Ratchet & Clank (2002 game)

Ratchet & Clank is a 3D platformer/shooter game for the PlayStation 2, developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony. It was released in North America on November 7, 2002, and received positive reviews in the gaming press. It won PlayStation 2 Game of the Year in 2002.

Overview
Chairman Drek is 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 doesn't seem to have any concern for those currently living on those planets. To stop him, Ratchet must try to contact Captain Qwark, the greatest hero the galaxy has ever known.

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).

Plot
The story begins on a backwater planet in the Solana galaxy, known as Veldin. Here we see our protagonist, Ratchet, working on a space ship. We get our first glimpse of the "HelpDesk" as he checks it to see what else needs to be done to complete his ship. A robotic ignition system is needed. Meanwhile at a robot manufacturing plant elsewhere in the galaxy, we witness the glitch that brings us our next protagonist, Clank, a tiny robot who discovers that his creator, Chairman Drek, plans to create a new planet by destroying other planets in the galaxy. He is spotted as he flees the planet and is shot down over Veldin. Ratchet strikes a deal with Clank. If Clank will start his ship he agrees to help Clank locate Captain Qwark to save the galaxy from Drek. The two begin an adventure. The two explore planets which Drek attacks such as Novalis and Eudora before meeting Captain Qwark on Rilgar. Captain Qwark tricks them into doing a deathcourse on Umbris. They eventually finish the deathcourse only to discover Captain Qwark is working for Drek. Captain Qwark then leaves forcing Ratchet and Clank to defeat a Blargian Snagglebeast. The two then fly to save Batalia but Ratchet vows to 'pay him back' while Clank tries to convince him that Drek is the bigger issue. Ratchet finally comes to his sences with he discovers Drek is planing to destroy an entire planet with the PlanetBuster Maximus which Ratchet later destroys. They then go to Drek's Gemlik Moonbase Ratchet finally gets revenge when Drek makes Qwark ambush Ratchet and Clank, but Ratchet 'kills' Qwark. The two go on to save the galaxy from Drek by destroying him, his Deplanetizer, and his newly constructed planet. The two become instant celebrities and are featured on many magazine covers and television show. They settle on Veldin to await their next adventure.



Characters

 * Big Al
 * Bob
 * Clank
 * Clank's Mother
 * Commando
 * Deserter
 * Drek
 * Edwina
 * Fred
 * Gadgetron CEO
 * HelpDesk Girl
 * Jowai Resort Owner
 * McMarx, Skid
 * Miner
 * Novalis Chairman
 * Plumber
 * Qwark, Copernicus Leslie
 * Qwark's Bouncer
 * Race Girl
 * Ratchet
 * Robot lieutenant
 * Sam
 * Shady Salesman
 * Skid's Agent
 * Ultra-Mech Scientist

Weapons

 * OmniWrench 8000
 * Bomb Glove
 * Pyrocitor
 * Blaster
 * Glove of Doom
 * Suck Cannon
 * Taunter
 * Mine Glove
 * RYNO
 * Devastator
 * Walloper
 * Visibomb Gun
 * Decoy Glove
 * Drone Device
 * Tesla Claw
 * Morph-o-Ray

Note: Not all of these weapons have Gold upgrades, but there are just enough Gold Bolts to buy all the Gold Weapons (which are the only things that could be counted for as weapon upgrades in Ratchet & Clank) that are only available after beating the game, unless you want to spend all your gold bolts on Gemlik Base.

Gadgets



 * Helipack
 * Swingshot
 * Trespasser
 * Grindboots
 * Hydrodisplacer
 * Sonic Summoner
 * Pilot's Helmet
 * Magneboots
 * Metal Detector
 * Thrusterpack
 * O2 Mask
 * Hydropack
 * Gadgetron PDA
 * Hologuise



Items

 * Gold Bolts
 * Hoverboard
 * Platinum Zoomerator
 * Premium Nanotech
 * Ultra Nanotech
 * Raritanium
 * Persuader
 * Bolt Grabber
 * Map-o-Matic

Planets and locations

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

Critical reaction
Before its release, GameSpot received two preview builds of Ratchet and 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.