Scoutbots,[1] also known as scout bots,[2] are enemies in Ratchet & Clank and Up Your Arsenal. They are small robot enemies operating as a security force that hover and patrol areas, before hovering over to them and shocking them, and are encountered by Ratchet and Clank when accompanying both blarg forces and Dr. Nefarious' army.
In the 2016 re-imagined game, scoutbots are replaced largely by bladeballs.
History[]
Ratchet & Clank[]
Scoutbots worked for Chairman Drek, and were often deployed from blarg generators. They were first encountered in Fort Krontos, Batalia, during "Meet the Commando at city" and "Explore the walled city", accompanying the blarg's forces attacking the planet. They were later encountered in Gorda City, Oltanis, deployed by the blarg alongside their forces during "Find the survivors of the blarg attack" and "Search the destroyed city".
Up Your Arsenal[]
Scoutbots were encountered again, used by Dr. Nefarious, often fought alongside guard bots, sharpshooters, and soldier bots. They were first fought in the research facility, Daxx, during the mission "Infiltrate the Weapons Facility", where they defended the weapons facility in which the Biobliterator was first created.
The scoutbots were next fought on all three of the Obani moons. They were lone enemies on Obani Gemini fought during "Repair the Satellite laser links", and were fought as a larger force on Obani Pollux during "Explore the Second Moon". The scoutbots also provided security for Courtney Gears' hideout on Obani Draco during "Find Skidd".
The scoutbots were later fought on the crash site on Zeldrin during "Explore the Crash Site", and finally, were sent alongside the attack force against the Starship Phoenix during "Get to the bridge".
Characteristics[]
Scoutbots are small, metal robots. Their body consists of a sphere, two thin arms with red skewers for hands (which it users to electrocute enemies), and one glowing green eye-light from a stalk on its top. They move by hovering slowly in the air and do so in small groups, normally up to six, lowering to the ground when an enemy approaches. Their eye flashes red before attacking, with a quick delay followed by an attack in which it points its arms towards an enemy to attack with a stream of electricity. After attacking, their eye reverts to green, as they fly to their original position before repeating their attack.
Combat[]
In both Ratchet & Clank and Up Your Arsenal, scoutbots can be destroyed in a single hit, and deal little damage. Though their range should not be underestimated, as their attacks are slightly longer than most small melee enemies, they are easily destroyed with any weapon. In both games, the Suck Cannon can be used to suck them in as ammo, and in Up Your Arsenal, the Plasma Whip is particularly effective. In Ratchet & Clank, if spawned from a blarg generator, the generator should be destroyed first.
Multiplayer[]
Scout bots also appear as defenders for either the blue or the red base, where they are repeatedly created by a mobile machine. They appear in the Siege mode, as well as the Capture the Flag mode on maps with bases, of Up Your Arsenal's multiplayer. Despite their limited range and speed, they can quickly become a nuisance if their spawning machine is not dealt with.
Behind the scenes[]
Concept art for the original game.
Tony Garcia programmed the scoutbots for Obani Gemini in Up Your Arsenal and had to bring back the enemies from Ratchet & Clank and reprogram them entirely to work spherically. This proved a very difficult task and took a long time. This was because it was difficult for their collision to work correctly, meaning it was possible for Ratchet to attack them with the OmniWrench and for it to miss entirely on the spherical worlds. However, the collision was delicate as changing it would disturb their pathing, meaning this was difficult to resolve, and in the final game it is still possible to miss them with the wrench this way.[3] Garcia referenced his work on the Gravity Boots for Going Commando to help resolve this.[4]
Citations[]
- ↑ Off 2002 p.64
- ↑ Off 2004 p.77
- ↑ Stout, Garcia 3:43
- ↑ Stout, Garcia 5:17
References[]
- Video games
- Insomniac Games (2002). Ratchet & Clank [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2.
- Insomniac Games (2004). Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal [Game]. PlayStation 2.
- Bibliography
- Greg Off (2002). Ratchet & Clank Prima's Official Strategy Guide [Book]. Prima Games. ISBN 0761539646.
- Greg Off (2004). Ratchet & Clank Up Your Arsenal Official Strategy Guide [Book]. BradyGames. ISBN 0744005000.
- Videos
- Stout, Mike; Garcia, Tony [@uselesspodcasts] (2012, August 6). Ratchet & Clank 3 Dev Commentary: 22 - Spherical Physics [Video]. YouTube.