• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Ratchet and Clank Community Thread: Rip Ya a New One

Checking in on this thread and seeing the gameplay and interviews from PSX I really wanted to jump back into some Ratchet and Clank. I fired up A Crack in Time for a couple hours, but I had already completed everything except getting the trophy for My Blaster Runs Hot (which is quite difficult by the way and I've pretty much given up on it) so I decided to pop in Tools of Destruction.

I want to get this off my chest, for the longest time, I suppose until Quest for Booty was announced, I thought the game was titled: Ratchet and Clank: Future Tools of Destruction instead of Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. My friend did too and we still refer to the game as "Future Tools" for short lol.

Anyway I really love Future Tools, and in my book it's just as good as Going Commando, Up Your Arsenal, and A Crack in Time. It was one of the first games I got for the PS3, and one of the first times I was really impressed with graphics. There was a change in tone as we went into the Future series, as the game began to delve more into Ratchet and Clank's past, and bring even more to these characters that we love. The game made good use of Sony's new Sixaxis controls, with the Robo-wings, Decryptor, Geo-laser, and the Tornado launcher. I know a lot of people hate using the Sixaxis, but I never had a problem with it and I applaud Insomniac for implementing those controls, which were new at the time. The game also introduced some great and memorable weapons and devices, like the aforementioned Tornado Launcher, the Groovitron, Mr. Zurkon, (the latter two I'm afraid may be getting a tad overused by now) the Mag-net Launcher, and one that I've really been having fun with the last couple days: Razor Claws. It introduced a new upgrading system to the weapons, using raritanium to upgrade ammo capacity, damage, and more. A really fantastic decision in my opinion. One currency to buy weapons, another to upgrade them, a system that carried over to A Crack in Time and Into the Nexus.

When I first fired up Future Tools a couple days ago I couldn't believe that the save file was last used in 2012, it had been too long and I've been having so much fun with it.

Here's to Future Tools.

RatchetandClankFutureToolsofDestruction_wallpaper2-HD.jpg
 
LTTP but how do i get into the Ratchet series? (i don't plan on playing beyond PS3/PS4). There is a massive PSN sale on.

So i got Ratchet 1-3 already.

Am i safe to get

Tools of Destruction
A Crack in Time
Nexus (comes with free Quest for Booty)

and skip

Q-Force
Gladiator
All 4 One

?
 
LTTP but how do i get into the Ratchet series? (i don't plan on playing beyond PS3/PS4). There is a massive PSN sale on.

So i got Ratchet 1-3 already.

Am i safe to get

Tools of Destruction
A Crack in Time
Nexus (comes with free Quest for Booty)

and skip

Q-Force
Gladiator
All 4 One

?

There are the original must plays, and the more recent must plays. I would recommend playing all of the titles in either grouping. A lot of people forget about Deadlocked but it was a good game as well. I'd only skip it if you were pressed for time, but it's story is rarely referenced so you don't need to worry much if you do.

Ratchet and Clank 1, 2 and 3 (HD Collection)
Deadlocked (Downloadable)

Tools of Destruction
Quest for Booty (Short Downloadable)
Crack In Time
Into the Nexus (Short Downloadable)

I wouldn't play anything beyond the ones I just listed. Though if you really love the series, you can try Size Matters and Secret Agent Clank. But All4One, Full Front, and Q-Force are basically spin-offs that leveraged the IP during a lull in R&C development.
 
There are the original must plays, and the more recent must plays.

Ratchet and Clank 1, 2 and 3 (HD Collection)
Deadlocked (Downloadable)

Tools of Destruction
Quest for Booty (Short Downloadable)
Crack In Time
Into the Nexus (Short Downloadable)

I wouldn't play anything beyond the ones I just listed. Though if you really love the series, you can try Size Matters and Secret Agent Clank. But All4One, Full Front, and Q-Force are basically spin-offs that leveraged the IP during a lull in R&C development.

