Hydra tanks are bosses in A Crack in Time. They are agorian war machines with three serpent-like heads. Later in the game, gray elite hydra tanks are encountered that have more health and stronger attacks.
Ratchet first encountered them in Krell Canyon, Lumos during "Hunt Down the Hydra Tanks", when they were part of the invasion of the vullard settlement. He later fought the elite hydra tanks in the Agorian Battleplex in challenges. Lastly, Ratchet fought more advanced hydra tanks when traveling to Gimlick Valley, Morklon in their invasion of the fongoids in the past, during "Destroy the Hydra Tanks".
Combat[]
Hydra tanks are powerful, durable enemies that primarily attack with ranged attacks spat from their heads. These attacks can mostly be evaded by jumping over them. When possible, it is especially useful to stand on higher ground, such as boulders or small plateaus, to remain clear of harm when the tank emits an array of oscillating lasers across the ground's surface, ensuring the easy destruction of the tank. Powerful weapons like the Dynamo of Doom, Constructo Bomb, Plasma Striker, Negotiator, Spiral of Death, and Buzz Blades are recommended, depending on when the tank is encountered.
After a third of their health is depleted, hydra tanks create a forcefield, making them immune to damage, and repair themselves. They also expose a set of vulnerable versa-fuses at the base of each serpentine head. At this time, Ratchet can use the OmniWrench Millennium 12's kinetic tether to pull off the versa-fuses connecting one of the heads to the forcefield generator. This will destroy the head and undo any repairs. When all three heads are removed, the machine explodes.
The elite hydra tank is similar; however, it utilizes electricity instead of fire, is larger, and has more health. When creating their forcefields, a shockwave emits that can potentially damage Ratchet while he is pulling the fuses out, making it important to jump over the shockwave before attempting to pull a fuse out. The elite tanks encountered during the agorian invasion on Morklon do not emit shockwaves when shielded, but can instead fly into the air and create one upon landing.
Behind the scenes[]
Hydra tank concept art.
This enemy is named after the hydra from Greek mythology. Their heads resemble those of the legendary monster, and like it, the hydra tank has multiple heads.
The hydra tank appears as an Easter egg in Resistance 3. At the end of the game, Jack Capelli is seen playing with a toy hydra tank.