These are skyboard challenges at the Mechanoid Factory on Kalidon available to Ratchet in (and after) the mission "Win the skyboard race". These challenges are a decent source of bolts, both the Shrink Ray and Grindboots gadgets, as well as the Sludge Mk. 9 gloves.
Challenges[]
| Challenge | Description | Prizes in bolts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Second | Third | ||
| Learner's Permit | Everybody's got to start somewhere. Beat some junior boarders and learn the basics of what skyboarding can throw at ya'. | Shrink Ray Grindboots |
750 | 375 |
| Speeding Ticket | Speed is the name of the game. Hit all the speed-up tracks to get the edge on the competition. | 2,500 | 1,250 | 625 |
| Tricky Air | Sometimes staying on the ground is a bad idea. It's especially bad on a course loaded with explosive mines and board-breaking moguls. | 3,500 | 1,750 | 875 |
| Master's Challenge | This is it. The big Kahuna. The toughest race you're going to find in this sector, or anywhere. | Sludge Mk. 9 gloves 5,000 (CM) |
2,500 | 1,250 |
Learner's Permit[]
The first race consists of three laps around the basic track. The track starts in a wide metal tube and leads onto a rock path with some metal blocks along the way, before the edge of a cliff past which the track continues. Here, the track leads over an acid river and bends right, with some floating platforms above it that contain speed boosts. At the end of the river, the path continues through a building, with several hazards inside in the form of pistons and cogs. Past this, the track leads back onto the rock path with several ramps along it, eventually leading back to the start.
The track has adequate amounts of fuel and boosts to allow Ratchet to get ahead of the competing racers. By avoiding obstacles and using boosts as much as possible, this race is fairly simple to complete. Obtaining fuel as often as possible is ideal, as the floating platforms over the acid river containing red boosts are ideal to make use of.
Speeding Ticket[]
The second race contains an abundance of speed boosts on the ground, with some changes to the track. As the track begins, the path is full of speed boosts with pillars as obstacles instead of the blocks, and on the acid river, the platforms containing boosts are much closer to the surface, with a few small ramps, and larger forcefield ring hazards that need to be flown through or avoided entirely. Past this, several obstacles form around the entrance to the building, within which are more speed boosts and mines, until the final room where there are blue speed bumps instead. Past this is a relatively drought of speed boosts, aside from the tops of a few pillars with the final boosts across them, and more forcefield ring hazards. Just before reaching the starting line again, near the final stretch are several rigged fans attempting to push the skyboard off-course.
Make use of the abundance of speed boosts, and conserve fuel for this. The fuel should be preserved for flying through the hazardous rings, or flying to reach the speed boosts near the end of the track. This is especially crucial for the acid river, where passing over the acid will slow the skyboard down considerably. By doing this and avoiding obstacles, this track can be won fairly easily.
Tricky Air[]
The third race contains a large amount of forcefield rings as well as rigged fans. From the starting line, several fans push the racers to the right edge, before the path continues to several criss-crossing speed boosts through only a few obstacles before reaching the acid river. Here, fans will also attempt to push the skyboard down onto the acid or into the mines, and platforms are scarce. In the building, moving pistons and cogs near the start present a hazard, following which are speed boosts and speed bumps between hazards until the end. The last stretch contains a few floating platforms and rings above a mass of speed bumps below, once again making flight important.
A notable difference on this track is that near the start of the acid river is a tunnel on the right presenting a shortcut to skip the river. It is crucial to take this each time, due to how dangerous the acid river is, and how much time is saved doing so. If enough fuel is preserved here, another shortcut also exists within the building that can skip a portion of it. Beyond this, the key is to preserve fuel in order to fly on the key portions of the map that are hazardous, particularly the river and the final stretch. If this is done, the race should be won handily.
Master's Challenge[]
The final race contains a considerable amount of objects, and the racers will also take the shortcuts. From the starting line, the ground is comprised of speed bumps, with only a few metal blocks in the middle to avoid them and obtain fuel for flight. Across the acid river are a sparse amount of platforms, with floating obstacles and forcefield rings making it more challenging. In the building are fans and mines followed by a set of speed boosts straight into a metal block which must be flown over to avoid it, while the final room contains moving cogs and speed bumps. Past this is an abundance of forcefield rings, immobile pistols, and mines, with no speed boosts.
The shortcuts from the previous race are also available, as well as an additional shortcut at the end of the building that should all be used. Beyond this, fuel needs to be preserved for flight in order to dodge the obstacles and beat the race, and for the final stretch before the finish line where all fuel can be expanded to boost to victory. In order to win, make use of any opportunities to cut corners and expend boosts if several packs of fuel are found together.
Completing the challenge in under 3:25 unlocks the skill point "Be An Awesome Skyboarder".