Basilisk leviathans[1] are mini-bosses in Tools of Destruction. They are flying, territorial behemoths found in the Cobalian wilderness and the Nundac Asteroid Ring (both in the Cerullean Sector), which possess leviathan souls and raritanium.
History[]
Ratchet and Clank first saw and encountered one on Cobalia during "Explore Cobalia", and later fought one in "Defeat the Leviathan", before defeating a few others in a cave near the spaceport during "Hunt for Leviathan Souls".
On the Nundac Asteroid Ring, the Smuggler hunted more basilisk leviathans, after being offered money by space pirates to fetch their souls.[2] In "Make a Trade with the Smuggler", he instead enlisted Ratchet to do this for him in exchange for granting him an access code to the Apogee Space Station. In "Sell Your Souls" he would purchase any additional souls.
Some time before the events of All 4 One, multiple basilisk leviathans were captured by Ephemeris and taken to the Minion Training Center on Magnus, where they were placed into cryogenic hibernation, and their bodies were planned to eventually be used as hosts for the loki.
Characteristics[]
Basilisk leviathans are large flying eel-like monsters. They have a bright blue body, in part due to the energy inside of them, with thick red scales that cover their head and back. They are able to float, but can also swim underwater. They are also capable of surviving in space as seen in the Nundac Asteroid Ring. When defeated they drop a leviathan soul alongside some raritanium.
Basilisk leviathans are often found alongside Cerullean swarmers and Cerullean centipedes.
Combat[]
The basilisk leviathan in combat.
Basilisk leviathans often attack by firing energy bolts from their mouth. In closer range, they will attempt to ram and bite their prey, or fly above them to dispense several bouncing balls of crackling energy, which zap Ratchet on contact. Early on the only viable strategy is to rely on the Combuster, Fusion Grenade, and Plasma Beasts. Later on the Predator Launcher is the best available weapon, as a leviathan has four possible points for it to target. The Shard Reaper is also a strong alternative.
Behind the scenes[]
Concept art.
During development, Nathan Fouts, Insomniac Games programmer who programmed most of the large enemies and bosses in Tools of Destruction, removed the "spines" of the basilisk leviathan to make them move better.[3]
Stellar leviathans were the ultimate evolution of the basilisk leviathans from Tools of Destruction, but were cut from appearing in A Crack in Time, and could be seen in the Insomniac Museum. These space-faring creatures would travel in packs like sharks and circle Aphelion, using a telekinetic tractor beam to pull it in and chomp down on it with a massive bite. The development team could not get the animation system for the leviathan going again, which used a procedural animation to undulate its body in Tools of Destruction. The team needed the time to get the core space combat working, and therefore had to cut the stellar leviathan.[4]
Concept art of Ratchet fighting a basilisk leviathan appears in the Insomniac Museum in Ratchet & Clank (2016 game).
Citations[]
References[]
- Insomniac Games (2007). Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
- BradyGames (2007). Ratchet & Clank Future Tools of Destruction Official Strategy Guide [Book]. BradyGames. ISBN 0744009774.