Clank

Lore & Background

Clank's origins trace back to a production line on Quartu where Chairman Drek and his Blarg people were dismantling planets to build New Quartu. A blackout during manufacturing produced Clank, a unit that did not conform to the warbot specifications. He fled the factory, eventually crash-landing on Veldin where he met Ratchet. Together they exposed Drek's plot, which involved an army of warbots and the Deplanetizer superweapon designed to strip planets of their cores. Throughout their adventure, Clank demonstrated unique capabilities that distinguished him from standard units. In the original game, Clank and Ratchet faced only Chairman Drek as the primary antagonist, with Dr. Nefarious not appearing until a later installment. Clank's role shifted from accidental escapee to vital strategist, helping to thwart Drek's plan to use the Deplanetizer against the Solana Galaxy.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Clank in this specific timeline begins with his unplanned birth on Quartu, where he was immediately ejected from the factory by a power failure. He traveled to Veldin and was discovered by Ratchet, a mechanic who named him and invited him to join the Galactic Rangers on Kerwan. Their arrival coincided with an assault by Drek's forces; Clank helped save the Rangers, leading to his recruitment alongside Ratchet despite Captain Qwark's initial jealousy. The turning point came when Qwark betrayed them to help Drek disable the Rangers' weapons. While Drek destroyed the planet Novalis, Dr. Nefarious turned on his master, firing a sheep-transforming gun at Drek and ejecting him into an escape pod. Nefarious then hijacked the Deplanetizer, aiming it at Umbris. In the final battle, Ratchet pleaded with Qwark to stop fighting, leading to a confrontation with Nefarious. When Nefarious attempted to disintegrate Qwark using his personal weapon, the RYNO (Rip You a New One), Clank and Ratchet intervened. The villain was seemingly disintegrated as he fell into the Deplanetizer's laser chamber, which subsequently vaporized in Umbris's atmosphere. In a mid-credits scene, however, Clank learned that Nefarious survived by having his body forcibly converted into a robotic form.

Reader's Guide

Clank is characterized as a small robot with a large head and expressive eyes, serving as the technical expert and moral compass for Ratchet. While Ratchet provides physical strength and combat prowess with various weapons, Clank offers critical support through hacking, puzzle-solving, and tactical analysis. His ability to interface with alien machinery was key to defeating Victor Von Ion using environmental weaponry. His character arc in this story is defined by his transition from a defective warbot to a celebrated hero of the Galactic Rangers. He plays a decisive role in the climax where the Deplanetizer is redirected away from Earth-like worlds, saving the Solana Galaxy. Following the defeat of Nefarious, Clank returns with Ratchet to Veldin, where he remains ready to rejoin the Rangers if needed. The story concludes with a mid-credits scene revealing that their nemesis, Dr. Nefarious, survived and was rebuilt as a robot on Umbris, setting the stage for future conflicts.

Did You Know?

• Clank was originally a defective warbot produced during a blackout at Chairman Drek's factory on Quartu.
• In the original game, Clank and Ratchet's actions in saving the Rangers from Drek's army earned them fame, but Captain Qwark initially refused to help them and later betrayed them out of jealousy.
• Dr. Nefarious does not appear in the original 2002 game; he is introduced in Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, where Clank thwarts his plan to annihilate the planet Umbris.
• Victor Von Ion is a character exclusive to the 2016 film and does not appear in the original 2002 game.

Dimensional Rifts and Gameplay Evolution

Rift Apart revolutionized the series' traversal mechanics by introducing real-time, near-instantaneous travel between diverse planets and dimensions through inter-dimensional portals. The game retains core franchise staples such as strafing, bolt collection, and manual weapon upgrades using Raritanium, while significantly enhancing mobility with new actions like dashing and wall running. Players can explore both returning planets with unique dimensional twists and entirely new worlds, utilizing a mix of brand-new weaponry and classic favorites. Furthermore, the title places a strong emphasis on inclusivity by offering extensive accessibility options, including high-contrast modes and toggles for simplified traversal or flight assistance, ensuring that players of all abilities can fully experience the technical advancements and vibrant combat scenarios presented in this ninth main installment.

The Dimensionator Incident and Separation

Following their celebration as galactic heroes on Corson V, Ratchet and Clank's journey takes a catastrophic turn when Doctor Nefarious attempts to steal the repaired Dimensionator. During the ensuing struggle, Ratchet accidentally fires upon the device, triggering an explosion that shatters the fabric of space-time and scatters the trio across alternate realities. The blast leaves Clank severely injured, missing his right arm, before he is discovered by Rivet, a female Lombax from a parallel universe who initially distrusts robots due to her own traumatic past. Meanwhile, Ratchet finds himself alone in this strange new dimension, forced to search for his lost friend while Doctor Nefarious stumbles into a throne room where he is mistaken for the tyrannical Emperor Nefarious of that world. This separation sets the stage for a dual narrative where Clank must earn Rivet's trust and Ratchet must navigate a hostile universe without his constant companion, all while the dimensional rifts continue to threaten the stability of existence.

Forging Alliances Across Dimensions

As the protagonists search for a way home, they form unlikely partnerships that bridge their respective dimensions. Simultaneously, Ratchet teams up with Kit, a robot apprentice of Gary who fears her own programming as a warbot built by the Emperor. Despite these internal conflicts, Ratchet reassures Kit, forging a bond that mirrors his relationship with Clank. This quest forces Rivet and Clank to confront their pasts while Ratchet and Kit learn to rely on one another, ultimately uniting the resistance against a common threat that spans multiple realities.

The Rise of Emperor Nefarious

While the heroes struggle to repair the Dimensionator, Doctor Nefarious secretly assumes the identity of his alternate counterpart, Emperor Nefarious, who rules over this dimension undefeated. This impostor initially sends minions after Ratchet and Rivet but is eventually exposed when the real Emperor returns from a conquest. The genuine Emperor effortlessly defeats both Lombaxes and steals the rebuilt Dimensionator, intending to use it not just for galactic domination, but to conquer every single dimension in existence. However, the heroes intercept his plans by discovering that the Emperor requires a Dimensional Map to achieve total control. In a climactic sequence, Rivet and Kit board the Emperor's flagship to rescue Gary, who reveals he hid the map within an anomaly, setting up a final confrontation where the fate of all realities hangs in the balance against this newly empowered tyrant.