Thugs-4-Less,[1][2][a] later rebranded as Goons-4-Less,[4] is a mercenary organization that appears as the secondary antagonist faction in Going Commando, Into the Nexus, and Rift Apart, with minor appearances in other titles. Originating from Snivelak in the Bogon Galaxy, the group consists entirely of Snivelakians led by the Thug Leader. The Thugs offer their services to the highest bidder and appear motivated primarily by profit, though the Thug Leader held a personal vendetta against Ratchet and Clank.
During Going Commando, Angela Cross initially hired the Thugs-4-Less for protection, but they were subsequently bought out by Megacorp to defend Abercrombie Fizzwidget. In Into the Nexus, Neftin Prog hired them to liberate his sister, Vendra Prog, and assist in bringing the nethers to the Polaris Galaxy. In Rift Apart, Dr. Nefarious hired the group to eliminate Ratchet and Clank and assist in stealing the Dimensionator in Megalopolis. They eventually followed the duo to Rivet's dimension, where they also targeted Rivet after Dr. Nefarious issued a bounty on both lombaxes.
History[]
Going Commando[]
Thugs rob the Megacorp store with Angela.
After Ratchet infiltrated the flying lab of Angela Cross (disguised as the Unknown Thief) on Aranos, she contacted Thugs-4-Less for protection while in possession of the Protopet. She arranged for their operatives to meet her at the Megacorp Outlet on Oozla.[5] Two Thugs-4-Less Henchmen accompanied her as she stole a galactic map and deactivated the Outlet's outer defenses, leaving it vulnerable to local wildlife. Subsequently, the Thugs escorted her to Maktar Resort and towed a moon-sized jamming array into orbit, interrupting the annual Galactic Gladiators broadcast.[6]
When Ratchet pursued them to the station, they ambushed him in the Wupash Nebula. At Maktar Resort, numerous Thugs-4-Less Brutes supported by Megacorp Chickenbots failed to eliminate him during "Find a way to the Thugs-4-Less Jamming Array" and "Win the Arena Battle", allowing Ratchet to disable the jamming array. Dissatisfied with their performance, the Thug Leader tracked Ratchet to Endako and personally attacked him during "Visit Clank's apartment".[7]
Ratchet later joined the Desert Riders—the "number one leisure choice" for Thugs-4-Less[8]—on Barlow. There, he gained the trust of Biker One, who revealed the Thug rendezvous point in the Feltzin System where the employee picnic was held.[9] Ratchet attacked the fleet in "Defeat the Thug Ships", prompting Angela to send a furious transmission to the Thug Leader for prioritizing a picnic over her protection. The Thugs then deployed Henchmen to Canal City, Notak, whom Ratchet fought during "Search Canal City for thief" and "Explore the Promenade". During the latter mission, Henchmen attempted to ambush Ratchet by posing as mannequins.
The Thug Leader on his flagship.
After Ratchet retrieved the Protopet and delivered it to Abercrombie Fizzwidget, Megacorp contacted the Thug Leader with a new offer to protect Mr. Fizzwidget, claiming he was going senile.[10] Although initially hesitant to betray his current client, the Thug Leader was quickly persuaded by the substantial sum of bolts offered.[11] The Thugs converted Angela's flying lab on Aranos into a prison.[12] Due to his vendetta against Ratchet and Clank, the Thug Leader offered a free pizza party to any squad that could defeat them.[10]
The Thug Leader kidnaps Angela.
Shortly after, Ratchet fought Thugs-4-Less in Silver City, Boldan, during "Find Mr. Fizzwidget". After the duo discovered a Fizzwidget bot in the mall and demanded the real Fizzwidget's location, the Thug Leader arrested them for "attempting to bump off Mr. Fizzwidget"[13] and incarcerated them. Ratchet and Clank escaped the prison, while Angela infiltrated the Thugs-4-Less fleet on Gorn. She intercepted a transmission from the Thug Leader[14] but was subsequently captured.
Ratchet and Clank traveled to Gorn and destroyed several ships in "Defeat the Thug Fleet". In frustration, the Thug Leader sent an intimidating message, inadvertently transmitting his exact coordinates on Snivelak.[15] In "Rescue Angela", the pair traveled to Snivelak, fought through a massive wave of Thugs, and defeated the Thug Leader in his Giganto-Mech. With the Thug Leader defeated, Thugs-4-Less ceased operations in the area.
