Ratchet & Clank turns 20 today! Did someone tamper with The Great Clock? Hard to believe, but true! Insomniac Games launched his original game in 2002, sparking his 20-year epic adventure through space, time and dimensions. Since its humble beginnings on the PlayStation 2 console, the franchise has introduced us to a range of beloved characters, many iconic weapons and gadgets, and many wacky alien worlds.
That’s why we’re kicking off our Ratchet & Clank celebration today. Meaning #Ratchet20, let’s take a quick look back at the franchise by dropping a few surprises.
Let’s get straight to the good stuff: Ratchet & Clank: We’re happy to announce that Rift Apart will be receiving the 20th Anniversary Armor Pack in honor of #Ratchet20 today. * This pack includes 5 armors inspired by games throughout the history of the franchise.
- Commando Armor inspired by Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
- Holoflux armor inspired by Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
- Quest armor inspired by Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty
- Marauder armor inspired by Ratchet: Deadlocked
- Crank Rumors to Celebrate Best Buddies
That’s not all. We are also pleased to announce that more Ratchet & Clank franchises are coming. PlayStation Plus Premium November 15th. ** This includes:
Currently on PlayStation Plus Premium:
- Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty (PS3)
- Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (PS3)
- Ratchet & Clank: All For One (PS3)
- Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault (PS3)
- Ratchet & Clank Into the Nexus (PS3)
Coming to PlayStation Plus Premium on November 15th:
- Ratchet & Clank (PS3)
- Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS3)
- Ratchet & Clank: Strengthen Your Armory (PS3)
- Ratchet & Clank: Deadlock (PS3)
- Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3)
Now that we’ve got something new, let’s revisit aspects of the franchise that have become iconic PlayStation staples for the last two decades. Got it!
Hey fuzzball….
After three mythical dragon-filled adventures, it’s time to venture deep into space and explore a galaxy of entirely new opportunities. The premise was simple. Obscure-eared aliens and tiny robots travel from planet to planet, collecting weapons and gadgets and saving the world in the process. Cue Ratchet and Clank. One is Lombax, who likes mechanics and has a desire to explore beyond the desert planet of Verdin. He is a robot, an intelligent and logical being with a serious heart and a desire for good deeds. These honorable underdogs will leave their mark on our hearts beyond their planet.
“When we were in the early production stages of the original Ratchet & Clank in 2001, we were trying to find the right tone for the story. Brian Hastings came up with the core concept for the game, and we quickly started prototyping. The challenge was finding the right flavor of comedy for our scene.
Unable to write humor, I was anxiously waiting to see if Brian, John Larry, and Oliver Wade could work together to write something that would make me laugh out loud without being slapstick.
I remember watching our first test film, gathering around an old CRT TV. It’s an ad for Al’Zorobo Shack, with Captain Quark (voiced by the great Jim Ward) stating in typical sarcasm, “Brazilian he doesn’t get worse than staring Snugglevest from the inside out.” Even though I memorized the script, I burst out laughing when I saw that scene. Dialogue, delivery, animation, nuanced social commentary – it all fits. For me, it became the scene that sets the comedic tone for the entire franchise. ”“
– Ted Price, President of Insomniac Games
Naturally, over 16 games, we’ve crossed paths with an incredible roster of characters: the lovable and burly Captain Qwark, the evil Doctor Nefarious, the philosophical plumber, the brave and tenacious Talwyn, And, of course, the rebellious Lombax Rivet and the breakout star of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
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Weapons and gadgets…
Besides the characters, Ratchet & Clank is known for its arsenal of weapons. I mean, who could forget the PS2-era live-action commercials? From Up Your Arsenal’s Shock Blaster to Tools of Destruction’s Groovitron, attacking your enemies head-on is key to the Ratchet & Clank gameplay experience. Don’t forget the Swing Shot, a useful gadget for your adventures! Heli pack! Hoover boots! Hologeas! Hydro Displacer! Magne Boots!
Twenty Years spends a lot of time designing, upgrading, and testing new weapons. Blasters, Cannons, Melee Weapons, Deployables, Blades, Morpho Rays, Rocket Launchers, Wrenches, Hammers and more. There’s an arsenal for everyone and we’re always looking forward to seeing where the community favorites stack up! (Ahem: comments below!)
“I remember the first time I did a hoverboard halfpipe jump in a spherical world, seeing a small planet receding in the distance. It was one of the many moments during the development of his first Ratchet game that made me think, “Wow, there’s something really special here.” Funny enough, the spherical world was amazing, but we ultimately decided to save it for the sequel.
