Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

{{Infobox CVG
 * title        = Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
 * image        = [[Image:RatchetClankFuture_box_art.jpg ]]
 * developer    = Insomniac Games
 * publisher    = Sony Computer Entertainment
 * designer     =
 * engine       = (self-designed engine)
 * released     = October 23, 2007
 * genre        = Action-adventure, platform.
 * modes        = Single player
 * ratings      = ESRB: E10+, PEGI 7+
 * platforms    = PS3
 * media        = 1x Blu-Ray Disk
 * input        = SIXAXIS, DUALSHOCK 3
 * resolution   = 480p, 720p, 1080i (16:9 aspect ratio), HD
 * preceded     = Size Matters
 * followed     = Secret Agent Clank

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is the eighth game in the Ratchet & Clank series. It is only on the PlayStation 3 and is one of the most highly recieved games currently on PS3. it has recieved high praise for the graphics and gameplay.

Story
Ratchet and Clank are about to try out one of Ratchet's new vehicles, but then Clank recieves a distress call from Captain Qwark, who is at the planetary defense center. Before Ratchet & Clank get there, Metropolis is suddenly attacked by a race of aliens called the Drophyds. They work for Emperor Percival Tachyon, last of the Cragmites, the most evil threat in the universe. Escaping from Kerwan in an imperial warship, Ratchet & Clank crash-land on planet Cobalia in the Polaris galaxy.

Leaving Cobalia with the help of a Smuggler, the two find a ship on the Lombax homeworld called [Aphelion]].

They soon find that Qwark has sworn loyalty to Tachyon. Hedaing to the Nundac ring, they stumble upon three people: a girl called Talwyn, and 2 war bots called Cronk & Zephyr. All five search for the mysterious 'Lombax secret'. On Rykan V,

Weapons
This is a sort list of Weapons in the game:
 * Pyro Blaster, a flamethrower.
 * Combustor, a rapid-firing gun.
 * Buzz Blades, a saw blade-shooting gun.
 * Fusion Grenade, a bomb-throwing glove.
 * Tornado Launcher, a tornado-launching gun.
 * Negotiator, a rocket launcher.
 * Alpha Disruptor, a powerful laser weapon.
 * Plasma Beasts, a weapon that shoots out plasma beasts to attack enemies.
 * Predator Launcher, a multiple enemy-targeting weapon.
 * Razor Claws, a pair of claws used to slash enemies.
 * Shock Ravager, an electric whip.
 * Nano-Swarmers, a weapon that launches out a container that nanobots that swarm your opponents.
 * Shard Reaper, a shotgun that shoots shards.
 * Mag-Net Launcher, a magnetic net launcher that traps enemies.
 * RYNO IV a very powerful upgrade to the RYNO series(eventually RYNO 4EVER)

Combat Devices
These are limited use items with immense power, these are weapons that were left out of previous games to keep balance but will be featured in Tools of Destruction as special "RPG" items for tight situations


 * Groovitron, launches a disco ball-like grenade that makes enemies dance.
 * Golden Groovitron, in challenge mode, the device vendor in cobalia offers you a golden groovitron. This groovitron has unlimited ammo but thats it. Its priced at 2,000,000 raritanium.
 * Visi-Copter, shoots out a mini helicopter that you can use to attack enemies without going anywhere.
 * Transmorpher, launches a grenade that transforms enemies into penguins.
 * Mr. Zurkon, creates a robot that will follow you and attack opponents.
 * Death Springs, creates a spring that launches enemies into the air when they step on it.
 * Leech Bomb, shoots a bomb that takes health from anyone hit with it and give it to you.
 * Confuzzler Gas, sprays a gas that stuns your enemies momentarily.
 * Mega Leech Bomb, shoots a stronger Leech Bomb that takes more health from enemies hit with it and gives it to you.

