Ratchet & Clank (video game)

Ratchet & Clank
	; Ratchet & Clank
Developer	Insomniac Games
Publisher	Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date(s)	North America: November 6, 2002 Europe: November 8, 2002
Genre	Platformer, Shooter
Modes	Single-player
Ratings	ERSB: T PEGI: 3+ ELSPA: 3+ OFLC: 8+ CERO: A+
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2 PlayStation 3 Back-Comp.
Followed By	R&C: Going Commando
Initials	R&C1

Ratchet & Clank is the first in the Ratchet & Clank series. It is a 3D platformer/shooter video game for the PlayStation 2 created by Insomniac Games and developed by Sony Computer Entertainment.

The game plot opens with a fictional bipedal anthropomorphic species called a Lombax named Ratchet, meeting his new XJ-robotic companion named B5429671, which Ratchet quickly gives him the nickname "Clank". Clank discovers that the villainous Chairman Drek of the Blarg race plans to create a new planet for his species, destroying the galaxy in the process. Clank convinces Ratchet to help him in his quest to gain the help of the famous superhero Captain Copernicus Leslie Qwark. But they soon discover that they must save the galaxy on their own.

The game offers a wide range of weapons and gadgets that the player must use to defeat numerous enemies and solve puzzles on a variety of different planets in the fictional "Solana" galaxy. The game also includes several mini-games, such as racing or lock-picking, which the player must complete to proceed. The game was positively received by critics, praising the good graphics and variety of gameplay along with the sci-fi story.

Plot

The story began on a backwater planet in the Solana galaxy, known as Veldin. Ratchet, was seen working on a space ship. Ratchet then checked what else needed to be done to complete his ship from "HelpDesk". A robotic ignition system was needed. Meanwhile at a robot manufacturing plant elsewhere in the galaxy, the computer instead of creating a Sentry-bot accidently created Clank, a tiny robot who discovered that his creator, Chairman Drek, planned to create a new planet by destroying other planets in the galaxy. He was spotted as he fled the planet and was shot down over Veldin. Ratchet struck a deal with Clank. If Clank would start his ship, he would agree to help Clank locate Captain Qwark to save the galaxy from Drek. The two began an adventure. They explored planets which Drek attacked such as Novalis and Eudora before meeting Captain Qwark on Rilgar. Captain Qwark tricked them into doing a deathcourse on Umbris. They eventually finished the deathcourse only to discover Captain Qwark was working for Drek. Captain Qwark then left, forcing Ratchet and Clank to defeat a Blargian Snagglebeast. The two then flew to save Batalia but Ratchet vowed to 'pay him back' while Clank tried to convince him that Drek was the bigger issue. Ratchet finally came to his senses with he discovered Drek was planing to destroy an entire planet with the PlanetBuster Maximus which Ratchet later destroyed. They then went to Drek's Gemlik Moonbase. Ratchet finally got his revenge when Drek made Qwark ambush Ratchet and Clank, but Ratchet destroyed Qwark's ship forcing him to crashland on planet Oltanis. The two went on to save the galaxy from Drek by destroying his newly constructed planet. The two became instant celebrities and were featured on many magazine covers and television shows. They settled on Veldin to wait for their next adventure.

Developer(s) and Publisher(s)

Ratchet & Clank developed by Insomniac Games, published by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Gameplay

The game was one of the first to try to shake up the platformer genre by focusing the game not only on making difficult jumps, but also on action and shooting aspects as well. In addition to shooting, the game includes space dogfights, hoverboard races, Grindboot courses, Magneboot courses, giant robot battles, and Swingshot courses (courses where Ratchet swings from node to node (called "Versa-targets") using a special hookshot-type gadget).

Overview

Chairman Drek was creating a planet for his race, the Blarg, by breaking off a large quantity of other surrounding planets and using them to form the new Blarg planet. He didn't seem to have any concern for those currently living on those planets (because those planets would hurl into the sun). To stop him, Ratchet had to try to contact Captain Qwark, the greatest hero the galaxy had ever known.