Whats so good about Deadlocked? It looks like some arena fighter with no platforming.
 
Whats so good about Deadlocked? It looks like some arena fighter with no platforming.

R&C have a lot of arena stuff sprinkled throughout and it's a really fun part of the series. Deadlocked basically takes that and makes a game of it. You're trapped and forced to compete in a Gladiator season. Yeah there is no Clank, but there are plenty of other of awesome things that they explore. It's a pretty quick game, I beat it in two long sittings.
 
Future Quest is a pretty ok guy

LTTP but how do i get into the Ratchet series? (i don't plan on playing beyond PS3/PS4). There is a massive PSN sale on.

So i got Ratchet 1-3 already.

Am i safe to get

Tools of Destruction
A Crack in Time
Nexus (comes with free Quest for Booty)

and skip

Q-Force
Gladiator
All 4 One

?

You got it all together.

If you're still somehow hungry for more when you're done. Deadlocked is a good one to pick up too. I see a lot of love for that one regardless of the arena focus, and apparently it has the best arsenal in the in series. I can't really say much on it myself because I only beat it a few times before returning it to my friend around when it first came out on PS2.
 
Like everyone else in this thread, I'm hella excited to play the Ratchet and Clank reboot, but seeing as how I stopped at Deadlocked and some of the PSP games (never owned a PS3), I do wonder how good the Future games are.

For me:
Up Your Arensal>Deadlocked=Going Commando>Ratchet and Clank>Secret Agent Clank>
Size Matters

How do the Future games play compared to the original series?
 
So i got Ratchet 1-3 already.

Am i safe to get

Tools of Destruction
A Crack in Time
Nexus (comes with free Quest for Booty)

I'd say you're spot on, go with these right here. Quest for Booty will slot in between Tools of Destruction and A Crack in Time.
 
Like everyone else in this thread, I'm hella excited to play the Ratchet and Clank reboot, but seeing as how I stopped at Deadlocked and some of the PSP games (never owned a PS3), I do wonder how good the Future games are.

For me:
Up Your Arensal>Deadlocked=Going Commando>Ratchet and Clank>Secret Agent Clank>
Size Matters

How do the Future games play compared to the original series?

The future games are solid. They basically just improve about every aspect of the original mainline games, and really not much is lost or sacrificed. Quest 4 Booty is probably the weakest, but that was done as a sort of experimental stand alone micro game. Today something like that is more likely to be DLC.

But Tools and Crack are right up there, and They will either make it to your top, or sit slightly behind your favorite from the original trilogy. Ignoring the spin-offs the mainline series is pretty uncompromising in quality
 
I platinum'd Ratchet & Clank 2 (HD collection) a couple of days ago.

I loved the game. The strafe button is a game changer, It made the combat system so much better.

Two things I really really hated are, the lack of a "Buy all ammo" option in the weapon shop (it sucks when you have to buy ammo for 7 diff weapons and going left and right is painfully slow)

And the hacking minigames, I hated it in Ratchet 1 and I hated it in Ratchet 2. I just want to insert the gadget, open the door and keep shooting, running and evading attacks.

I loved the arena. This is by far my favorite thing about the games in general. The "wrench only, don't get hit" challenge, the "limited ammo" challenges where you have to jump between enemies so they attack each other, etc.

I'm going to take a break playing other games and genres before starting Up your Arsenal. It was my first Ratchet on ps2 but I never finished it. I made it to the final fight but I wasted money on useless weapons and didn't want to grind for bolts and exp.

Up your Arsenal > Tools of Destruction > Going Commando > A crack in time > Quest for Booty = Nexus >>>>>>>>>> Ratchet 1
 
QFB = Nexus? Dang it there was almost a unanimous agreement that Nexus was better.

Quest for booty always felt like a TOD expansion for me, too short and no postgame content. On its own, it's amazing though. I loved how it was much more focused on platforming, and I loved the location.

