The Lancer is a weapon manufactured by Megacorp in Going Commando, also appearing in Going Mobile, Clone Home, and a few cutscenes in Deadlocked. It is a long-range pistol with a decent rate of fire that fires explosive energy bolts to damage enemies.
In both games, Ratchet starts with it by default. In Going Commando the Lancer can be upgraded to the Heavy Lancer, a rifle that fires slightly stronger energy bolts with a rapid rate of fire. When in challenge mode it can be further upgraded to the Mega Heavy Lancer. In Going Mobile and Clone Home the Lancer can be upgraded to level three with use.
History[]
The Lancer was given to Ratchet at the start of Going Commando as one of two default weapons for Megacorp commandos, along with the Gravity Bomb. Its upgrade, the Heavy Lancer, was seen twice in the story. Firstly, it was used by Ratchet to free the experiment from the thief on Siberius; it was later used by Ratchet to free Angela Cross from the Giganto-Mech.
Near the end of the game, in the Megacorp Headquarters on Yeedil, Captain Qwark, disguised as Abercrombie Fizzwidget, shot Clank's admirer with a weapon similar to the Lancer.
Characteristics[]
The Lancer is a silver metallic pistol with red decorations and a red trigger. Its nozzle and its barrel glow orange, the same color of the energy bolts the weapon fires. It features red and black wires from the back to the nozzle.
The Heavy Lancer appears wildly different. It is an assault rifle with a left-hand grip at the back and a longer circular nozzle. The orange energy highlights still appear on the weapon, though decorations are blue instead of red.
In Going Mobile it more appears to resemble the N60 Storm, per the red design and orange lights. In Clone Home it instead has a long-barreled brown rifle design.
Gameplay[]
Overview[]
The Lancer initially begins with a medium rate of fire that does moderate damage to enemies. It can automatically target enemies, and is most easily used while strafing. It is a very versatile weapon that can be useful against any type of enemy. When upgraded to the Heavy Lancer, it deals slightly higher damage, but its increased rate of fire is what makes it a more powerful weapon.
Going Commando[]
Ratchet using the Lancer
The Lancer is available as one of two default weapons at the start of the game. It can be upgraded to the Heavy Lancer by using the weapon. In challenge mode, it can be upgraded to the Mega Heavy Lancer from any vendor.
While the Lancer and Heavy Lancer begin as useful weapons, they are heavily outclassed as the game progresses (particularly around reaching Joba). The Heavy Lancer's damage does little to keep up with the more powerful enemies that the player will encounter later on, and it has very little utility. Therefore, it becomes redundant midway through the game. The Mega and Ultra upgrades alleviate this for challenge mode, with the Ultra Heavy Lancer dealing about four times the damage on Yeedil's enemies compared to the Heavy Lancer during the initial playthrough.
Ratchet using the Heavy Lancer against the Thug Leader.
The Shock Mod and Lock On Mod are available at Slim Cognito's platinum bolt weapon modifications shop. The Shock Mod shocks enemies close to those hit by the Lancer's blasts, while the Lock On Mod locks onto a target when 
and 
are held down simultaneously. While the Lock On Mod is only a minor improvement, the Shock Mod can make the Lancer much more effective. However, in both cases, the Lancer is likely to have been outclassed by the time of purchasing these mods, so the player may choose to purchase mods for different weapons instead. In addition, the Shock Mod may not function correctly against hordes of small enemies like protopets.
If the player solely uses the Lancer from the beginning of the game up to and including the swamp monster I boss on Oozla, it will be upgraded to the Heavy Lancer.
Going Mobile and Clone Home[]
In both Going Mobile and Clone Home the Lancer is available by default from the start. It is useful early on for its range and high rate of fire, with acceptable damage when leveled to V3. The fire rate allows it to effectively stunlock lone enemies, but it falters when fighting against groups, as those in the rear are allowed to continue unhindered. It is eventually outclassed by all other weapons in terms of both damage and functionality.
Behind the scenes[]
Ratchet firing an early version of the Lancer.
As seen in some beta versions of Going Commando and screenshots from the game, the Lancer's shots were originally colored either green or blue along with some parts of the weapon itself.
The Heavy Lancer's model is used in cutscenes on Siberius and Snivelak, irrespective of whether the player has upgraded the Lancer by that point. In early builds of the game, the Lancer's base model was used for the cutscene on Barlow in which Ratchet threatens Biker One.[1]
The Lancer's model was used as a non-playable weapon in Deadlocked. Captain Starshield used a modified version of the Lancer when he was a gladiator in DreadZone.[2] Later, Ratchet attempted to use a lighter-looking Lancer against Ace Hardlight after he shot Al, who had the weapon lying on a toolbox.[3]
Citations[]
References[]
- Insomniac Games (2003). Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2.
- Insomniac Games (2003). Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2.
- Insomniac Games (2005). Ratchet: Deadlocked [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2.
- Handheld Games (2005). Ratchet & Clank: Going Mobile [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. Mobile phone.
- Sony Interactive Entertainment (2018). The Art of Ratchet & Clank [Book]. Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 978-1506705729.