Template:Appearances Slim Cognito is a character in Going Commando, Up Your Arsenal, Size Matters, and Secret Agent Clank. He is a black market weapons dealer from the Bogon Galaxy, who is never fully seen in person, as only his eyes are ever visible. He sells black market merchandise to Ratchet and Clank throughout their adventures, including weapon modifications, Megacorp weapons, and upgrades for the Star Explorer in his ship shack. In addition to bolts, Slim also trades in Raritanium and platinum bolts.
In the 2016 re-imagined game, the Shady Salesman is named "Slim Cognito" in the credits and holocards, despite being a different character.
History
Going Commando
Slim Cognito placed red buttons on small stands mysteriously throughout planets in the Bogon Galaxy, on planets Endako, in Megapolis, Boldan, in Silver City, and Tabora, in the mining area. When Ratchet first pressed one, Slim Cognito flew down in a ship, with his eyes peeking out of a small slot in the rear, asking Ratchet to "put it in the slot". Ratchet worked out that Slim sold weapon modifications, to which Slim boasted he could transform Ratchet's weapon into a powerful piece of equipment with a few "tweaks".[1] Slim charged bolts and platinum bolts for weapon mods.
Ratchet and Clank later saw an ad for Slim Cognito's ship shack in a telescreen in Canal City on Notak, during "Search Canal City for thief". The ad boasted that the shack sold "legally ambiguous refashioning" and performed modifications "quickly, cheaply and, most importantly, quietly". Ratchet was intrigued by the ad.[2] Slim Cognito sold new upgrades for Ratchet's ship, the Star Explorer, for Raritanium.
Up Your Arsenal
At some point, Slim Cognito fled the Bogon Galaxy to the Solana Galaxy, following an altercation with the police after a Suck Cannon upgrade was mistakenly sold to an underage customer.[3]
Ratchet and Clank encountered Slim Cognito on Aquatos during "Infiltrate the underwater hideout". Slim whispered, alerting Ratchet and Clank to his presence, while frightening Skidd McMarx to the point of him fleeing, claiming he had forgotten to feed his goldfish.[3] Slim sold the Lava Gun and the Miniturret Glove, though more Megacorp weapons were sold later.
In The Shaming of the Q, the fifth Qwark vid-comic, Slim Cognito replaced the former narrator of the comics, because the fifth vid-comic was never officially released.
Later, when landing on the Thran Asteroid Belt for "Find Captain Qwark", Slim Cognito contacted Ratchet to inform him that the Bouncer had become available, claiming he'd include a "10% smart shopper discount" if Ratchet arrived quickly.[4] When landing on Koros for "Get inside command center", Slim contacted Ratchet to inform him that the Plasma Coil was on sale, arriving in "mint condition, still in the box".[5] Finally, after landing on Mylon for "Battle your way to the launch site", Slim Cognito informed Ratchet he had just picked up a Shield Charger, which had gone on sale.[6] All three of these weapons finish the optional mission "Visit Slim Cognito's" once they have been acquired.
If the player had a Going Commando save file, Slim Cognito gave his weapons to Ratchet for free. It is possible that Abercrombie Fizzwidget was colluding with Slim Cognito, knowing that Slim was helping Ratchet, as upon granting the Shield Charger to Ratchet for free, Slim Cognito sent a message saying "Mr. Fizzwidget sends you his regards", and said that the weapon was "on him",[7] implying that Fizzwidget arranged for Slim Cognito to provide it for free as a way of thanking Ratchet for his help in Bogon.
Size Matters
Slim Cognito had vendors on planets Kalidon, Challax, and Quodrona, notably all technomite planets. He sold weapon mods for bolts, several of which were only available during challenge mode at a massively inflated price. Although he did appear in person, as his eyes were visible, he had no dialogue and did not interact with Ratchet.
Secret Agent Clank
Slim Cognito appeared in the Prison Planet where Ratchet was imprisoned, incarcerated after selling black market merchandise. Slim offered to give Ratchet a code to the casino case that Clank needed to get into the High-Stakes Room, if he defended Slim from his old customers that claimed he sold lousy merchandise to them.
Tools of Destruction
Slim Cognito was mentioned in the Zordoom Prison on planet Viceron. He was sent there for showing his class B Gravity Cannon to a group of female tumfoids during a rock concert in Meridian City.
Characteristics
Slim Cognito's appearance is entirely unknown, as all that is ever seen of him is a pair of moving eyes with black pupils. In Secret Agent Clank, Slim has purple irises. He speaks with a shifty voice reminiscent of a mafia boss.
Slim appears to be entirely careless about the effects of his merchandise when he stands to profit. He sold a Suck Cannon upgrade to a minor, swearing later that the kid "looked eighteen",[3] and sold very dangerous weaponry seemingly to any customer, promising to keep his sales quiet.[2] Slim was also not at all subtle about the fact that his merchandise was illegal.
Behind the scenes
Unused audio files in Going Commando imply he often booked manicure appointments, and that he would have originally had lines while browsing his stores, similar to vendors in the original Ratchet & Clank.[8][9] Additionally, unused audio files for the August beta of Up Your Arsenal claim he worked alongside Thugs-4-Less, and was going to sell the R.Y.N.O..[10]
Slim Cognito was originally the same character as the Shady Salesman from the previous game.[11] In the re-imagined Ratchet & Clank, the Salesman was given the name Slim Cognito.
References
- ↑ Going Commando script § "Gameplay 2"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Going Commando script § "Ad for Slim's Illegal Ship Mods"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Up Your Arsenal script § "Infiltrate the Underwater Hideout (gameplay)"
- ↑ Up Your Arsenal script § "Find Captain Qwark (gameplay)"
- ↑ Up Your Arsenal script § "Get inside command center (gameplay)"
- ↑ Up Your Arsenal script § "Battle your way to the launch site (gameplay)"
- ↑ Up Your Arsenal script § "Other"
- ↑ Going Commando unused dialogue § "Going Commando release"
- ↑ Going Commando, Unused voice clips on The Cutting Room Floor
- ↑ Up Your Arsenal unused dialogue § "Up Your Arsenal August beta"
- ↑ Developer Commentary: RC2 - Ep 16 - Part 1 (@11:37) published by uselesspodcasts on July 15, 2011 on YouTube. Accessed June 2, 2019.