Secret Agent Clank[]
Ratchet encounters the Thug Leader on the Prison Planet.
When Ratchet was framed and arrested for stealing the Eye of Infinity, several Thugs-4-Less prisoners led by the Thug Leader attempted revenge on the Prison Planet. Ratchet fought lizard thugs on several occasions during various prison arena challenges.
In "Qwarkography, Ch. 3", Qwark hired lizard thugs to play the sea lemurs in his musical on planet Venantonio.
Before Into the Nexus[]
For four consecutive years leading up to Into the Nexus, Thugs-4-Less won the award for "Best Small Mercenary Company to Work For," an accolade they achieved by murdering their competition.[16]
At some point,[b] Thugs-4-Less established a presence on Kragg in the Polaris Galaxy, constructing Destructapalooza. This unregulated gladiatorial combat arena[18] was sponsored by GrummelNet.[16] Although marketed as a recruitment tool for Thugs-4-Less,[18] there was a tacit understanding that most entrants would die,[19] and no actual jobs were offered.[16]
During Stuart Zurgo's revenge plot against Qwark in Full Frontal Assault, he claimed to have stolen two dozen blocks of pyrocidic demo charges from a Thugs-4-Less outpost, rigged to his secret base to detonate should the Q-Force enter. His mother later revealed this was a lie; the charges were stolen from his father's shed for use in demolishing an old Gadgetron building.[20]
Six months prior to Into the Nexus,[17] Vendra and Neftin Prog hired Thugs-4-Less for their assault on Pollyx Industries in Before the Nexus. A Thug attack ship fought Ratchet and Clank during a pursuit through Axiom City, assisted by jetpack thugs. In the six months leading up to Into the Nexus, Thugs-4-Less established an outpost on Yerek to guard the terachnoids building a new Dimensionator for the Prog twins.[21]
Into the Nexus[]
Working under Neftin Prog, Thugs-4-Less attacked the Nebulox Seven Prison Ship to free Vendra. They fired omnirockets at the vessel[22] and planted pyrocidic blaster mines throughout the ship,[23] liberating Vendra and destroying the transport. They attempted to kill Ratchet and Clank as they escaped, but after Ratchet latched onto a Thugs-4-Less ship, they assumed he was "space kill" and departed.[24]
Although some Thugs were uneasy about helping Vendra bring the nethers into the universe,[25] they served the Progs dutifully, fighting to stop Ratchet and Clank from interfering with Vendra summoning Mr. Eye. When the summoning occurred, many fled in terror.[26] Thugs-4-Less inadvertently aided the nethers by battling the Polaris Defense Force, distracting them while Mr. Eye attacked Meridian City, Igliak.[27]
Rift Apart[]
The Goons hunt down Ratchet and Clank in Megalopolis.
Rebranding as Goons-4-Less, the organization shifted its business model to a mobile app, offering competitive rates and "five-star service".[28]
Dr. Nefarious hired the Goons to eliminate Ratchet and Clank during his assault on the Festival of Heroes in Megalopolis[29] and to assist in stealing the repaired Dimensionator. During "Navigate the Parade Route", the Goons ambushed the duo using dropships, infantry, rushers, and robomutts.[30] After Nefarious transported himself and the heroes to Rivet's dimension, the Goons pursued them through the spreading dimensional rifts to fulfill their contract. Some forces failed to make the journey, becoming lost in pocket dimensions.[31][32]
The Goons interrogate the Morts for the location of their bounty.
Upon arriving on Sargasso during "Take Clank to Rivet's Hideout", the Goons deployed zoom goons and interrogated the morts for the bounty's location,[33] leading to a clash with Rivet. Recognizing Rivet as a lombax, they deduced she must know Ratchet's location and attacked her to extract information.[34] After Dr. Nefarious declared himself Emperor and issued a bounty on both lombaxes, Rivet also became a priority target.[35] As Rivet collected zurpstones during "Help Trudi", the Goons hunted her while fighting local grunthors for the fruit.[36]
The Goons pursue Rivet to the alternate Blizar Prime.
