Hologuise

Specifications
Type	Handheld
Function	Holographic disguise

Hologuise is a type of gadget in the Ratchet & Clank series. As its portmanteau name implies, it is a holographic disguise gadget allowing the user to convincingly disguise themselves as another person, either organic or robotic. Hologuises of various forms and functions have been used by Ratchet and Clank in various entries throughout the series.

History

Ratchet & Clank

In the original Ratchet & Clank, the Hologuise gadget was created by Gadgetron Corporation for non-robot customers and could disguise the user as a sentry-bot, but would deactivate when weapons were used. After Ratchet and Clank viewed a commercial on the infobot while it was available only on Kalebo III for a limited time, Ratchet obtained it from Wendell Lumos in "Win the Hoverboard race". He then used it to infiltrate the robot factory on Quartu and Drek's fleet.

Re-imagining

In Ratchet & Clank (2016 game), the Hologuise was also obtained from Wendell Lumos after "Win the hoverboard race" on Kalebo III, but instead disguised Ratchet as Captain Qwark. Ratchet used it to infiltrate the Deplanetizer.

Up Your Arsenal

Ratchet uses the Tyhrra-Guise.

In Up Your Arsenal, a prototype hologuise gadget that could disguise the user as a tyhrranoid and allow them to speak Tyhrranoid was created, known as the Tyhrra-Guise. It was a prize at the Annihilation Nation and allowed Ratchet to infiltrate Dr. Nefarious' office on Aquatos.

Tools of Destruction

Qwark giving out the Holo-Pirate Disguise at the Imperial Fight Festival.

A hologuise known as the Holo-Pirate Disguise was used in Tools of Destruction. It was created by Percival Tachyon to spy on space pirates, but discarded after Tachyon was unable to perform the Pirate Jig needed to pass pirate doorkeepers. Instead, Tachyon offered it as a prize in the Imperial Fight Festival, hoping to lure Captain Slag to die in the arena. Ratchet instead won the prize at the arena and used it to infiltrate space pirate locations.

A Crack in Time

A drawing of Qwark's plan to use the hologuise to infiltrate the Nefarious Space Station.

Alister Azimuth, wary of hologuises, initially did not trust Ratchet, believing him to be using a lombax hologuise.

When Ratchet, Clank, and Captain Qwark infiltrated the Nefarious Space Station, Qwark's plan involved Clank using a gigamorphic holo-ray to scan Dr. Nefarious and create a hologuise to disguise Ratchet. Because many elevators in the Nefarious Space Station were coded to Dr. Nefarious' circuitry, the hologuise was necessary to progress further so as to destroy his armada. The disguise on Ratchet ended up significantly shorter than Nefarious, due to Qwark forgetting to tune the autoscaler. Nonetheless, it fooled Lawrence, Pollyx, and Nefarious' minions, allowing Ratchet to destroy Nefarious' armada.

Rift Apart

Phantom made use of hologuises himself, which Ratchet recognized.

Gameplay

Ratchet & Clank

Ratchet, disguised as a sentry-bot, waving to another sentry-bot.

Main article: Hologuise (Ratchet & Clank)

The Hologuise in the original Ratchet & Clank disguises Ratchet as a sentry-bot, who will be fooled by the disguise. Doing this significantly slows Ratchet down and makes him incapable of running or jumping. Using a weapon will deactivate the Hologuise. The only action aside from walking with the Hologuise is waving at other sentry-bots, which can cause them to deactivate forcefields.

In the 2016 Ratchet & Clank, the same is true except it disguises Ratchet as Qwark, and he has slightly faster movement.

Up Your Arsenal

Ratchet using the Tyhrra-Guise.

Main article: Tyhrra-Guise

The Tyhrra-Guise disguises Ratchet as a one-eyed tyhrranoid, meaning tyhrranoids will be fooled by the disguise. It does not slow his movement and allows him a single high jump, but does prevent him from using weapons. In addition to waving, the Tyhrra-Guise allows Ratchet to communicate to others in Tyhrranese, in a rhythm minigame where the player must match the movements on-screen to successfully communicate.

Tools of Destruction

Ratchet using the Holo-Pirate Disguise on Kreeli Comet.

Main article: Holo-Pirate Disguise

The Holo-Pirate Disguise disguises Ratchet as a unique type of space pirate, fooling pirate doorkeepers and space pirates (aside from certain instances in missions where pirates are warned, at which point only doorkeepers are fooled). It severely restricts Ratchet's movement and prevents him from jumping or using weapons. A rhythm minigame where the player must dance the Pirate Jig to pass doorkeepers is used.

A Crack in Time

Ratchet wearing the hologuise.

Rather than appearing as a usable gadget that can be turned on and off by the player, the hologuise in A Crack in Time is active on Ratchet in the Nefarious Space Station for the missions "Destroy Dr. Nefarious' Armada" and "Escape the Nefarious Space Station!", disguising Ratchet as a (height-distorted) Dr. Nefarious.

During the "Destroy Dr. Nefarious' Armada" mission, Ratchet's movement is not restricted, but all buttons are replaced with four different commands: one to force a Nefarious Trooper in front of him to move, one to force Troopers to dance, one to execute a Trooper, and one to call Lawrence via hologram. After, in "Escape the Nefarious Space Station!", the hologuise simply prevents Ratchet from using Clank's Heli-Pack, but otherwise, Ratchet will fight as normal, simply wearing the disguise.

References

• Insomniac Games (2002). Ratchet & Clank [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2.
• Insomniac Games (2004). Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal [Game]. PlayStation 2.
• Insomniac Games (2007). Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
• Insomniac Games (2009). Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
• Insomniac Games (2016). Ratchet & Clank [Game]. Sony Interactive Entertainment. PlayStation 4.
• Kevin Munroe (Director) (2016). Ratchet & Clank [Film]. Rainmaker Entertainment.
• Insomniac Games (2009). Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.