History Franchise / RatchetAndClank

* ''Ratchet & Clank: Before the Nexus'' (2013, iOS/Android) — A free endless runner game meant to coincide with ''Into the Nexus'' developed by Darkside Game Studios.

** Attention is only called to it once -- [[IronicEcho by]] [[LampshadeHanging Nefarious]] -- but the series has a habit of stranding characters on asteroids in the middle of space. Nefarious and Lawrence in UYA ([[ContinuityNod shown again in Deadlocked and referenced in ACiT]]), [[spoiler:Tachyon]] in [=ToD=], [[TheStinger Qwark at the end of ACiT]], and then [[spoiler:Artemis Zogg]] at the end of the comic series, on the same asteroid as [[spoiler:Tachyon]], no less. Technically, it's happened to Ratchet and Clank, too, in the "Super Ironic Death Scenario" sense.

** Clank's voice is more monotone and he acts like more of a know-it-all. He also seems to have not developed his [[SpockSpeak aversion to contractions]], as he says "He hasn't got enough bolts" in the Novalis cutscene with the Plumber; the "Making Of" video in ''Going Commando'' would establish this as one of Clank's traits, as there's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULkkGzYEUw8&t=6m29s a scene]] where David Kaye uses a contraction during a voice recording session and promptly is reminded of this by sound designer Jackie Evanochick, before rerecording the line without it.

** Clank's voice is more monotone and he acts like more of a know-it-all.

* ''[[VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet LittleBigPlanet 2]]'' (2011, [[UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}} PS3]]): A downloadable costume pack of Ratchet and Clank based on ''VideoGame/PlayStationMoveHeroes'' is available for purchase.
* ''VideoGame/SlyCooperThievesInTime'' (2014, [=PlayStation 3=]): Ratchet's [=OmniWrench=] Millennium 12, from ''Quest for Booty'', is an unlockable replacement for the Cooper cane.

* MonsterArena: Gladiator Games and Megacorp Games in ''Going Commando'', Annihilation Nation in ''Up Your Arsenal'', the ''entire fricking game'' in ''Deadlocked'', the Imperial Fight Festival in ''Tools of Destruction'', Ratchet's segments in ''Secret Agent Clank'', the Battleplex in ''A Crack in Time'', and the Destructapalooza in ''Into the Nexus''.

One of the most iconic and long-running UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation}} video game franchises. The series follows the adventures of FunnyAnimal alien Ratchet and his RobotBuddy Clank as they save the galaxy through [[{{Platformer}} Platforming]], puzzle-solving, humor, [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar radar-blasting]], and [[MoreDakka prodigious firepower]].

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: [[Radar/RatchetAndClank We have a page for it.]]

* IconicSequelCharacter: Doctor Nefarious came about in the third game, ''Up Your Arsenal'', yet he's since become the series' most recognizable villain, even being made playable in All 4 One along with series mainstay, Captain Qwark and the titular duo.

*** Posters of the duo make a handful of appearances in ''Going Commando'', and one ItemGet cutscene has Ratchet and Clank imitating Jak and Daxter's Power Cell collection animations, complete with borrowing ''[[VideoGame/JakAndDaxterThePrecursorLegacy The Precursor Legacy]]'''s musical sting for it.

** After slightly denting the FourthWall on a couple of prior occasions, the Plumber really presses against it in ''Tools of Destruction'', as he "almost didn't recognize [Ratchet and Clank] in high-def", referring to the fact that the Plumber was wearing glasses (which he had never worn before), but also to the fact that ''Tools'' is the first ''RAC'' game on the HD-capable [=PlayStation 3=].
** Captain Slag further demolishes it in ''Quest For Booty'', accusing Ratchet of unplugging his controller during their boss fight in the previous game.
*** "After several lucky shots and a few cheat codes..."
** [[spoiler:Klunk]] also yelled at Clank saying "No fair, you cheated!" when you beat him.
** Dr. Nefarious gets a good one in ''A Crack in Time'': Initiate super-wavy flashback effect!

* NameAndName: Ratchet the lombax and his RobotBuddy Clank.
* {{Nanomachines}}: Used as healing items as well as the characters' health and what upgrades your weapons.