During Rivet and Clank's mission in "Find Phase Quartz", the Goons deployed their "most elite division," the vroom goons, and pursued her through rifts to the intact counterpart of Blizar Prime.[37] By knocking a Goon dropship into the dig site's giant malfunctioning drill, Rivet dislodged it and averted the planet's destruction.[38] During "Find the Missing Chef", the Goons attacked Chef Tulio's VAC-U-SUK machine, attempting to steal harvested Sirangian honey.[39]
In Rivet’s dimension, the Goons frequented Zurkie's as patrons at the gastropub[40] and contestants in the battle arena during "Boomstick Blast"[41] and "Vroom Around".[42]
The Goons and pirates team up with Rivet to fight their Nefarious Trooper captors.
After Emperor Nefarious imprisoned the Goons at Zordoom Prison, they reconsidered their loyalty to the bounty.[43] Once freed by Rivet during "Rescue Everyone from Zordoom Prison", the Goons allied with her to fight the Nefarious Troopers.[44] Learning of Emperor Nefarious' plan to conquer their home dimension, the Goons traveled to Megalopolis to assist during "Defeat the Emperor", battling his troopers[45] and Imperial Power Suit.[46] Through the combined efforts of the heroes, Goons, and space pirates, Emperor Nefarious was defeated.
The Goons and monks try out each other's workout routines.
Following the Emperor's defeat, the Goons interacted with their peaceful counterparts, the Savali monks. They exchanged lifestyle practices, with the Goons learning revitalizing yoga while teaching the monks bodybuilding.
Characteristics[]
Business[]
Thugs-4-Less is a mercenary group serving the highest bidder, capable of serving multiple clients simultaneously. While they typically avoid working for one client against another due to conflict of interest, they have been persuaded to break this principle for sufficient payment.[11] The Thugs utilize promotional offers, such as "pay for six hits, and the seventh is free",[11] and boast competitive rates with five-star service.[28]
The group lacks a moral compass but appears attracted to dangerous assignments and personal vendettas. Upon realizing the volume of Megacorp's Protopet shipments on Smolg, the Thug Leader intended to demand "a bigger cut of the action".[47] He also offered free pizza parties to employees who attacked Ratchet and Clank, solely due to personal animosity.[10] While some members felt uneasy working for Vendra Prog, others admired her powers as a "space witch".[25]
The organizational hierarchy is uncertain; while the Thug Leader exercised absolute control, leadership following his defeat remains unclear.
Thugs-4-Less consists entirely of snivelakians.
Leisure[]
The organization's preferred recreational group is the Desert Riders, a hoverbike gang based on Barlow in the Bogon Galaxy. The gang markets itself to socially awkward Thugs, promising a sense of belonging.[8] Thugs-4-Less also hosts Destructapalooza, an unregulated gladiatorial tournament. This event targeted Thugs who were former school bullies or those struggling in legitimate businesses, such as a former CEO who turned to the arena to prey on the innocent.[18]
Thugs-4-Less holds a weekly employee picnic[9] as a bonding exercise.[48] While waiting for Ratchet and Clank in Boldan, many Thugs played rock-paper-scissors. They are fans of the song "Everybody Have Fun Tonight".[49] Many members engage in strict bodybuilding regimes and high-protein diets, which they pursue even while on bounty hunting jobs.
The organization observes only two holidays: their CEO's birthday and every third Labor Day.[3]
Technology[]
The Thug Leader in his mech.
Thugs-4-Less frequently utilizes Megacorp technology, even before Megacorp became a client. In Maktar Resort and Canal City, Notak, they used Megacorp Chickenbots and PX6 BladeBalls. Defending Thug HQ on Snivelak, they deployed Megacorp Hover Tank v2.0s. In the Polaris Galaxy, they use a local blade ball variant, as well as jetpacks and turrets. They also purchase technology from other sources, such as Robomutts (originally created by Drek Industries).[50] In Rift Apart, they use custom Megacorp hoverbikes for increased mobility, equipped with mounted long-range weaponry.[51]
The group possesses distinct vehicles originating from Snivelak, including attack ships, Attack-Copters, and the Thug Leader's two giant mechs: the mech used on Lunar City and the Giganto-Mech.[52]
Units[]
Infantry[]
In Going Commando, infantry consists of Thugs-4-Less Henchman (and the Elite version) and the Thugs-4-Less Brute (and the Class II version). Both employ advanced tactics like using barriers or Megacorp Hover Tanks for cover, and utilizing ambush strategies with overwhelming force. All are equipped with Gravity Boots for traversing mag-surfaces. Henchmen fire electric spheres, while Brutes fire missile trios and can spawn Megacorp Chickenbots. Stronger variants use single-projectile guns and wear heavier armor.