Appearances

Characters

Ratchet
Clank
Qwark
Helga
Big Al
Drek
Skidd McMarxx
Chairman Jack
The Plumber
Bob
Edwina
Fred
Ultra-mech Scientist
Blarg Scientist
Sam
Clank's mother
Commando
Deserter
Gadgetron CEO
Gadgetron HelpDesk Girl
Darla Gratch
Jowai Resort Owner
Miner
Qwark's Bouncer
Race Girl
Lieutenant Sam
Skidd's Agent
Reptilian salesman

Enemies

Horny Toads
Electroids
Peckbots
Birdbots
Sandshark Generators
Sandsharks
Incinerator Bots
Robomutts
Blarg Commanders
Blarg Generators
Blarg Helicopter Commanders
Axe Bot
Axe Bot v2.0
Saw Bots
Blarg Troopers
Alien Swarmers
Blarg Space Commandos
Megalania Mutants
Behemoth Sharks
Amoeboids
Mist Troopers
Mist Tanks
Hyper Cannons
Homing Mines
Rapid Fire Turrets
Blarg Bombthrowers
Blarg Paratroopers
Scoutbots
Cannonball Tanks
Chompers
Seekers
Toxic Crabs
Puffer Fish
Psytopus
Screamers
Sordes Mutans
Blarg Saucers
Anklebiters
Blarg Heli-Commanders
RoboSquawkers
Blarg Space Intruders
Blarg Heavy Interceptors
Elctroids v2.0
Blarg Elite Guards
Armed Transports
Gadgetron Test Dummies
SentryBots
Robomutts v2.0
Rocket Tanks
Dark Gadgebots
Chairman Drek
Mutant Reptilian Queen
Blargian Snagglebeast
King Amoeboid

Weapons

Bomb Glove
Blaster
OmniWrench 8000
Pyrocitor
Glove of Doom (Gluv o Doom)
Suck Cannon
Taunter
Mine Glove
Rip You a New One (RYNO)
Devastator
Walloper
Visibomb Gun
Decoy Glove
Drone Device
Tesla Claw
Morph-o'-Ray

Gadgets

Swingshot
Helipack
Thrusterpack
Hydro Pack
Trespasser
Grindboots
Hydrodisplacer
Sonic Summoner
Pilot's helmet
Magneboots
Metal Detector
O2 Mask
Gadgetron PDA
Hologuise

Items

Bolts
Gold Bolts
OmniWrench 8000
Hoverboard
Platinum Zoomerator
Nanotech
Premium Nanotech
Ultra Nanotech
Raritanium
Persuader
Bolt Grabber
Map-o'-Matic
Codebot

Vehicles

Civilian Hover-Cars
Hoverboard
Jet Fighter
Consalas Ship
Courier Ship
Qwark's Tour Shuttle
Blarg Starfighter
Drek's Flagship
Drek's Starfighter
Dropship
Light Cruiser
Missile Cruiser
Airtaxi
Blarg Helicopter

Planets & Locations

Novalis - Tobruk Crater
Kerwan - Metropolis
Aridia - Outpost X11
Eudora - Logging Site
Nebula G34 - Blarg Tactical Research Station (BTRS)
Rilgar - Blackwater City
Umbris - Qwark's HQ
Batalia - Ft. Krontos
Gaspar - Blarg Depot
Orxon - Kogor Refinery
Pokitaru - Jowai Resort
Hoven - Bomb Factory
Oltanis Orbit - Gemlik Base
Oltanis - Gorda City Ruins
Quartu - Robofactory
Kalebo III - Gadgetron Site
Veldin Orbit - Drek's Fleet
Veldin - Kyzil Plateau

Critical Reaction

Before its release, GameSpot received two preview builds of Ratchet & Clank. After previewing it for the second time, GameSpot described "excellent graphics, varied gameplay, and tight control(s)". IGN had similar views after seeing it in action at E3 2002, stating it would rival Naughty Dog's Jak and Daxter.

At release, Ratchet & Clank was met with positive reviews and scores, earning an 88 out of 100 at Metacritic. It was praised for its high quality graphics and wide range of weapons and gadgets. Some criticisms were aimed at the story and characters, GameSpy feeling that Ratchet was an unlikable main character and that the game became predictable, boring and "just bland". GameSpot on the other hand felt that the variety in the gameplay, although easier than most games, kept the player interested and moving at a good pace.

Time Line

Ratchet & Clank took place in 5354. Ratchet was born in 5339, making him 15 years old. Clank was born 5352, making him 2 years old. However, XJ-Robots advance in maturity rather quickly. The months are simaller to our real world universe, they go:

January

February

Marka

April

May

June

July

August

September

Octogus

October

November

December

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There are 100 days in a month.

Trivia

One of the skill points earned was called "Going Commando", which was the name of the following sequel.
All of the characters had two fingers besides Ratchet. But this later changed.
They have two fingers, and may contain a thumb.