Nexus on the other hand has everything you'd expect from a R&C game, it's just shorter.

They aren't really comparable in the first place imho


LTTP but how do i get into the Ratchet series? (i don't plan on playing beyond PS3/PS4). There is a massive PSN sale on.

So i got Ratchet 1-3 already.

Am i safe to get

Tools of Destruction
A Crack in Time
Nexus (comes with free Quest for Booty)

and skip

Q-Force
Gladiator
All 4 One

?
Correct.

Not that the other three are bad imo, but after six games(seven, considering R&C PS4) I wouldn't suggest you to get more for the foreseeable future lol

Unless Size Matters ever ends up on PS4 PS2 remasters, in that case you might also consider that one.
 
I am a fan of the series, even had fun with All4One and Q-Force, but I really hated Gladiator / Deadlocked. It is such a buggy game with much less love for detail, after a few hours, I shelved it unfinished.
 
Quest for booty always felt like a TOD expansion for me, too short and no postgame content. On its own, it's amazing though. I loved how it was much more focused on platforming, and I loved the location.

Nexus on the other hand has everything you'd expect from a R&C game, it's just shorter.

They aren't really comparable in the first place imho
.

Yeah, it actually surprised me just how much of a traditional entry Into the Nexus turned out to be. I thought it was going to be another QFB flop or along the lines of All 4 One and whatnot. Turns out that the only difference between it and ToD and ACiT is that it's shorter.

I'd definitely recommend anyone interested in the series to play the PS2 trilogy and than the PS3 trio of games if they wind up liking the series' gameplay, humor, and presentation.
 
I think the second half of QFB felt really rushed and is just bad imo. The first half was good though. I liked the platforming focus.
 
I am a fan of the series, even had fun with All4One and Q-Force, but I really hated Gladiator / Deadlocked. It is such a buggy game with much less love for detail, after a few hours, I shelved it unfinished.

Sounds like you played the HD "remaster" cause DL/GL is one of the PS2s most solidly coded games

and no one ever mentions the music so I'm gonna
it's very different from the other games and sets the tone perfectly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zawKMmAhdco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpeyw5d95kM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCwl-yuDxiI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pNeyggbNXI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYfhHqETJWw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUk1t7SHpR0 <- personal opinion; best song in the series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3WdDhxj8SU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSVD_nhDMfI
 
Sounds like you played the HD "remaster" cause DL/GL is one of the PS2s most solidly coded games
I sure did - never figured it to be the remaster's fault because the other remasters were so excellent. Thanks for letting me know - will still not jump back, though.

I have other plans: since I finally own a 3D capable TV now, I will plug back in the PS3 to play some of All4One and the Collection again. :)
 
Hold up. I bought Into the Nexus the other day on the EU sale and now I seem to have a digital copy of Quest For Booty. o_O Is it just straight up free with the game?
 
Sounds like you played the HD "remaster" cause DL/GL is one of the PS2s most solidly coded games

and no one ever mentions the music so I'm gonna
it's very different from the other games and sets the tone perfectly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zawKMmAhdco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpeyw5d95kM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCwl-yuDxiI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pNeyggbNXI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYfhHqETJWw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUk1t7SHpR0 <- personal opinion; best song in the series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3WdDhxj8SU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSVD_nhDMfI

Yeah I never had any problems with the PS2 version from what I remember. I really want to play Gladiator again sometime but I really don't want to get the digital version (still salty I didn't receive a free copy after pre-ordering Q-Force and just the general negativity surrounding the port) and the PS2 version is out of the question. One day I'll probably cave and get the port but until then, Gladiator will remain my least played Ratchet I actually enjoy.
 
I have fond memories of Pokitaru, so it fills me with joy to see it back and looking so damn good. Many, April can't get here fast enough.
 