In Secret Agent Clank, lizard thugs appear on the Prison Planet. These inmates resemble Henchmen but use plasma blasters, swords, and Molotov cocktails. Some challenges feature "mega" variants—larger thugs with reddish skin.
Before the Nexus features only thug shooters with rifles and jetpacks. These units reappear in Into the Nexus with modular equipment. Thug shooters use rifles, sometimes jetpacks, and O2 masks for space combat. Thug brawlers dual-wield axes and hammers, while thug grenadiers use grenades. They also utilize turrets and blade balls for support.
In Rift Apart, units (now "Goons") include standard goon infantry with burst-action blasters; goon rushers with large hammers and swords; and flying zoom goons with jetpacks and incendiary grenade launchers. They are often accompanied by robomutts.
Vehicles and spaceships[]
In Going Commando, Thugs use various vehicles, from dropships that warp in troops (including Megacorp Security Robots) to massive Carrier Ships (seen on Gorn). On Notak, they used Thugs-4-Less attack ships capable of firing large fireballs, while Snivelak defenses included Attack-Copters and v2.0 Megacorp Hover Tanks. Their space fighters come in light, medium, and heavy varieties, with ace pilots flying improved light fighters.
In Into the Nexus, they used spaceships with breaching capabilities for the Nebulox Seven assault, standard dropships for reinforcements, and gunships similar to Attack-Copters.
In Rift Apart, the Goons deploy vroom goons—trackers on custom Megacorp hoverbikes with electrical arc launchers—and attack dropships armed with gatling laser cannons. The dropships serve as mini-boss units and are capable of space travel.
Counterparts[]
Rivet's dimension[]
A counterpart organization to the Goons is alluded to in Rivet's dimension. On Kragg, a Destructapalooza arena once operated using the "Mangler" obstacle, identical to the one in Ratchet's dimension. After the stadium was abandoned, Zurkon Jr. salvaged the Mangler, repaired it with jet boosters, and installed it in his battleplex at Zurkie's.[53]
The peaceful monks on Savali are also snivelkians, descending from pilgrims of the Bogon Galaxy,[54] but are notably different from the mercenary organization.
Nightmare dimension[]
Undead Goons breaking into Rivet's dimension.
An undead counterpart to the Goons emerged from a nightmare dimension where the living dead are common. As dimensional barriers crumbled due to Emperor Nefarious abusing the Dimensionator, skeletal creatures resembling Goons broke into Rivet's dimension. Ratchet nicknamed them "Bone Goons" as he fought through hordes to reach the Dimensional Map. Undead variations include infantry, rushers, and zoom goons, though no undead vroom goons were observed.
Behind the scenes[]
Thug head concepts.
Concept art from Into the Nexus.
The Thugs-4-Less species appears as a skin in the multiplayer mode of Up Your Arsenal.
The Thugs in Into the Nexus were voiced by Dave B. Mitchell (Thug #1), Dave Wittenberg (Thug #2), and Alastair Duncan (Thug #3). The Goons in Rift Apart were voiced by Jake Green, Ray Chase, Jason Spisak, and Scott Whyte.
Leading up to Into the Nexus, Insomniac Games posted several tweets referencing Thugs-4-Less. On July 9, 2013, they linked to the Ratchet & Clank Wiki's Thugs-4-Less Henchman article,[55] followed by a clip of the Thugs-4-Less Prison from Going Commando,[56] a teaser asking who their next employer would be,[57] and an image of a Henchman with the hashtag "#THUGLIFE".[58] The official PlayStation Twitter account tweeted an image to Insomniac on July 10, 2013, reading "When Worlds Collide Heroes Return."[59] Insomniac reposted the image, promising big news on July 11, 2013.[60]
Notes[]
Annotations[]
- ↑ The Thugs-4-Less' full name is given as Thugz-4-Less Limited Liability Corporation Incorporated in Secret Agent Clank.[3]
- ↑ Neftin Prog hired the Thugs-4-Less six months prior to events of Into the Nexus,[17] but it is unclear if the Thugs-4-Less had arrived in the Polaris Galaxy prior.