* NoScope: The fandom calls it "hip-sniping", and the series has gone from allowing it to forcing a defiance of the trope. ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando Going Commando]]''[='=]s [[http://ratchet.wikia.com/wiki/Pulse_Rifle Pulse Rifle]], ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal Up Your Arsenal]]''[='=]s [[http://ratchet.wikia.com/wiki/Flux_Rifle Flux Rifle]], and ''[[VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked Deadlocked]]'''s [[http://ratchet.wikia.com/wiki/Fusion_Rifle Fusion Rifle]] are all snipers that can be used just as effectively, if not more so at close range than at regular sniping distance. Then ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankSizeMatters'' has the Sniper Mine, which for some reason is more powerful when zoomed in further (complete with a gauge to show shot power that increases with zoom). This encourages the player to use the scope properly to snipe at long distances, since shooting short ranges targets while zoomed is difficult and the power of no-scoping is {{Nerf}}ed. ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime A Crack in Time]]'', ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankIntoTheNexus Into the Nexus]]'', and ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2016'' attempt to defy this with the Plasma Striker, a sniper whose scope [[AttackItsWeakPoint shows enemy weak points]], while going for no-scopes does less damage, forcing you to try and use the sniper as a sniper instead of a slow-firing OneHitPolykill pistol.

* OneManArmy: Ratchet, and he has the weapons to count for it, too!

* RPGElements: From the second game onwards, you and your weapons gain experience and level up, gaining more health and power in the process.
** Apparently a justified example. Nanotech, the technology behind your health meter and your weapons, is used by everybody. When you kill them, you absorb their nanomites, powering up both you and your weapon.

** Several, such as "[[NoAnimalsWereHarmed No <animals of the game> were harmed in the making of this game.]]", a variation of the Morph-O-Ray and R.Y.N.O. in (almost) every game, the inclusion of Dan Johnson (before it became out of respect), Dr. Nefarious malfunctioning, Dr. Nefarious yelling someone's name (usually Lawrence or Qwark), Qwark's crudely drawn "plans," et cetera.

** The Pyrocitor in the first game is your standard video game flamethrower: weak, short-ranged, and not very useful.
*** The Pyrocitor itself was actually an aversion of this trope... [[CrutchCharacter at the start of the game.]] Since most enemies were mostly weak anklebiters with pathetic range early game and your weapon choices were limited, the Pyrocitor was a rather effective way at spewing your own InstantDeathRadius. Unfortunately, enemy health and range grew throughout the game, and the later weapons that you bought [[CantCatchUp left the Pyrocitor in the dust.]]

** The 2016 game's Pyorcitor is pretty good too. While the original game's Pyrocitor was a rather average crowd control weapon, it's presented as a much more powerful weapon in this game, and both the length and width of its flames can be upgraded substantially.

** In ''Going Commando'', you gain access to the Levitator which allows you to fly anywhere... but you can only take off from special pads, and your fuel decreases rapidly every time you ascend.
*** And from the same game, the Glider lets you fly forever -- but again, it's only used in certain locations, and it can't be used to fly upwards unless you want to stall and crash.

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* ''[[WesternAnimation/RatchetAndClank2016 Ratchet & Clank]]'' (2016) — A theatrical film adapting the [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002 first game in the series]].

[[folder:Appearances in other games]]

[[folder:Crossovers]]

!!This series contains examples of:

* ''[[WesternAnimation/RatchetAndClankLifeOfPie Ratchet & Clank: Life of Pie]]'' (2021) — A 22-minute short film which [[https://www.crave.ca/fr/tv-shows/ratchet-clank-life-of-pie initially premiered on]] Canadian streaming service Creator/{{Crave}}, produced by [[Creator/RainmakerEntertainment the same studio]] that animated the movie. Dr. Nefarious attempts to use a portal device to conquer the multiverse, just as Ratchet and Clank are on a hunt for pizza at bargain prices across the galaxy. When the two parties and Captain Qwark clash, however, things take a turn for the cheesier, meatier, crustier, and the worse.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/RatchetAndClankLifeOfPie Ratchet & Clank: Life of Pie]]'' (2021) — A 22-minute short film which [[https://www.crave.ca/fr/tv-shows/ratchet-clank-life-of-pie initially premiered on]] Canadian streaming service Creator/{{Crave}}, produced by [[Creator/RainmakerEntertainment the same studio]] that animated the movie. As a reference to ''Rift Apart'''s plot, Dr. Nefarious attempts to use a portal device to conquer the multiverse, just as Ratchet and Clank are on a hunt for pizza at bargain prices across the galaxy. When the two parties and Captain Qwark clash, however, things take a turn for the cheesier, meatier, crustier, and the worse.

* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankRiftApart'' (2021, [=PS5=]) — A new game with the first original story since ''Into the Nexus'', featuring the duo trying to stop a CosmicFlaw that threatens all reality.

* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankRiftApart'' (TBA, [=PS5=]) — A new game with the first original story since ''Into the Nexus'', featuring the duo trying to stop a CosmicFlaw that threatens all reality.

-->-The perfect description from a 10th anniversary poster.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0533ca982f6690518474d23413ee7ec2.jpg]]

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->[[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife TV Tropes]], one of many weapons and gadgets not fit for this world.

** Zig-zagged with Talwyn and her two warbot friends, Cronk and Zephyr. All three of them were important characters in ''Tools of Destruction'', often helping Ratchet and Clank with [[TheWarSequence War Sequences]] and hacking things. In ''A Crack in Time'', neither Cronk nor Zephyr appear, and Talwyn gets mentioned twice: once in the first cutscene with Ratchet in it (he says that Talywn said that the sector he and Qwark went to is crawling with bad guys) and once if you ever visit the Corvus Sector (a song will play on the radio that Talwyn requested). Then in ''All 4 One'', Cronk and Zephyr are your MissionControl and Talwyn gets mentioned once (when you fight the Wigwump, they say that they don't want to be the one who has to tell Talwyn her friend was eaten by said creature). In ''Full Frontal Assault'', Talwyn, Cronk, and Zephyr never appear or get mentioned at all (unless you count multiplayer skins). Then all three of them return in ''Into the Nexus''.

'''Mobile Games:'''

'''Remasters:'''

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[[folder:Other Playable Appearances]]

* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'' (2004, [[UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 2}} PS2]]) — Continues developing the gameplay formula established in ''Going Commando'' further and was included with an online multiplayer mode. Ratchet and Clank return to Solana to learn that a mad supervillain named Dr. Nefarious is planning to exterminate all organic life in the galaxy, so they join forces with a few other heroes (or close enough) to stop him.

* ''VideoGame/PlaystationMoveHeroes'' (2011, [[UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}} PS3]]) — A crossover mini-game collection centered around the PlayStation Move accessory. Ratchet and Clank are featured in this game, as are the protagonists of ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' and ''VideoGame/SlyCooper''.

** The Thruster-Pack and Hydropack upgrades in the later games. In the first game, they were mandatory upgrades needed to complete the game, and the Thruster Pack originally had a distinct moveset from the Heli-Pack. From ''Going Commando'' and onward, it was only treated as cosmetically different from the Heli-Pack, and as of ''A Crack in Time'', the Thruster-Pack was abandoned altogether. The Hydropack is still used, but rarely due to how sporadic swimming segments are in the later games.

One of the most iconic and long-running PlayStation video game franchises. The series follows the adventures of FunnyAnimal alien Ratchet and his RobotBuddy Clank as they save the galaxy through [[{{Platformer}} Platforming]], puzzle-solving, humor, [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar radar-blasting]], and [[MoreDakka prodigious firepower]].

* ''[[VideoGame/JakX Jak X: Combat Racing]]'' (2005/2017, [[UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 2}} PS2]]/[[UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}} PS4]]) — Ratchet appears as an unlockable racer in the game for having ''[[VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked Deadlocked]]'' save data on the [=PS2=] version and ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2016 Ratchet & Clank]]'' [[''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2016 (2016)]] save data on the [=PS4=] version.