Travel to the hoverboard event is an optional mission in the re-imagined Ratchet & Clank taking place in Blackwater City on planet Rilgar. After Ratchet and Clank rescued Skidd McMarx and his agent, Don Wonderstar, on Aridia, the two requested that Ratchet travel to Blackwater City to compete in the hoverboard race on Skidd's behalf. Although optional, this mission served as the primary objective upon landing on the planet.
Walkthrough[]
While this mission is optional, completion is recommended before departing Rilgar, as the hoverboard races provide a significant opportunity to earn bolts for new weaponry. This path can be completed either before or after the mission "Search the sewers".
Unlike the sewer mission, this path involves heavy combat. Upon landing, the Gadgetron vendor offers two new weapons: the Groovitron (8,000 bolts), which forces enemies to dance, and the Pixelizer (15,000 bolts), a powerful shotgun-like weapon that pixelates targets. While the Pixelizer may be unaffordable initially, the bolts earned from the upcoming races eventually cover the cost. For the immediate mission, Mr. Zurkon or the Groovitron are highly effective aids.
From the starting island, the path leads to the right of the vendor and uses the Swingshot to reach a locked glass door. Hitting the green button with the OmniWrench reveals a squad of extermibots. These robots utilize medium-range gas blasts that explode on contact or melee kicks. While deployed to fight amoeboids, they are unable to distinguish Ratchet as a non-threat and are best handled with the Combuster or Fusion Grenade.
After crossing to the next island, standing on the button opens the door to engage mixed groups of extermibots and amoeboids. The green amoeboids attack in melee range and possess the ability to split into smaller units upon death; the Pyrocitor or Proton Drum proves most effective against them. When facing large enemy encounters it is best to als rely on the Groovitron for crowd control, and Mr. Zurkon for backup.
Activating the bridge by standing on the green button allows access to the next platform. It is possible to wait for the extermibots to eliminate the amoeboids. Once the orange forcefields deactivate, additional enemies converge, often fighting one another. Proceeding through the area the bots emerged from leads to a versa-target that reaches a small platform. Activating the green button here deactivates a forcefield to the left, allowing passage via versa-targets to the Downtown District.
The vendor in this area provides ammunition refills before the fight with the factions below. A large extermitank patrols this area, firing explosive gas blasts; it is best destroyed using high-impact explosives. Once cleared, two green buttons become available. The button on the right activates a series of versa-targets leading to raritanium and crates, while the button near the elevator deactivates the forcefield blocking the path down to the caverns.
Upon reaching the large, circular cavern area, Ratchet can remain on the upper perimeter and hit the green switch to deactivate forcefields containing amoeboids. This allows the extermibots in the ditch below to engage the amoeboids before Ratchet descends to clear the survivors. An elevator located near a glowing blue ladder leads to the final section.
The final area consists of a series of cages segmented by forcefields. Stepping on buttons sequentially deactivates the barriers to reveal the path forward. At the exit, another extermitank and a final wave of enemies appear. Afterwards, the route proceeds through the large open door and takes the elevator to the racing plaza. Speaking to Starlene in the center commences the mission "Win the hoverboard race".