him that he was his father, when in fact Qwark's parents were killed by defective Technomite technology. He tries to switch brains with Otto, but it ends up as Skrunch and Otto switching brains and Qwark gets shrunk.
Secret Agent Clank
Announced at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, Secret Agent Clank was developed by High Impact Games, the same company who made the PlayStation Portable game, Size Matters. It is available for the PlayStation Portable and was released on June 17, 2008. This game was also released for the PlayStation 2 on May 26, 2009. The game focuses more on Clank as the playable character, due to Ratchet being wrongfully imprisoned and needs rescuing by Clank in his super spy motif suggested from previous games. While Clank can use martial arts action and high-tech, cleverly disguised weapons to defend himself, execute bombs from his cuff links, and throw boomerang bow-ties, there is a need to use stealth at times to progress in the game. He finds that Ratchet is being framed by Klunk, Dr. Nefarious' creation of Clank. Eventually, Clank and Klunk will battle each other; this serves as the final boss fight of the game.
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
An Insomniac Games production revealed at Gamescom 2010 in Cologne, Germany on 17 August. The game has Online Multiplayer and 4 player Co-Ops featuring the use of drop-in/drop-out, offline/online gameplay. The game mainly focuses on cooperative play. Teammates can work together, even using weapons between players. Players can take control of Ratchet, Clank, Captain Qwark, and Dr. Nefarious. It was released on October 18, 2011.
In Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One, Ratchet and Clank stopped their adventures as superheroes after the election of Captain Quark as the Galactic President. Dr. Nefarious tricks him into going to Luminopolis by telling him that he would have gotten a prize for his heroics acts. Quark invites Ratchet and Clank to come with him and, after arriving, they realize the trick, but it's too late because Dr. Nefarious brings back to life a Light-Eating Z'Grute that Ratchet and Clank defeat. After Killing the Light-Eating Z'Grute they all get captured by a mysterious drone, but they break free thanks to a little girl called Susy. After escaping they realize they are on an unknown planet and that if they want to get back home they will have to cooperate. Fortunately they make it to Susy's village where they find out that the drone is called Ephemeris and that the one who created it is a scientist called Frumpus Croid. However, they all want to go back home even if it means setting Ephemeris free. After hearing the sad story about the death of Susy's parents by the hand of Ephemeris, they decide they have to stop this drone. During the game they find lots of Dr. Croid's videos that explain how Ephemeris was taken by his partner Nevo Binklemeyer as well as Dr. Croid's pet, Mr. Dinkles. Thanks to Commander Smog, the commander of Nevo's army that was defeated by the heroes, they find Dr. Croid but realize he has gone crazy. After retrieving the coordinates of Ephemeris, they go there and find out that the one that is manipulating Ephemeris isn't Nevo but Mr. Dinkles. They discover that Mr. Dinkles was possessed by the spirit of one of the most terrible ancient races, called the Loki, that was trapped in the pets body to prevent it from taking over the universe. The Loki inside Mr. Dinkles abandons his body and enters the body of an enormous alien coming from Rykan V (Planet from ToD). The Creature is an Apex Predator of Rykan V, the Grivelnox. The heroes have to fight it as the final boss.
After defeating the alien, the Loki spirit, not finding a body, dissolves. Ratchet and Clank decide to restart their adventures as Galactic heroes and when reinforcements come to bring the heroes back home. Lawrence, the pilot of the ship, descends beside the four and, while Qwark is making possibly one of his most intelligent speeches, Dr. Nefarious tricks them and flys away with the ship. Ratchet decides he is going to pilot the weaponized drone, Ephemeris, back to Luminopolis with the hope of Quark, as president, pardoning their arrival in a supe
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault (Ratchet and Clank: QForce outside of North America) was announced 30 May. The game sees the return of the classic third person camera used in the original games, and features a co-op option. The game was announced as part of a 'surprise' from Insomniac Games to mark the 10th anniversary since the original game was released. The new twist is a kind of tower defense, where Ratchet has to fight enemies over 5 levels on 3 different planets. It was released on November 27, 2012 on the PlayStation 3 with the PlayStation Vita version delayed until January 2013.
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