Citations[]
- ↑ Going Commando
- ↑ Into the Nexus
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Secret Agent Clank script § "High Risk vs. High Stakes (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart
- ↑ Going Commando script § "Thief hires Thugs-4-Less"
- ↑ Going Commando script § "Investigate the Megacorp store (gameplay)"
- ↑ Going Commando script § "Visit Clank's apartment (gameplay)"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Going Commando script § "Desert Riders Ad"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Going Commando script § "Thugs-4-Less Employee Meeting"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Going Commando script § "A Free Pizza Party to the Squad who Bags Him"
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Going Commando script § "Thugs-4-Less Gets a New Employer"
- ↑ Going Commando script § "Search the rocket silo (gameplay)"
- ↑ Going Commando script § "Find Mr. Fizzwidget (gameplay)"
- ↑ Going Commando script § "Rescue Angela (gameplay)"
- ↑ Going Commando script § "Thug Leader goes off on Ratchet and Clank"
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Into the Nexus script § "Thug Announcer"
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Into the Nexus script § "Final Moments"
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Into the Nexus script § "Thanks Destructapalooza!"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "Investigate the Thugs-4-Less outpost (gameplay)"
- ↑ Full Frontal Assault script § "Ebaro 3"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "Explore the Meero Ruins (gameplay)"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "Wrong Button"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "Find Vendra Prog on the Nebulox bridge (gameplay)"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "He's space kill, sir"
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Into the Nexus script § "Make your way to the relay station (gameplay)"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "Grand Entrance"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "Head to the museum on Planet Igliak (gameplay)"
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Rift Apart menu § "Goons-4-Less"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Go to the Lead Float (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Defeat the Goons-4-Less! (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Nefarious City pocket dimension"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Sargasso pocket dimensions"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Follow the Bot Back to the Morts (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Rescue the Morts from the Goons (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Defeat Pierre's Stand-In, François (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Collect Zurpstones to exchange for a Spybot (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Head to the Mining Hub (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Stop the Drill! (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Defend VAC-U-SUK (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Zurkie's"
- ↑ Rift Apart menu § "Boomstick Blast"
- ↑ Rift Apart menu § "Vroom Around"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Find the Others (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Don't Lose Ratchet (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Join the Fight (gameplay)"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "Fight the Emperor's Power Suit (gameplay)"
- ↑ Going Commando script § "A shipment of... paperweights"
- ↑ Going Commando script § "The Company Picnic"
- ↑ Into the Nexus script § "Wrong Button"
- ↑ Rift Apart menu § "Robomutt"
- ↑ Rift Apart menu § "Vroom Goon"
- ↑ Going Commando, Monsterpedia
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "The Mangling"
- ↑ Rift Apart script § "The ancient history of Savali"
- ↑ Insomniac Games July 8 2013
- ↑ Insomniac Games July 9 2013 a
- ↑ Insomniac Games July 9 2013 b
- ↑ Insomniac Games July 9 2013 c
- ↑ PlayStation 2013
- ↑ Insomniac Games July 10 2013
References[]
- Video games
- Insomniac Games (2003). Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2.
- Insomniac Games (2004). Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal [Game]. PlayStation 2.
- High Impact Games (2008). Secret Agent Clank [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation Portable.
- Insomniac Games (2012). Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
- (2013). Ratchet & Clank: Before the Nexus [Game].
- Insomniac Games (2013). Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
- Insomniac Games (2021). Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart [Game]. Sony Interactive Entertainment. PlayStation 5.
- Websites
- Insomniac Games [@insomniacgames] (2013, July 8). Thugs-4-Less: [Tweet]. Twitter.
- Insomniac Games [@insomniacgames] (2013, July 9). Thugs-4-Less Prison Promo: [Tweet]. Twitter.
- Insomniac Games [@insomniacgames] (2013, July 9). The guys at Thugs-4-Less always seem to have a new employer. Who will it be next? [Tweet]. Twitter.
- Insomniac Games [@insomniacgames] (2013, July 9). #THUGLIFE http://instagram.com/p/bj57AQytxK/ [Tweet]. Twitter.
- PlayStation [@PlayStation] (2013, July 10). .@insomniacgames [Tweet]. Twitter.
- Insomniac Games [@insomniacgames] (2013, July 10). Big News coming tomorrow!!!!. When Worlds Collide…. Heroes Return: [Tweet]. Twitter.