Time Bomb

Icon(s)
Specifications
Manufacturer	Zoni
Type	Chronoscepter weapon
Function	Time-slowdown
Obtained in	Great Clock, in Sector Two

Time Bombs are a gadget in A Crack in Time. They are a piece of Zoni technology that can be used by Clank, and later with Ratchet. Time Bombs create a large sphere of blue quantum energy that slows down anything inside the sphere, except Clank due to his temporal immunity. The Time Bombs have a set duration.

History

Pollyx Industries discovered the Time Bomb in the Corvus Sector, and investigation into mass-producing them was listed in project file 1171-Zeta. However, the terachnoid sages used the samples to stop their mothers-in-law from coming home in time for the holidays, thus terminating the project.

In "Unlock Clank's Memory Banks", when Clank learned to use the Chronoscepter in Clank's subconscious, a simulation of Orvus taught him to use Time Bombs, with the Chronoscepter capable of creating them. Clank made use of them throughout his tour of the Great Clock, and when he reunited with Ratchet at Vapedia, he was also able to provide them from Ratchet's back.

Characteristics

Time Bombs contain a finite amount of quantum energy capable of inhibiting the passage of time. Though a number of rare samples of the bombs were found in the Corvus Sector, an infinite number can be created by the Chronoscepter.

Gameplay

Clank using a Time Bomb to slow down a spinning platform.

As Clank, Time Bombs can be thrown using or . They will then create a sphere of energy that will slow down everything inside except Clank. They become useful for crossing platforms that move too quickly to be traversed safely, or for slowing down enemies so Clank can hit them with the Chronoscepter.

As Ratchet, Time Bombs can be equipped with , and used much like any gadget. However, they are not required for any sections. Compared to Clank, when the Bombs are used with Ratchet the throwable range and active radius appears much smaller due to Ratchet's size. However, it can still be useful as a shield, temporarily slowing projectiles and enemies from getting closer. It also has some use against larger enemies, as a single Time Bomb can easily make a Protomantis much easier to deal with. As with Clank, Ratchet will also not be slowed inside a Time Bomb.

Behind the scenes

Originally the Nefarious Space Station was going to have a puzzle that necessitated the Time Bombs as Ratchet, giving them a purpose once you reunite with Clank. However, it was cut for being too confusing, leaving them as the only gadget without a proper use case.

During development, Time Bombs were originally planned to be Clank's special weapon in All 4 One, before the Zoni Blaster was introduced.

Clank uses Time Bombs in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale during his Level 2 super move, where he can throw out more than one at a time unlike in A Crack in Time.

In the pause menu's Inventory screen, the Time Bomb appears in the Weapons section, and is also labeled with a "LVL 1"; however, in the Quick Select screen, it is simply labeled "Time Bomb" and cannot be upgraded.