Is it not important enough to grant a PSA thread right? Cause I think very few people know about QFB being packed with Nexus. Considering that currently it's 7,99€, while QFB is 4,99€, people getting QFB are paying a lot more unless they already own Nexus

edit: whatever, opened it. Better safe than sorry
 
I have fond memories of Pokitaru, so it fills me with joy to see it back and looking so damn good. Many, April can't get here fast enough.

Yeah, that level is awesome and the aerial combat was a nice change of pace.

I don't know why but I didn't enjoy the aerial/space combat in ratchet 2 as much as I did in ratchet 1
 
Is it not important enough to grant a PSA thread right? Cause I think very few people know about QFB being packed with Nexus. Considering that currently it's 7,99€, while QFB is 4,99€, people getting QFB are paying a lot more unless they already own Nexus

edit: whatever, opened it. Better safe than sorry

Well we can always use more Ratchet and Clank threads... Helps keep that gaf R&C mindshare out of the red
 
Well last night I finished challenge mode on Tools of Destruction (again) I had beaten the game multiple times when it was first released but somewhere along the way I lost my save file and when I picked it back up a few days ago I had just started the challenge mode on a different save file.

Anyway I ran all the way up to the last boss fight, then back tracked, getting all the gold bolts, RYNO schematics, and completing all the arena challenges. I'm a stickler when it comes to bolts, if there's a box I gotta break it, and one thing I love about challenge mode is the multiplier. I was still having to save up for weapons and armor during my playthrough, but by last night I had accumulated 165,000,000 bolts... Yeah. 165 million.

I think I'll blast through Quest for Booty now since it's been a long time and I don't remember much of it.
 
For anyone who cares about a little comment regarding the difficulty of the PS4 game

4daWERN.png


Nice, nice. The original Ratchet was brutal at times, so it's good to have confirmation that difficulty modes are back, even if It was kind of a given. Just please don't make Oltanis any more frustrating, fuck those ice physics.
That's if it's back at all, of course.
 
Nice, nice. The original Ratchet was brutal at times, so it's good to have confirmation that difficulty modes are back, even if It was kind of a given. Just please don't make Oltanis any more frustrating, fuck those ice physics.
That's if it's back at all, of course.

Hardest planet for me as a kid was the green gaseous one and when you return to your home planet and its filled with blargs in the end of the first game.
 
Hardest planet for me as a kid was the green gaseous one and when you return to your home planet and its filled with blargs in the end of the first game.

Yeah, Orxon was really intimidating as a kid, although I always found the Clank section on that one more frustrating than when you return as Ratchet. Those lizard guys were the worst.
 
I was playing the Beethoven Google Doodle and as the end was Ode to Joy.

I thought that should be the tune to that plays when firing the RYNO. Firing the RYNO is always a joy.
 
Finally got round to replaying Crack in Time over the holiday, and then Nexus which I missed first time around as I thought it was another spin-off.

Controversially, I think Crack in Time is easily the worse of the 4 main R&C offerings from the last gen. Graphically it felt a step-down from Tools of Destruction, and play wise I think the hoverboot mechanic is one of the worst I've experienced - putting a forced section of that in the Dr. Nefarious fight felt like a real kick in the nuts. Similarily, I missed the weapon development from Tools of Destruction with the different upgrade systems.

I also felt that the game was way too combat heavy, and far too linear - there were numerous areas that were just "fight a vast wave of annoying robots on a platmorm, then jump to the next platform and do the same". It lacked the exploration and "big" feeling of Tools of Destruction, which always managed to convey an impression of a game much larger than it actually was. I also thought the spaceship combat was weak as well. Really don't get why Crack in Time gets such praise compared to Tools of Destruction.

On the plus side, Into the Nexus was brilliant and felt like a real return to form - the levels were much larger and less linear, the weapon upgrade system was back and the combat felt much more fun. Although I did miss the Groovitron.

It honestly felt like they have two different teams doing R&C games - Into the Nexus was clearly a direct sequel to Tools, with the same characters and game systems, whereas Crack in time felt oddly misplaced and didn't reference anything that had gone before other than the Zoni.
 
