Destructapalooza is a gladiatorial combat arena in Into the Nexus. Operated by the Thugs-4-Less in Kragg, Zarkov Sector, Polaris Galaxy, it is used to recruit mercenaries. Much like DreadZone, it is unregulated and has no rules.
Ratchet and Clank competed in the arena for prizes.
History[]
The Destructapalooza was run by the Thugs-4-Less, but sponsored by GrummelNet.[1] In a commercial, it was marketed toward an "unemployed deviant, reprobate, cutthroat, parolee and/or ne'er-do-well". Case studies were shown of a criminal, a school bully, and a mutual fund and brokerage firm CEO who left his life due to the poor economy; all were given an outlet for violence in the Destructapalooza.[2] Despite being marketed to recruit new Thugs-4-Less enforcers, there was a tacit understanding that most who entered the arena would die,[3] and there was no actual job offered.[1]
The Destructapalooza featured an arena hazard known as the "Mangler", which was built from a hundred destroyed terachnoid ships. Besides serving as an arena hazard, it was also used to slice brick oven pizza.[4] For its other hazard, the Destructapalooza utilized all-natural lava for its arena, as Thugs-4-Less cared about the environment.[5] For an arena challenge, while employed under Neftin Prog, the Thugs-4-Less built the Prog Bot as a practice robot for new recruits, believing they would relish the chance to smack around their own boss.[6]
Around the time of Into the Nexus, the Destructapalooza ran out of candidates,[3] so it marketed itself again and offered a free GrummelNet Jetpack. Ratchet and Clank saw this commercial in an infobot and were enticed to investigate.[2]
The Destructapalooza made use of a hazard known as the Mangler. In Rivet's dimension, Zurkon Jr. took the remains of the Mangler from the junk heap left of the Destructapalooza and repurposed it for use in his own Battleplex at Zurkie's.[7]
Arena challenges[]
The time granted for timed challenges changes dependant on the chosen difficulty level at the start of the game.
Winning the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Cups in the Destructapalooza competition unlocks the trophies "Thug Life", "Thug Rookie", and "Thug Champion", respectively. There is no trophy for completing the fourth Platinum Cup.
Bronze Cup[]
| Challenge | Description | Prizes per completion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Second | ||
| Introductory Beating | Survive 3 waves of Thugs and blade balls. | 3,000 bolts | |
| Mangled | Survive the Mangler and defeat 3 waves of jetpack-using Thugs. | 4,000 bolts and 2 raritanium | |
| Pest Control | Kill all the serathoids and serathoid nests in 30 seconds. | 5,000 bolts | |
| Blazebot Battle | Defeat the Blazebot. | 6,000 bolts and a Jetpack. | |
Introductory Beatings[]
This is a basic arena challenge comprising three waves of enemies, with no arena hazards. The enemies fought in the first wave are blade balls and thug brawlers; both are melee enemies and can be fought by using the Temporal Repulsor or Fusion Grenade and staying at a distance. The third wave introduces ranged thug shooters, whose blaster shots must be dodged, but they can be fought with the Omniblaster. If the blade balls and brawlers become overwhelming, the Nightmare Box can be used to distract them while taking out the thug shooters.
The third wave is more of the same, with the addition of thug grenadiers. These throw bombs from a distance and are somewhat durable. As with thug shooters, they should be prioritized with the Omniblaster or Fusion Grenade while the Nightmare Box distracts the brawlers and blade balls.
Mangled[]
This three-wave challenge features "the Mangler", a hazard machine in the middle of the arena. Besides damaging Ratchet if he approaches, it periodically creates proton pulses across the arena floor. These must be jumped over, making it crucial to time jumps to avoid both enemy blasters and the Mangler. The Nightmare Box can be deployed if this becomes challenging, as it will draw enemy fire away from Ratchet.
The only enemies fought in the challenge waves are flying thug shooters. As with other thug shooters, their blaster shots are slow and should be dodged. They can be fought with the Omniblaster, or at close range, the Fusion Grenade or Temporal Repulsor.
Pest Control[]
In this 30-second timed challenge, the player must destroy the serathoids, which are spawned by multiple serathoid nests that appear at the start. The serathoids themselves are small melee enemies that can be dispatched easily with the Fusion Grenade or Temporal Repulsor, but the nests must be destroyed first to prevent more from spawning. The Fusion Grenade must be used immediately upon starting the battle to destroy the nests, at which point the serathoids can be cleared out quickly.
