Sandshark

General information
Species	Sandshark
Location	Ratchet & Clank (2002) and (2016): Outpost X11, Aridia Ratchet & Clank (2016): Blarg Research Outpost, Gaspar Rift Apart: Megalopolis, Corson V Nefarious City, Corson V Scarstu Debris Field, Zurkie's Urfdah Mesa, Savali
Offense	Bite

Sandsharks are enemies in Ratchet & Clank, the 2016 re-imagined game, and Rift Apart. They are small, hostile, red-orange creatures found on Aridia, in the Outpost X11 area. They dwell beneath the sand before emerging to attack anyone who approaches. They are spawned from sandshark nests, which are bulbous, immobile, orange and green biomasses attached to the ground. These pests are an invasive species and have devastated the local ecosystems of Aridia, Savali, and countless other worlds after having stowed aboard trade ships.

In Rift Apart, undead sandsharks from another dimension begin to appear late in the game.

History

Ratchet & Clank

While stranded on Aridia, Skid McMarx found himself unable to return to his ship, as there were swarms of sandsharks that blocked the path. Upon meeting Ratchet and Clank, he asked them to clear out the sandsharks to clear a path for him in "Help Skid get to his ship" (named "Help Skidd get to his ship" in the re-imagined release). He rewarded them with a hoverboard in return. Sandsharks were also encountered along the way to the main compound in Outpost X11 and within its construction area, fought during "Find Skid's agent" (named "Find Skidd's Agent" in the re-imagined release), and appeared to be hostile towards constructorbots.

Ratchet & Clank (2016)

In the re-imagined release, sandsharks are encountered a second time, in the Blarg Research Outpost on Gaspar, during "Find the Jetpack", and groups of sandsharks and their nest are found throughout the outpost in missions "Trade 10 brains for a jetpack" and following.

Rift Apart

Sandsharks reappear in Rift Apart, and are fought in Megalopolis after emerging from dimensional rifts during Ratchet and Clank's fight against Dr. Nefarious in his Party Crasher mech. When Ratchet fights a Nefarious Juggernaut in Nefarious City, they are both pulled through a rift to planet Savali. After battling eachother for a time, they are pulled back to the city and some Sandsharks follow them back through the open rift to Nefarious Plaza, which will then attack Ratchet. Later them and their nests are encountered on planet Savali, when Ratchet travels there himself in his ship. In Zurkie's Battleplex, several of them come out of rifts in the Silver Cup challenge "Pest Control". Some can be seen inside cages at Zordoom Prison. The dead skeleton of one is seen inside the vents of the Zordoom Prison processing centre and several more skeletons are seen in the cave, outside the door to Rivet's base on Sargasso.

Characteristics

Sandsharks are small, orange-red creatures that are found swimming in sands with their fins visible above ground. When a target is nearby, sandsharks will emerge from the ground to attack with a bite. Sandsharks are always seen in groups and swarms and often gather around their nests. When taunted with the Taunter and unable to reach Ratchet, they jump and snarl angrily.

Sandsharks are spawned from sandshark nests, which spit them out but are otherwise immobile and defenseless. In the original release, these are bulbous, immobile objects, with orange skin and green markings, sporting small spikes, which spit out sandsharks through an orifice at the top of their bulb-shaped organs supported by a body attached to three small legs. In the re-imagined release, they appear as orange and green, plant-like organisms with several moving tentacles attaching them to the ground that spit sandsharks out from a mouth with teeth.

Sandsharks and nests per game

Sand Shark from the original Ratchet & Clank.

Sand Shark from the 2016 re-imagining.

Sand Shark from Rift Apart

Nest from the original Ratchet & Clank.

Nest from the 2016 re-imagining.

Nest from Rift Apart

Combat

A group of sandsharks.

When spotting a target, sandsharks will run towards them and deliver a quick bite. They have very low durability and are limited to melee range attacks, meaning they can be easily defeated. The only threat from sandsharks comes from their numbers in large swarms, therefore they must be defeated quickly using a weapon such as the Pyrocitor (or in the re-imagined release, the Proton Drum, which is also very effective).

Since sandsharks will continually spawn from sandshark nests, any nearby nests should be destroyed before fighting any sandsharks in the area. Nests are completely defenseless, allowing for easy destruction.

Behind the scenes

Concept art of the sandshark nest from the re-imagined game.

The sandsharks appear to share a base model with the peckbot and chomper enemies, which have similarities in appearance, movement, and attacks.

An older model of this enemy can be seen in the Insomniac Museum in Up Your Arsenal. This version has four legs, a larger shark fin, two eyes, and a white monotone physical appearance due to a lack of color.