Clank Challenges

Clank Challenges are minigames in Size Matters in which Clank competed. They take place on Metalis and on the Dayni Moon, and involve Clank in one of three different minigames: Destruction Derby, Gadgebot Toss, and Gadgebot Survival. The first relies on Clank commandeering a vehicle in arena combat, while the second relies on throwing gadgebots through a goal, and the latter involves controlling gadgebots in a 2D puzzle. Completing the challenges rewards Clank with bolts, as well as armor for Ratchet.

Overview[]

Destruction Derby[]

In Destruction Derby, the objective is to defeat all opponents' vehicles while keeping Clank's vehicle intact. In some cases, the battle pits Clank against the Smasherbot boss. A variety of vehicles are seen, including a Saw Torso, a Ram Torso, an Electro Torso, and a Spike Torso. Clank uses a different vehicle depending on the challenge. The vehicle differs in appearance and in their main offensive ability, wherein the Saw Torso can damage other vehicles with any side and cause them to spin, the Ram Torso charges forward to hit an enemy, the Electro Torso fires short-range shocks at them with its damage depending on its charge level, and the Spike Torso uses short-range spears to damage nearby enemies.

In addition to the vehicle's own weapons, a few power-ups can be acquired from large crates. These include a forcefield (which absorbs one hit), a mine, and a homing missile, each of which have different purposes. The vehicle has 20 nanotech, which can be restored from nanotech crates (which restores four total) that spawn periodically at fixed spawn pads in the arena. Other contestants will also attempt to take and use these resources, making them quite valuable. Aside from enemy vehicles, Clank also needs to take care to avoid the hazards that appear on each arena, which differ by match.

Gadgebot Toss[]

In Gadgebot Toss, the objective is to throw a gadgebot with a mobile BotFlinger into a green scoring zone while preventing opposing players from doing the same. The placement of the goalpost changes between the challenge, as does the layout of the arena, number of opponents, numbers of goals required to win, and numbers of gadgebots and bombs. In some cases, hazards such as fans, mines, and bounce pads are present, to stop contestants getting to the goal without unimpeded.

The BotFlinger has three different moves: picking up and throwing a gadgebot or bomb, punching, or holding up hands to block a toss. Punching an opponent or throwing a bomb at them will cause them to drop a gadgebot they are holding, while picking up a gadgebot allows it to then be tossed into the goal. If opponents are far away, then throwing a bomb at them to cause them to drop the gadgebot so Clank can pick it up is ideal; if they are closer, then it is quicker to simply punch them than to run off to grab the bomb. Blocking requires timing, and it is often better to attempt to hit an opponent if you are between them and the goal. Punched opponents will also move away for a few seconds, which is not the case when are you punched yourself however.

Gadgebot Survival[]

Gadgebot Survival is a 2D challenge in which the objective is to command gadgebots and lead them into one or more compartments while avoiding the hazards along the way. The key is normally to use as few commands and lose as few gadgebots as possible to allow the required number to reach the house (a bot port). Between challenges, the layout changes, with different barricades and different paths. Clank can issue the commands Swing, Electrify, Bridge, and Detonate. Swing and Electrify require the gadgebots to interact with parts of the environment, while Bridge will consume the gadgebot to form a bridge over a gap, and Detonate will cause a gadgebot to self-destruct, destroying the block below it.

A few more challenging rounds are found in the High Impact Games Treehouse.