Blazebot Battle[]
This is a single-round boss battle challenge against the Blazebot, with a few flying thug shooters providing reinforcements. The Blazebot is a Voltanoid, identical to the one previously fought in "Head to the Meero Orphanage", but with more health and damage. As a Voltanoid, it alternates between using an energy shield and sweeping an energy beam across the floor. It also emits a shockwave at close range. It can fire a barrage of bombs, but their landing spots are telegraphed and can be avoided.
The player must wait until the shield is down and strike it, taking care to avoid the beam. The Nightmare Box makes the fight significantly easier, distracting the Blazebot and providing a way around its shield. Players should avoid the energy beam and take out the thug shooters if they become overwhelming (though only the boss must be defeated to win).
Silver Cup[]
| Challenge | Description | Prizes per completion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Second | ||
| To The Skies | Fly through 12 rings using your new Jetpack within a time limit. | 8,000 bolts | |
| Put Through The Grinder | Survive the Mangler, now upgraded with flame jets, and defeat 3 waves of jetpack-using Thugs. | 7,000 bolts | |
| Like a Flying Lombax | Kill 12 Thugs using your Jetpack within a time limit. | 10,000 bolts | |
| Zero Hour Blitz | Defeat all 5 rounds of enemies within a time limit. | 9,000 bolts | |
| Gargathon Hunter | Defeat the rabid gargathon. | 11,000 bolts and a gold bolt | |
To The Skies[]
This is a timed jetpack challenge requiring the player to fly through 12 rings in a time limit. The first are relatively simple, but after the sixth ring, thug shooters appear. Deploying Mr. Zurkon, if available, will help deal with them, as they are not the priority. Though fueling pads are present across the course, using fuel conservatively, only boosting and refueling when needed, will help beat the challenge within the time limit. Missing a ring will require the player to return, costing valuable time.
Put Through the Grinder[]
This is a three-wave challenge involving the Mangler, which now uses energy beams sweeping across the floor in a circular motion that must be jumped over. The enemies are primarily flying thug shooters again, meaning the strategy is much the same as in "Mangled", but with added challenge. The Nightmare Box can be useful to distract enemies for survivability.
Like a Flying Lombax[]
This is a jetpack challenge where 12 enemies must be defeated in a 1:35 time limit. All enemies are thug shooters, so their blasts must be avoided by steering or changing altitude. As the flying shooters are difficult to hit with closer-range weapons, it is best to use the Omniblaster from a distance, or the Temporal Repulsor when closer. Those on platforms can be defeated with the Fusion Grenade or Temporal Repulsor.
Zero Hour Blitz[]
In this timed challenge, all five rounds must be completed in 1:50. The first round features only thug brawlers, the second introduces blade balls, and the third introduces thug shooters. Because it is a timed challenge, using Mr. Zurkon and deploying a Nightmare Box (especially with the Phantom Shot raritanium upgrade) is key to defeating enemies quickly, along with the usual strategies. If the Winterizer is available, it can be used to quickly defeat the blade balls, but is not as fast against the thug enemies.
Gargathon Hunter[]
This is a boss battle against a rabid gargathon, which is supported by flying thug shooters. The battle is fought only on three floating platforms. The gargathon is a flying boss which uses a long-range acid breath attack as its main form of damage. When it fires at Ratchet, he must jump to another platform to avoid it. Partway through the battle, the platforms and current thug shooters disappear and the jetpack becomes available, with the gargathon now using a different breath attack and fewer thug shooters appearing.
Placing the Nightmare Box on another platform will distract the thug shooters and the gargathon, allowing Ratchet to focus fire on the gargathon safely. If it has the Phantom Shot upgrade, this will also help damage the gargathon. Overall, it is best to avoid the thug shooters as most will disappear when the jetpack section appears. Early on when the fight is on platforms, using the Omniblaster and Mr. Zurkon is best. When the jetpack becomes available, the Temporal Repulsor and Fusion Grenade can be used.
