These are skyboard challenges at the destroyed remains of Medical Outpost Omega available to Ratchet in (and after) the mission "Rematch - Skyboard racer". These challenges are a decent source of bolts, the Polarizer gadget, as well as the Electroshock boots.
Challenges[]
| Challenge | Description | Prizes in bolts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Second | Third | ||
| Interior Decorating | Description: Intrepid racers have pieced together the remnants of Medical Outpost Omega into a race track, combining the safety of an asteroid belt with the style and comfort that only sterile, twisted metal can bring. What could possibly go wrong? | Polarizer | 2,000 | 1,000 |
| Danger, High Voltage | Electrostatic Mines: For when racing through the abandoned husk of a detonated medical facility in the outer reaches of space simply isn't enough. A real racer might be able to avoid the mines, but I wouldn't throw away that anti-static wristband just yet, newbie. | 5,500 | 2,750 | 1,375 |
| The Vortex | The air vents in this race have been jury-rigged to reverse their flow; now they suck unwary racers into the embrace of their gaping, metal maws. Hey, but at least they don't explode. | 7,000 | 3,500 | 1,750 |
| Vertigo | The ultimate showdown, the final race of the season. Never has there been a greater opportunity to show off insane rocket tricks. Never has it been so easy to hit a spinning chunk of space rock so hard that you form your own crater. Either way, immortality is yours. | Electroshock boots 8,500 (CM) |
4,250 | 2,125 |
The key with these races is preserving fuel near the beginning, as the lack of walls means you can use it to cut corners. One good way to conserve fuel is to tap the boost button rather than simply hold it down. This allows Ratchet to mostly maintain the same altitude, without using up too much fuel.
During the spiraling loops, it is possible to cross over between the zig-zagging tracks with flight, cutting much of the path. In the final segment with disparate islands you can skip a large portion of the track by cutting straight south towards the finish line, using the board to fly through empty space. Even if you do not reach the finish line if you get close enough and die you will respawn there rather than back from where you started. Executing the latter shortcut, even partially and dying, will unlock the bronze trophy High Risk Boosting.
Interior Decorating[]
The first race consists of two laps around the basic track to obtain the Polarizer. This begins in the lower asteroids, where a few speed boosts and minimal obstacles begin the path. After this is a series of hallways left from the facility's debris; across their upper shelves, fuel can be obtained, which is crucial for the later portion. After this, the track leads into the metal, completed track, forming a helix-shaped track of two adjacent zig-zagging roads that must be traversed to reach the top. After this is a series of disparate islands, some of which with holes beneath them, that lead back to the starting line.
Danger, High Voltage[]
The second race consists of two laps around the same track, with more walls, speed boosts, speed bumps, and electrostatic mines on every portion. The strategy is similar to the previous race, though it is crucial to avoid many of the obstacles that appear throughout the course, and this should be prioritized. Rather than saving fuel for the final push, it may be necessary to use flight early on in order to avoid the speed bumps also. Finally, for the spiraling loops, it is even more important to jump between the more favorable tracks to pick up speed boosts and fuel and to avoid obstacles.
The Vortex[]
The third race takes place over the same track with more obstacles, as well as with air vents, some of which pull racers towards them while others push away. Once again, the same strategies apply, and flight may be required even more often early on. Make use of any opportunities to conserve fuel by using speed boosts where available. Avoid obstacles as much as possible, though remember that the final portion allows a lot of ground to be regained.
Vertigo[]
The final race once again takes place over the same track, with more of the same obstacles in different positions, and added forcefield rings. The same strategies apply, though dodging obstacles increases in importance once again. The added number of speed boosts early on also makes for great opportunities to conserve fuel by relying on these for speed instead of boosting. For the final stretch, if Ratchet is about to fall, simply steer the skyboard as close to the starting line island as possible, so that on respawning, Ratchet will arrive on the starting line and complete the lap.