The Thruster-Pack,[1][2] occasionally spelled Thrusterpack,[3] is a gadget in Ratchet & Clank, Going Commando, Up Your Arsenal, Tools of Destruction, and Ratchet & Clank (2016 game). It is a rocket upgrade for Clank installed at Bob's Roboshack, that allows Clank to switch his feet to rocket boosters and his arms to wings. Like the Heli-Pack, this allows Ratchet to hover above ground, to high jump, and to long jump.
The Thruster Pack is installed in the original Ratchet & Clank in Bob's Roboshack on planet Pokitaru for 2,000 bolts. In the re-imagined Ratchet & Clank, it is instead granted by Al on the same planet for free. In the original and re-imagined Ratchet & Clank, it provides additional functionality, though in later games, it has the same functionality as the Heli-Pack and is merely an aesthetic choice for the player.
Use
The Thruster Pack typically allows Ratchet to perform the same three moves as the Heli Pack: the boost jump, stretch jump, and glide. It can also smash through crates when stretch jumping through them.
A Thruster-Pack lock.
In the original Ratchet & Clank, it provides additional functionality. It has a built in power-slam to unlock special locks on the ground, and the ability to strafe and stretch jump in mid-air after boost jumping. The re-imagined Ratchet & Clank, rather than providing a power-slam, allows Ratchet to turn special bolt cranks faster, and can also provide the ability to stretch jump in mid-air after boost jumping.
In other entries, the Thruster Pack has the same functionality as the Heli-Pack, and is merely an aesthetic difference. In Up Your Arsenal, the Thruster Pack emits black flames instead of red when using Klunk.
Behind the scenes
Early builds of Ratchet & Clank show that the Thruster Pack was going to feature a side jump ability.[4]
The Thruster Pack was absent following Tools of Destruction, though incomplete unused assets for it were present within the files for A Crack in Time.[5]
It reappeared in the 2016 re-imagined game, installed again in Pokitaru, though this time by Al as Bob has been removed. It can long jump after a high jump in mid-air like the original, though it no longer features strafe (which Ratchet can do on his own) or power-slam, and instead can be used to unlock special bolt cranks in combination with the OmniWrench.
References
- ↑ Ratchet & Clank (2002 game), strategy guide, p. 119
- ↑ Ratchet & Clank (2002 game) script § "Destroy the blarg ships (gameplay)"
- ↑ Ratchet & Clank (2002 game) script § "Buy Thrusterpack from Bob (gameplay)"
- ↑ Ratchet & Clank E3 Demo Differences (@5:41) published by RC Lombax on September 3, 2017 on YouTube. Accessed July 17, 2018.
- ↑ Ratchet & Clank ACiT - Unused Thruster Pack published by RC Lombax on October 11, 2016 on YouTube. Accessed February 22, 2018.