Gold Cup[]
The Gold Cup is available after obtaining the hoverboots in "Find 10 Gargathon horns" on Thram.
| Challenge | Description | Prizes per completion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Second | ||
| Doom Canyon | Platform your way through Doom Canyon while Thugs try to kill you. | 13,000 bolts | |
| Precision Shooter | Knock back an amount of enemies into the Mangler in an amount of time (amount depends on the difficulty). | 14,000 bolts | |
| Revenge of the Thugs | Face 2 rounds of jetpack-using Thugs using the Grummelnet Jetpack. | 15,000 bolts | |
| Wrench-o-Rama | Defeat an amount of enemies within a time limit (amount depends on the difficulty). | 17,000 bolts | |
| Return of the Mangler | Survive the Mangler and defeat 2 waves of jetpack-using Thugs. | 13,000 bolts, 2 raritanium, and a RYNO VII Holo-Plan. | |
| The Bigger They Are | Defeat the Prog Bot. | 18,000 bolts and a Treasure Mapper. | |
Doom Canyon[]
This is a timed hoverboots challenge where Ratchet must complete the course in a time limit. The course leads through a few obstacles up to a bolt crank, which must be turned to activate the final platforms leading to the finish. Though thug shooters are set up above the obstacles and fire at Ratchet, they should be ignored early on, aside from the thugs in the final platforms. Precision is more important than speed; players should slow down as needed to hit boost pads correctly.
Precision Shooter[]
This challenge requires the Temporal Repulsor, and gives a level 1 Temporal Repulsor with unlimited ammo, regardless of the player's actual level with the weapon. In this timed challenge, 30 enemies must be killed by knocking them into the Mangler. After hitting 30, the timer will keep going to allow the player to get a personal record.
The enemies in question are blade balls and thug brawlers. These are simple to avoid; the main difficulty is hitting them into the Mangler correctly. Knocking enemies into the Mangler while avoiding attacks (or using the Repulsor defensively) will complete the challenge.
Revenge of the Thugs[]
This is a two-wave jetpack challenge over platforms floating above lava. The platforms containing fuel pads and ammo crates will descend to the lava and ascend periodically. The enemies fought are flying thug shooters. The Nether Blades are the most effective against these enemies, or the Plasma Striker if aimed well. It is important to refuel regularly when the fuel pad platform is available.
Wrench-o-Rama[]
This is a timed challenge against 55 blade balls, serathoids, thug brawlers, and thug shooters where Ratchet can only use the OmniWrench. Killing an enemy increases the timer by 2. As with "Precision Shooter", once the quota is hit, the player can keep going as the timer counts down, allowing the player to reach a personal record.
The serathoids and blade balls are killed easily by throwing the wrench, while the more durable thugs are best beaten with a jump slam. Near the end of the challenge, players can prioritize serathoids and blade balls to hit the quota before the timer expires.
Return of the Mangler[]
This is a three-wave arena battle where the Mangler is present, this time firing rotating lasers and using proton waves. The enemies fought here are flying thug shooters.
By now, the Warmonger should be affordable and can make light work of the thug shooters if aimed well, while the Omniblaster, Plasma Striker, and Nether Blades are still effective. However, it is crucial to avoid both the Mangler and the blasts from the shooters. If it becomes overwhelming, the Nightmare Box can distract the thug shooters while Ratchet dodges the Mangler.
The Bigger They Are[]
This is a boss battle against the Prog Bot, which is identical to Neftin Prog from "Defeat Neftin Prog" in combat style but with more health and damage. As with Neftin, it uses its two large maces attached to chains to attack, throws maces forward in quick succession, or runs to Ratchet to slam them. The Prog Bot summons thug brawlers and shooters as reinforcement but does not leave the field.
Once again, the Nightmare Box can scare it to allow the Plasma Striker to hit its weak points, but the Warmonger is the strongest weapon against it.
Platinum Cup[]
The Platinum Cup is only available in challenge mode, following the Gold Cup. The challenges can be done in any order, but "Iron Lombax" is unlocked after completing all other challenges.
| Challenge | Description | Prizes per completion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Second | ||
| Lightning Rounds | Survive for 2 minutes and 20 seconds. | 60,000 bolts and 3 raritanium | |
| Stay Frosty | Turn 22 enemies into snowmen with the Blizz-O-Matic snow-nova in 1 minute. | 60,000 bolts and 3 raritanium | |
| Cracking Time | Defeat 40 enemies before time runs out (you earn time by defeating enemies). | 80,000 bolts and 3 raritanium | |
| Kill Shot | Defeat 15 enemies by shooting their weak points with a modified Plasma Striker in 1 minute. | 80,000 bolts and 3 raritanium | |
| Iron Lombax | Defeat 3 rounds of Thugs, blade balls, and serathoids, and on the final round, the Blazebot. | 160,000 bolts and 10 raritanium | |
Lightning Round[]
This is a five-round challenge with a timer against all types of enemies. Thug brawlers begin in round 1, blade balls join in round 2, thug shooters join in round 3, and all enemies thereafter are a mix.