I much prefer the upgrade tree over the "use-it-to-upgrade-it" system. I want to use the weapons I want to use and then choose to upgrade whatever weapons I want to upgrade, instead of forcing myself to use every weapon in order to upgrade them.

In most R&C games I'll end up leveling my favorite weapons to their max limit, and then I'm stuck using the other weapons so that I'm still making some progress.
 
Finally got round to replaying Crack in Time over the holiday, and then Nexus which I missed first time around as I thought it was another spin-off.

Controversially, I think Crack in Time is easily the worse of the 4 main R&C offerings from the last gen. Graphically it felt a step-down from Tools of Destruction, and play wise I think the hoverboot mechanic is one of the worst I've experienced - putting a forced section of that in the Dr. Nefarious fight felt like a real kick in the nuts. Similarly, I missed the weapon development from Tools of Destruction with the different upgrade systems.

I also felt that the game was way too combat heavy, and far too linear - there were numerous areas that were just "fight a vast wave of annoying robots on a platform, then jump to the next platform and do the same". It lacked the exploration and "big" feeling of Tools of Destruction, which always managed to convey an impression of a game much larger than it actually was. I also thought the spaceship combat was weak as well. Really don't get why Crack in Time gets such praise compared to Tools of Destruction.

On the plus side, Into the Nexus was brilliant and felt like a real return to form - the levels were much larger and less linear, the weapon upgrade system was back and the combat felt much more fun. Although I did miss the Groovitron.

It honestly felt like they have two different teams doing R&C games - Into the Nexus was clearly a direct sequel to Tools, with the same characters and game systems, whereas Crack in time felt oddly misplaced and didn't reference anything that had gone before other than the Zoni.

We're pretty much on the same page with the bolded. Although I can see why people like it so much because it's still really fun game to play regardless while having the best narrative, and space travel, and moons. Also, it has a much better weapons selection than ToD. CiT may have less, but a lot of the ToD weapons were odd and the whole arsenal was just balanced badly damage wise. Not to mention the weird "device" system. Another plus ToD has with me are just the planets and races. I thought the village aesthetic was a bit weak. I really like Krell Canyon, but Gimlick Valley, the first planet, and the snowy one (the snowy one is my fav out of the other 2) all have it, and it's not like they're that many planets in the game altogether. Morklon would have been such a cool place to crash land on if it were just a backwater swamp and not what it ended up being lol. I blame the Fongoids.

Kerchu on the other hand, sick af.



I generally enjoyed Nexus's level design better too. Nexus would have been so amazing if they took 3 years to make that game rather than making FFA and A4O. Though, the camera/aiming system it has makes it a bit less enjoyable to play (for me).
 
So i've been online to read tips and watch videos but its not helping. I am stuck on the hoverboard race in Kalebo III. It's literally impossible for me to finish.. I have tried it so many times I dread to place a number on it.

The trick system to get boost sucks; Ratchet just falls flat on his face 90% of the time. I am not accidentally hitting the rear touch pad as some people online suggested. Make one mistake and the AI just shoots past you with 0% chance of catching up.

This has completely stopped my progress in the game.. I want to beat it before the remaster and play 2 / 3.
 
So i've been online to read tips and watch videos but its not helping. I am stuck on the hoverboard race in Kalebo III. It's literally impossible for me to finish.. I have tried it so many times I dread to place a number on it.

The trick system to get boost sucks; Ratchet just falls flat on his face 90% of the time. I am not accidentally hitting the rear touch pad as some people online suggested. Make one mistake and the AI just shoots past you with 0% chance of catching up.

This has completely stopped my progress in the game.. I want to beat it before the remaster and play 2 / 3.

That's really strange. There's definitely nothing wrong with the trick system or at least when it's working how it's supposed to. I've never had your problem, but I never played the game on Vita.
 
Top Bottom