Escape the Deadly Caves is a mission in Quest for Booty, taking place in the Lythoin Caves beneath Darkwater Cove. Ratchet ended up in the Lythoin Caves underneath Darkwater Cove after he fell into a trap by Captain Darkwater prior to reaching the Fulcrum Star, forcing him to find a way out, and retrieve both the star and rescue Talwyn Apogee, who was taken captive.
Walkthrough[]
Take one of the nearby heliogrubs to light up the local area, as there are several crates lying around. You do not need it when heading deeper into the cave, where a pythor will attack. The Predator Launcher is a good weapon against them, as much like the Skull Walker, they have multiple points for the weapon's targeting system. After the pythor is defeated, stick to the left wall and walk around the cliff face along the ledge to find the Zero-Kelvin Laser Diode upgrade for the Nano-Swarmers, which makes the targeting laser freeze enemies.
Return to the main path and follow it to a wall jump shaft, which leads to a path where you must shimmy across several ledges while avoiding jets of fire. At the top is a platform with several Hot Heads, but no actual accompanying bodies. After their defeat, grab another heliogrub from the nearby pond and fling it across the chasm with the versa-target, scaring away the gore thwogs. Make the crossing yourself and approach the pool to start a fight against a pair of Hot Heads accompanied by three corsairs. Dispose of the group as you wish, although attacking them with force is recommended, lest the corsairs pin you down while the Hot Heads' heads attack from up close.
Take the heliogrub from before with you due to the darkness, and put it down to deal with the group of heads roaming around in the area nearby. Pick up the heliogrub again to clear out the cave of any crates and thwogs, then approach the metal bridge across the chasm to a platform, along with another pythor. Defeat it, then use the bolt crank in the center to move the bridge. Cross it and defeat the three corsairs that spawn at the end.
At this point, you will have to cross a very long and narrow beam in pitch darkness. If you brought the heliogrub from before, take it with you; otherwise, grab a new one from a lone pond next to where you fought the three corsairs, past a pair of platforms that have to be adjusted with the kinetic tether. Cross the narrow beam, heading left upon reaching the split for crates, and right for the main path. Use your grub to scare away the thwogs, then use the tether to lower the platforms attached to the cliff wall. Watch out for the corsair taking potshots at you from up ahead.
To the left of the corsair is a gate, which you can blow up with the Fusion Grenade. Use it again to remove the stack of metal crates, revealing a spring pad, which you can use to reach the Dual Target Detectors upgrade for the Predator Launcher. Return to the main cavern and attempt to operate the bolt crank, which will cause two hot heads to attack. Deal with their heads and then the actual pirates themselves before operating the crank. Walk across the bridge and approach the exit to meet Sprocket, the pirate rogue you met at the beginning.
Sprocket boss battle[]
Boss fight
Before the battle, Sprocket has a dialogue prompt allowing Ratchet to choose his last words. The choice is entirely irrelevant and will not change the fight that follows, meaning it is purely up to player preference.
Sprocket is accompanied by two hot heads, one each on the rock platforms to his left and right. He himself will attack by shooting cannonballs, which either roll towards you (and away if you dodge in time), or stop and explode after a few seconds, creating a small shockwave.
Avoid both attacks as much as possible while returning fire from afar, as he retaliates with a large shockwave of his own if you attack up close. Use the Nano-Swarmers for support and the Tornado Launcher, Combuster, and Fusion Grenade to deal with the hot heads, and the Predator Launcher to damage Sprocket himself.
Use the elevator he was guarding to return to Darkwater Cove, where you can ride a grind rail back to the beach. Talk to the Smuggler, who will follow Captain Darkwater and Captain Slag's fleet for you, completing the mission "Track Down Captain Slag". He will also have the Alpha Cannon for sale at 50,000 bolts, which you should be able to afford easily now. Purchase it and leave the Cove to commence the final mission "Recover the Fulcrum Star".