Goon infantry,[2] also known as thug shooters,[3] are enemies in Before the Nexus, Into the Nexus, and Rift Apart. They are a basic unit of the Thugs-4-Less and equip blaster pistols as their weapon.
Ratchet and Clank encountered them during their jobs in the Polaris Galaxy, first when hired by Vendra and Neftin Prog. They later fought them when hired by Dr. Nefarious, at which point many followed them to Rivet's dimension, and also encountered Rivet and Kit.
Later in Rift Apart, undead goon variants of the goon infantry appear as enemies on Savali.
History[]
Before the Nexus[]
Jetpack-equipped thug shooters appeared within Before the Nexus at times while Ratchet and Clank were chasing the Prog twins, who by then had already hired the Thugs-4-Less to help facilitate their escape.
Into the Nexus[]
Ratchet and Clank again fought them when they attacked the Nebulox Seven in "Stop Thugs from freeing Vendra Prog". He later fought them on Yerek and Silox where they protected Vendra and Neftin's interests, and then in the Destructapalooza on Kragg where many were competing.
Rift Apart[]
The goon infantry were hired by Dr. Nefarious to attack Ratchet and Clank in Megalopolis during the Festival of Heroes in "Navigate the Parade Route". They were deployed by their goon dropships into the city as the first enemies encountered.
Goon equipment in Rift Apart.
When mass dimensional chaos ensues after the Dimensionator is destroyed, the goons continue to pursue their bounty through the tears in the dimensions into Rivet's universe. During this journey however, some of the goons' forces became displaced and ended up inside various pocket dimensions. On the Sargasso of Rivet's dimension, the goons cross dimensions with their forces and attack Rivet as they are unable to differentiate their lombax target from her and Ratchet. Their dropships deploy goon infantry, goon rushers, zoom goons, and robomutts around Sargasso as Rivet attempts to liberate the morts they have taken hostage, to interrogate and find where their bounty targets are. Later, they are found throughout the planet when Rivet is collecting zurpstones for the optional mission "Help Trudi". The goons around the planet try to take the zurpstones for themselves to eat, fighting both Rivet and the grunthors for them.
Goon infantry are fought at Zurkie's Battleplex in the Bronze Cup challenge "Boomstick Blast" by Rivet, using only an Enforcer, along with several zoom goons.
Later, on the intact dimension version of Blizar Prime, the goons again cross dimensions in pursuit of Rivet in their dropships and on hoverbikes. After Rivet reaches the mining site's main drill and activates it to obtain some Phase Quartz, she discovers the drill is what destroyed the Blizar Prime in her own dimension. Whilst attempting to stop it and save the planet, she is forced to fight off goon infantry, goon rushers, vroom goons, and their attack dropship.
Inside the space pirates' barracks on Ardolis, dimensional rifts open and several goon infantry emerge, where they attempt to battle both Ratchet and the pirates.
They are then seen as prisoners within Zordoom Prison when Rivet infiltrates the complex in order to rescue Ratchet, Clank, Kit and the rest of the Resistance. After being broken out of their cells along with all the other inmates, the goons form an alliance with her and her allies against the Nefarious Troopers that imprisoned them. Later in Megalopolis, they assist Ratchet and Rivet against Emperor Nefarious' forces and his Imperial Power Suit.
Several of the blasters used by the goon infantry are seen at the entrance to Zurkie's gastropub in the weapons confiscation room. Many of their blasters are also seen confiscated in a large pile at Zordoom Prison, along with swords and hammers used by gthe goon rushers, when the they were captured and imprisoned by the Nefarious Troopers.
Characteristics[]
Goon infantry with better gear.
Standard goon infantry are snivelakians dressed with minimal clothing. They wear pants, a sash for their weapon, a small armor plate, and a pistol as their weapon. Later goon infantry are equipped with stronger armor and weapons.
Goon infantry somewhat resemble Thugs-4-Less Henchman from Going Commando, but with bulkier upper bodies giving them a slightly less humanoid look.
Combat[]
Overview[]
Goon infantry primarily attack the lombaxes by shooting from a distance, firing laser projectiles. If they get too close to their target, they will smack with their gun in a melee attack. The projectiles are telegraphed and can be avoided, but these projectiles are aimed better on harder difficulties. During hectic firefights with multiple enemies, their blaster shots can sometimes be hard to spot. Because they attack from distance, they are best fought with ranged weapons.
Goon infantry are often accompanied by goon rushers, which fight in melee range.
Into the Nexus[]
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Thug shooter equipped with a jetpack.
Thug shooters attack with their lasers and are mostly grounded units, but some thug shooters are equipped with jetpacks, and capable of flight. Though this makes attacks against them harder to land, they otherwise have the same attacks and durability. These flying thug shooters resemble the zoom goons later seen in Rift Apart.
Ranged weapons, such as the Omniblaster early on and later the Warmonger or Nether Blades, are ideal against them, as is keeping a distance. If their firepower becomes overwhelming, the Nightmare Box can be used.
Rift Apart[]
The goon infantry is different from the pirate corsairs and Nefarious Lasertroopers, due to a combat roll move they use to quickly leap into and out of cover. They will also flank Ratchet and Rivet if they stay behind cover themselves, making them the most intelligent infantry type enemies in combat. Goon infantry can be evasive, dodging weapons such as the Shatterbomb by rolling.
Goon infantry are only somewhat durable, meaning most weapons are effective against them. The laser projectiles they fire from their blasters can be caught with the Void Repulser and fired back at them. These goons in Rift Apart are often accompanied by their faction's swarmer unit, robomutts.
Behind the scenes[]
Concept art of a ranged weapon utilizing thug.
Concept art of this enemy for Into the Nexus originally had them wearing a backpack of some kind, which was attached to a chaingun-like weapon.
Citations[]
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "The ancient history of Savali"
- ↑ Rift Apart menu § "Defeat the Goons-4-Less!"
- ↑ Into the Nexus, file:
thug_brawler_shooter.entity.irb