By now, the player should have a number of Omega weapons that can be effective, but the RYNO VII (even if not yet Omega) can deal sufficient damage if the timer runs low. Mr. Zurkon and the Terrorizer should be deployed often to add to Ratchet's damage. With the Ghoul Army upgrade for the Terrorizer, deploying multiple around the arena can cause enemies to group up on them, leaving them vulnerable.
Stay Frosty[]
This is a timed challenge with a 1:00 timer where 22 enemies must be defeated by the Blizz-O-Matic, which has infinite ammo for the challenge. The challenge uses the weapon at the level the player has, meaning it is ideal to purchase the Omega upgrade of the weapon and use raritanium upgrades to make it easier. The enemies fought here are blade balls, serathoids, and thug brawlers, all of which will at times group up, making the challenge easier. Using the fully upgraded weapon, the challenge should be straightforward.
Cracking Time[]
This is a time challenge with a time limit where 40 enemies must be defeated. More time is added when enemies are defeated. The enemies fought are thug shooters, thug brawlers, and thug grenadiers.
As in "Lightning Round", using the Terrorizer with the Ghoul Army upgrade makes the challenge simpler, and deploying multiple Terrorizers around the arena will cause the enemies to group up and attack them, leaving them vulnerable. The same broad strategies apply, and the RYNO VII can be used in an emergency.
Kill Shot[]
This is a time challenge where only the Plasma Striker (likely the Plasma Slayer by now) can be used to defeat 25 enemies in a time limit. However, the Omega upgrade is not needed and few raritanium upgrades are required (outside of Chrono Disruptor to slow down time while aiming), as the challenge's gimmick is that all enemies are instantly killed upon hitting their weak spot, but no other shot hurts them. As such, this is purely a skill-based challenge.
The enemies are thug shooters (flying and on ground), blade balls, and thug brawlers. It is still important to avoid their hits while aiming the Plasma Striker. For shooters, this can be done by running while aiming, but for thug brawlers and blade balls, it simply requires taking a distance to aim. These melee enemies should be targeted first as thug shooters can be hit by the Plasma Striker from long range.
Iron Lombax[]
This is a four-round challenge against all different types of enemies. The waves are considerably longer and tougher than waves in other challenges. The final round features an upgraded version of the Blazebot.
Due to the length of the challenge, this is an endurance test. Mr. Zurkon should help clean up smaller enemies, while two Terrorizers deployed at either end of the arena will greatly help survivability. The Blizz-O-Matic can also be used on smaller enemies to provide nanotech. Lastly the Singularity Grenade is extremely useful for instantly destroying large groups at enemies.
Because a large amount of ammo crates appear throughout the challenge, there is no need to preserve ammo for the Blazebot, although it is important to have a Terrorizer available for the boss battle to improve survivability.
Behind the scenes[]
Several pieces of content were cut from the Destructapalooza. There were two rejected cups called the Azeril Cup and the Zero-G Cup where Ratchet would fight Thugs outside Planet Kragg's atmosphere, similar to the cage match in Going Commando. Bursting Blekkos, Nethers, Thug Raiders, and the B1 Brawler were all enemies cut from the arena, though "Thug Raiders" still have concept art. The arena originally would have included bonus crates that drop into the arena for a limited time to give Ratchet ammunition, but they were also removed.
The thug announcer for the DestructapalS'ooza was voiced by Dave B. Mitchell, who had previously also voiced Angstrom Darkwater.
Citations[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Into the Nexus script § "Thug Announcer"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Into the Nexus script § "Thanks Destructapalooza!"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Into the Nexus script § "Investigate the Thugs-4-Less outpost (gameplay)"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "Mangled"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "Revenge Of The Thugs"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "The Bigger They Are"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "The Mangling"
References[]
- Insomniac Games (2013). Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
- Insomniac Games (2021). Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart [Game]. Sony Interactive Entertainment. PlayStation 5.