Gadgets
Gadgets will of course be returning, several new ones and remakings of old ones


 * Swingshot Varation (a grapple hook like device)
 * Geo-Laser (a Clank Gadget that cuts through walls and earth; controlled by the Sixaxis)
 * Heli-Pod (Sends out little chopper blades that lift certain platforms)
 * Holo Pirate Disguise (a Tyhrraguise/Holo-Guise like device, turns you into a Robotic pirate)
 * Gelanator (creates jello-like blocks for jumping on)
 * Robo-Wings (a Clank upgrade like the Hover-Pack, allows the two to fly like a bird, without a time limit; controlled by the Sixaxis)
 * Decrypter (A hacking device [actually just a metal ball]; controlled by the Sixaxis)
 * Grind Boots
 * Gravity Boots
 * Charge Boots (boots that make you move fast for short bursts)
 * Bolt Grabber (aka Armor Ionizer)
 * Gyrocycle (a hovering motorcycle like device)

History
--- At the 2006 Game Developers Conference, a Ratchet & Clank tech demonstration was shown for the PlayStation 3. It will be developed by Insomniac Games once again, and released sometime in late 2007. Now that they've finished releasing "Resistance: Fall of Man," they are working full time on the fifth Ratchet and Clank game.

The tech demonstration video showed a walkthrough of one of the levels from the game. It was a huge futuristic city with greenery here and there-like Metropolis but with less plants-and it began with a tunnel, much like the opening tunnel of Metropolis in the first game. The tunnel had gears rotating inside of it with plants growing around; it looked like the person walking through it had just come out of a dark jungle. The city itself was huge with massive, futuristic buildings and towers with flying cars everywhere.

The busy skies of the city contained flying buses and sidewalks in the sky, much like Metropolis and Megapolis. The buildings in this city were more imaginative and original than other buildings in the previous cities, they had so much detail and are almost impossible to explain in words.

Soon, the trailer showed floating robots as they marched down a sidewalk. Police cars chased a flying cars above, and an airship came floating around an arch that read 'Ratchet and Clank' on it. The level demo ended there.

From the trailer's views, one could definitely say that the city is possibly Metropolis, returning again as it did in the first and third games.

It was revealed at the end of 2006 that the game will use the graphic engine of Resistance: Fall of Man. *source needed*

As of the April EGM Issue, it was revealed that the city shown in the Tech Demonstration, was Kerchu City, a lush jungle utopia under attack by Space Pirates.

When the creative director Brian Allgeier was moving onto the Ketchup Boss Scene, Swingshot Targets were visible, right before the platform that Ratchet was landed on, hinting the Swigshot/H.p.shot's chance of returning. Also, in the Episode 6 Full Moon Podcast, a gadget called the Gelanator was mentioned. It was something that Ratchet and Clank could use for building structures out of gelatonium, a jello type matter.

Gameplay
Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction has been regarded as the greatest Ratchet and Clank game ever released (and the best game, currently on PS3 only) for the games lush visuals and fun gameplay mechanics, although the game itself is not that different to any other Ratchet and Clank game. Clank returns as a playable character where he controls futuristic robots called the "Zoni" to aid him in his platforming adventures, such as giving him the ability to slow down time, or levitate objects, or modify Clank himself to earn new capabilities (such as wings for flight).

The game also features a powerful new group of "Combat Devices", weapons that are too powerful to be used as a full weapon, but still aid the user in combat. Such devices are the Groovitron or Mr. Zurkon.

The game does not, however, feature online play, as the developers felt that other important parts of the game would have to be sacrificed in order to accommodate online play. This came as a shock to gamers, as the two previous Ratchet and Clank home console games (and even the Size Matters PSP game) had online play.

Unlike previous games, Tools of Destruction does not support PS2 memory-cards to unlock previous weapons, due to the previous installments to the franchise having a much lower polygon-count. Instead, weapons and devices from previous games have been upgraded and re-drawn in Tools of Destruction.

Reception
The game was universally well received, earning an average score of 92 out of 100 on Gamerankings.com, and has won numerous "game-of-the-month" awards from various different magazines and web-sites. It recieved 98 out of 100 on PS3M (PlayStation 3 Magazine) and is currently the highest rated PS3 game.

Trivia

 * In Europe the game has a different cover and is called 'Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction'.
 * A demo of the game could be found on the PlayStation Network, on the PS3
 * As a joke, when Ratchet and Clank meet the Plumber, he says, "Almost didn't recognize you in high-def." This is a joke because of the improvements of graphics on the Playstation 3.