'Noid missile stations[1] are minor enemies in Up Your Arsenal. These tyhrranoid missile launchers are positioned underground to provide anti-aircraft and anti-personnel fire. Ratchet and Clank first encountered them during Operation: ISLAND STRIKE on Kavu Island. He faced them on foot during "Assault on Kavu Island" and while piloting the hovership in "Operation Thunderbolt". They reappeared during hovership segments in "Countdown" and "Tower Attack", and finally appeared during "Reclaim the Valley".
'Noid missile stations initially appear as small, flush platforms; their launchers emerge only when a target enters their specific range. When Ratchet is on foot, they fire missiles that arc high into the air before dropping down on him. These can be avoided by side-flipping just before impact. They are best neutralized from a distance using the Flux Rifle or other ranged weapons like the N60 Storm, Spitting Hydra, or Suck Cannon. If he is in a Hovership, the missiles follow a more direct flight path toward the craft. Players can destroy the stations from outside their targeting range or shoot down incoming missiles mid-air.
Missile stations appear in several multiplayer maps, primarily defending Siege bases. In this mode, they target only vehicles—rapidly destroying hoverships and tracking turbosliders. These units feature gray coloration with team-specific blue or red highlights and possess a significantly higher rate of fire and aggressive homing capabilities.
Behind the scenes[]
The 'noid missile stations were the recipients of the Snowbeast Award, given to the "worst thing that shipped in a final game". They received strong negative feedback from both developers and players due to their lack of warning, difficult-to-predict landing zones, and great difficulty. Despite pleas from other team members to modify the enemies, the responsible programmer refused and dug his heels, leaving them in their original state.[2]
Citations[]
- ↑ Off 2004 p. 66, 120
- ↑ Stout, Garcia May 2012 12:29
References[]
- Insomniac Games (2004). Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal [Game]. PlayStation 2.
- Greg Off (2004). Ratchet & Clank Up Your Arsenal Official Strategy Guide [Book]. BradyGames. ISBN 0744005000.
- Stout, Mike; Garcia, Tony [@uselesspodcasts] (2012, May 24). Ratchet & Clank 3 Dev Commentary: 12 - Hate Missiles (Snowbeast Award Winner) [Video]. YouTube.