Ratchet & Clank is one of the few video game series consistently funny throughout their now 17 different titles.
Ratchet and Clank first appeared in the gaming scene in 2002 with their first game aptly titled Ratchet & Clank. Since then, the two have become iconic pairs and one of the most recognizable duos in video game pop culture. The Ratchet & Clank video game series is one of the most prolific and memorable games due to its creative action gameplay and humor.
The developers of Ratchet & Clank never shied away from incorporating crude as well as tongue-in-cheek humor throughout the series. As a result, Ratchet & Clank provides many fun moments while also living in a ridiculous and over-the-top Galaxy filled with silly and downright hilarious characters.
10 Drek Industries Corporate Videos-The Villians Disguised As An Overly Nice Corporate Message
A fun mechanic the developers liked to include within most of the titles was the Infobots. Essentially, these info bots provide information not only to the viewers but also to Ratchet & Clank. This info tells them to move on to their next objective which usually involves a different planet or a different area of some kind.
The first infobot Ratchet & Clank encounter in the 2016 reboot, Ratchet & Clank, introduces them to Drek, the businessman and ruler of the Blarg Empire. He is seen speaking to the audience as if it was a corporate video talking about how Drek Industries will be destroying planets and homeworlds. Drek assures the viewer that Drek Industries is "Working For You," to which it then follows up with a legal statement saying that Drek industries do not work for "you."
9 Dr. Nefarious's First Introduction- Alongside His Amusing Butler
Dr. Nefarious is arguably one of Ratchet and Clank's most recognizable villains. It is easy to see why these robotic evil masterminds would become a fan favorite, especially with a name like Dr. Nefarious. However, Dr. Nefarious was first introduced in Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal. His first introduction made a lasting impact.
In his first introduction, the players not only get a sense of how ridiculous and how over the top Dr. Nefarious can be, but they also get a little bit more of the game's humor with his robot butler Lawrence by his side. In this clip, Lawrence attempts to translate the speech Dr. Nergarious is giving for the audience at home.
8 We Always Seem To Be A Bit Late-Breaking The Fourth Wall Is Always Funny
One aspect of humor the series does not shy away from can be various forms of meta-humor, whether that humor is poking fun at gaming culture or references to other video game properties such as Jak and Daxter.
In Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, there is a moment where the duo is chasing down a thief that has stolen important weaponry, and they arrive on the planet only to find that the thief has already left. Clank then asks Ratchet why they are always late. Ratchet shrugs as the duo then turned to look at the camera. Nice little moments to show to the players not to take the game seriously.
7 "Touching down in 5, 4, Opps"- The Robots Are Self Aware
With Clank being a sentient robot within the series, it also stands to reason that several sentient robots live cohabitating with other alien species throughout the Galaxy. Oftentimes most of the ships the characters are part of will have some robotic AI incorporated somehow. However, it leaves many opportunities for some fun jokes.
One moment happens in Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction, where the duo lands on a deserted planet. As they descend, the ship's AI is informing them of their standard touchdown counting down. After the four-count, this ship nearly crashes on the planet. So then the AI has to recalculate and quickly go through the countdown even though they have already landed.
6 One Of Nature's Mysteries- Making Good Use Of Reality-TV In The Galaxy
One of the most impressive things about the Ratchet & Clank series as a whole is how fleshed out the universe is. There are many times the players are watching news reports in the game or references to other intergalactic TV shows that exist within the series.
One of the best ones is a TV show titled One of Nature's Mysteries. The funniest is the one in Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, where the fake show presents blurry images of Captain Quark as a sort of Sasquatch-like figure. The segment even has a local native spouting about what he had seen and said he was "Holding up a Nanner!"
5 Clank's Pessimistic Ship A.I.- They Can Be Such A Downer
In the 2016 reboot of Ratchet & Clank, Insomniac Games have many opportunities to reinvent their universe and add in a lot more funny moments that they may not have been able to do in the game's first iteration.
One of the moments that sticks out is near the beginning when the Clank escapes from the warbot factory. He sets around for the nearest planet to escape from. To which the ship's AI responds by saying, "Destination set, we are never gonna make it, but hey, what can you do." Who knew space ships saw the world as a glass half empty.
4 Ratchet's Relationship With The President's Daughter Is Humorous And A Bit Cheeky
Arguably Ratchet's personality has grown less and less crude over the years. In many of the early titles, there are many subtle and not-so-subtle references to slightly more adult humor (usually stemming from Ratchet as Clank is more or less the straight man in their comedy duo.)
One moment that hints at this is in Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal. After saving the Galactic President from danger, the president says to Ratchet, "My daughter says you are a man that's good with your hands." Ratchet quickly responds, " Sir, I swear I never--" and is cut off before Ratchet spills any details.
3 Ratchet & Clank's First Interaction With The Plumer- One Can Guess Where This Is Going
One of the reoccurring characters within the series is known simply as either The Plumber or The Mechanic. It is unclear what alien race he is, as it has never really specified. Usually, it shows up within the series to offer Ratchet and Clank some gadget for an item to progress through the story.
In their first interaction, Ratchet notices The Plumber working on something and states, "Hey look, Plummer's Crack." to which The Plumber angrily responds, " What did you say?" Ratchet swiftly says, "I said look the plumber's back." Nice save, Ratchet.
2 Cortney Gears Other Music Video- What Has Ratchet Been Watching?
In Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, the game introduces a fun and unique villain named Courtney Gears. She is a robot pop star who is working for Dr. Nefariouswith the goal of annihilating all organic life.
Upon the reveal that Courtney Gears is evil, Ratchet points out that "She always seemed so sweet and innocent in her music videos well except for that one that went--" then Ratchet proceeds to them dance seductively in an imitation of the video.
1 How Does The Game Solve Cryosleep For Robots- With A Boxing Glove, Of Course
In Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction, one moment is hard to forget. The moment happens after the heroes are introduced to the main villain. Ratchet and Clank need to leave the planet of the Megalopolis to further the story.
The ship's autopilots turn on and say "Cryosleep Engaged" as Ratchet protests that cryosleep does not work; he then immediately is knocked out. Following this Clank states, "Good thing Cryosleep does not work on robots" and then the spaceship shoots out a boxing glove to knock Clank out unconscious.