Two other favorite moments were also picked: the scene where he sucks up a whole sandshark nest with his suck cannon and blows them away at each other, and Kirwan’s Metropolis when he goes through the tunnel and sees the vast city and the vast city. is the first exposure of In front of you is the Air Car River. But there are at least 100 other unforgettable moments from the making of the first game I could pick. That first year was a magical period where every day someone was adding something new and awesome to the mix.“
– Brian Hastings, Head of Creative Strategy, Insomniac Games
…not worthy of this world!
Iconic planets set the stage for epic adventures. From the sprawling metropolis skyline to the dark pirate coves of Hoolefar Island in Quest for Booty, each locale is littered with bolts to collect, gadgets to unlock, weapons to buy and secrets you’ll be dying to discover. The beautiful world extends to the impressive battleplex of DreadZone, the industrial sector of the Megacorp facility in Going Commando, and the lush tropical resort of Pokitar. Every world is unique and fascinating as you progress through the galaxy!
“I joined Insomniac when they were making Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando for the PS2. Previously all assets were numbered, so there were no letters in the asset names. Artists write long numbered lists describing what the assets are for their own reference.
If you want to share an asset, ask the artist for the number or use the copier to make a copy of the asset list for yourself. The designer also created a level map in her Illustrator, which the artist printed on a large roll of paper to use as a guide for building the level. Concept art was drawn on paper and handed over to the artist. Needless to say, the artist’s desk was covered with piles of paper, even though he was modeling in 3D.“
– Jacinda Chew, Senior Art Director, Insomniac Games
In Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus, our team explored even more eerie environments, from a haunted orphanage to a destroyed space station, giving the game its own identity. Visually, the Nexus is my personal favorite because of how much it leans into this aesthetic and tone!
“Have you seen a good holofilm?”
The PlayStation 2 unlocked new features beyond the original PlayStation. Among these was the power to create full-fledged cutscenes that rivaled high-budget films of the time. Our animation team went even further in later years by bridging game design and visual storytelling into one.
Animation is at the core of storytelling and gameplay. The final moments of Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time are a testament to the work of our team. A roller coaster ride of animated storytelling with emotional impact and wholesomeness that brought many of us to tears!
Looking a little more recently, 2016’s reimagining of the first game gives us a direct context between modern Ratchet & Clank and the visuals of the original. When it comes to animation, this is a huge leap forward and showcases our team’s years of experience in bringing Ratchet & Clank to life.
““Call it ‘Screenshot heard all over the world…’.
In December 2014, just days before the annual winter office closure, I received an email from one of SIE’s European producers. The subject is “Milestone Update” and the body is a single question mark.
For what it’s worth, this is exactly the sort of thing you’d expect to hear from a producer right before a milestone. First playtest of Ratchet & Clank.
The build included the first few levels, but more importantly it blended cuts from the Ratchet & Clank feature films with new cinematics in the works. Reimagined R&C Origins For the first time, we can see if his approach to story will reach players’ hearts.
As Milestone’s delivery was approaching, I had a million things in the works and someone on the team cheekily replied to the producers with a recently distributed screenshot.“
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“At first, he thought I sent the feature film shots as a joke. Then he figured I sent a shot from one of his pre-rendered cinematics. But finally he got it. It was an in-game frame captured on his PlayStation 4 console.
The producer was so surprised by what he saw that he forwarded the screenshot to people within SIE Europe, who forwarded it to others. Rumors circulated that it was not a master, but an entirely new one.
RCPS4 has become the most successful title in years, reviving the Ratchet & Clank franchise within the PlayStation community!“
– Shaun McCabe, Head of Technology, Insomniac Games
Dating back to June 2021, the latest entry, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, has set a new standard for franchises. Huge spectacles, heartfelt moments, and combat animations bring players closer to the action, with our technology and the PlayStation 5 console. Here is my shameless plugin. For more information, check out our deconstructed blog for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart’s impeccable animation.
This concludes the brief review.I hope you are as excited as we are turning 20th Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart returns to the beloved classic with the Anniversary Armor Pack arriving today on PlayStation Plus Premium. On behalf of Insomniac Games, thank you for joining us in the adventure of Ratchet and Clank for the past 20 years. As always, we’d love to hear about your favorite Ratchet & Clank memories. Tag us on social media (@insomniacgames) and use the hashtag #Ratchet20 in honor of his 20th anniversary of the franchise.th anniversary!
Play the latest title in the Ratchet & Clank franchise and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, now available on PS5… now 20 freeth Anniversary Armor Pack ft. 5 new armor pieces inspired by past games in the series!
*Game update v.1.004 requires internet connection.
**Game availability varies by country/region. PlayStation Plus will repeat until cancelled. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/PSPlusTerms.
