"Ratchet & Clank": Then vs Now Quiz

Answer: Unlocking extras (cheats, game augmentations, etc.)

In the 2002 "Ratchet & Clank", gold bolts were used in conjunction with regular bolts to purchase the rare gold weapons. Aside from the cosmetic differences between their regular counterparts, some gold weapons offered a small modification to their regular usage (the gold Morph-o-Ray, for instance, increased the size of the chickens into which enemies were transformed).

In the 2016 "Ratchet & Clank", gold bolts are relegated to unlocking some goodies in the Pause menu that affect the game in small ways. For instance, gather enough gold bolts and you'll be able to change all collectable bolts to look like "Zelda"-esque gems, or substitute Ratchet's fuzzy lombax head for Victor Von Ion's bonce.

Answer: Gold bolt

In the 2002 game, we arrived in Metropolis, headed down out of the starting area and turned left to see a robotic Qwark on a spring who introduced us to the fitness course. Waiting at the end was Helga, who eventually parted with the swingshot for a mere 1000 bolts.

Fast forward to the 2016 game, and the fitness course is no longer where it used to be. In fact, it's right at the very end of the level, adjacent to the Hall of Heroes (which used to be in Stratus City on planet Kortog in "Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction"). Its purpose is as basic training for new Galactic Ranger recruits.

Answer: Hydrodisplacer

Twisting things around somewhat, the Hydrodisplacer is obtained on planet Aridia, rather than on the outer catwalks of the Blarg Tactical Research Station in Nebula G34. The Trespasser first appears a little bit later on planet Rilgar, where Slim Cognito gives it to Ratchet free of charge (at the end of the sewer section where Qwark's agent resided in the 2002 game).

Aside from all this, the Hydrodisplacer functions exactly as it did: it plugs into a terminal and either sucks up a large quantity of water or deposits it into an empty, waterless reservoir. Similarly, the Trespasser still requires that you aim lasers, mounted on rotatable, concentric circular rings into circumferential locks.

Answer: Warmonger

Flamethrowers have appeared in one form or another over the years, but it's been a decent while since we've wielded the original (and the best) Pyrocitor. Upon reaching level 5, it upgrades to the Lavacitor.

The Glove of Doom spawns a group of small robot allies who seek out enemies and detonate themselves when they reach them. The Agents of Doom, featured in "Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal", functioned in a pretty similar way and upgraded to the Agents of Dread. The 2016 variation stays true to its predecessors, but upgrades to the Apocalypse Glove at level 5.

The RYNO (standing for Rip You a New One) has appeared in various forms across the years, providing an insane amount of firepower for a somewhat insane price. Who can remember grinding out 150,000 bolts to get this superweapon from the smuggler in Blackwater City? Well, it's a bit easier this time around. All you need to do is find 9 RYNO holocards to complete the 3 holocard sets and the weapon is yours (sort of like the RYNO schematics in "Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction"). Kind of underwhelming, really, considering this is the most powerful weapon in the game. At least it upgrades to the RYNO Extreme! (exclamation mark very much necessary).

While the Warmonger has been a staple of the series since it was first introduced in 2011's "Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One", it was the Devastator that filled the rocket launcher slot in the 2002 original.

Answer: Kalebo III

The Kogor Refinery on planet Orxon hasn't made it into 2016 (although its pollution theme has trickled through into the redesigned Quartu, the new homeworld of the Blarg). Likewise, the Bomb Factory on planet Hoven, where we first destroyed the Deplanetiser, and the ravaged Gorda City Ruins on planet Oltanis are nowhere in sight.

Other locations missing from the reimagining include the Logging Site on Eudora, Qwark's HQ on Umbris (although Umbris itself is mentioned towards the end of the game), Gemlik Base orbiting Oltanis, and Drek's fleet orbiting Veldin.

Answer: Box Breaker

Perhaps one of the more useful gadgets to have, the Box Breaker was first introduced in "Ratchet & Clank 2: Going Commando"/"Locked & Loaded" and allowed Ratchet to break nearby crates and breakables in one fell swoop (well, in a Hyper Strike, anyway).

Despite its appearance in the 2016 "Ratchet & Clank", it wasn't something you could get your hands on in the 2002 game. It did, however, have the Bolt Grabber, which simply extended the range at which Ratchet was able to pick up bolts.

Answer: Skorg City

The naming of Skorg City isn't the only change to Quartu. The Blarg also make their home on this planet, but have been forced underground due to the intense pollution caused by Drek Industries (hence Drek wanting to create a new planet for his people). Clank begins his adventure here, before escaping from the factory and the clutches of Drek's henchman, Victor Von Ion.

Answer: No

In the original, the Deplanetiser was just a weapon that required transporting from destination to destination. Now, it's an entire station (that isn't dissimilar in appearance to Dr Nefarious' space station in "Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time"). Ratchet and company visit the Deplanetiser twice in the 2016 game, the second time to bring it down once and for all.

It has elements of Drek's Fleet from the original (namely donning the Holo-guise and fooling the robot guards into letting you past the security systems).

Answer: Novalis

For once, Veldin isn't under attack! Ratchet's homeworld stays safe while Novalis takes the brunt of the Deplanetiser's attack. Yep, it actually gets blown to bits. Fortunately, its habitants evacuate in time. Unfortunately, it becomes inaccessible (for obvious reasons). Luckily, there's nothing major that you'll miss out on (the gold bolt hidden in the caves is replaced by a holo-card pack so it's no great loss if you've got plenty of duplicates to trade in to complete your sets).

Answer: Dr Nefarious

That's right, Drek doesn't even get a look in at all. It's Dr Nefarious (looking decidedly "squishy" in his reimagined form) that faces Ratchet and Clank in a fight to the death in the Deplanetiser's supernova chamber. Drek doesn't meet a great end, as he gets sheepinated by Nefarious and shot out into space in an escape pod. Qwark actually gets a proper fight this time (as opposed to a dogfight around the Gemlik Base in the original) before the duo face Nefarious. Victor Von Ion (who does gets to participate in a dogfight around the Deplanetiser before being defeated) dies at the hands of Clank and Elaris aboard the Phoenix, having succumbed to the deadly combination of water and electrics.