Insomniac Games have earned a reputation for populating their Ratchet and Clank games with outrageous over-the-top weapons. No guns better embody this than the RYNO superweapons, that have been a hallmark of the franchise since its inception 19 years ago. The PS5's Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and its RYNO 8, are no exception to this tradition. In many ways the dimension breaking cameos and references the weapon utilizes, represent the ultimate realization of the concept.

Each incarnation of the RYNO, which cheekily stands for Rip Ya a New One, deals out massive damage on a level that can take out most enemies, instantly. Once players have uncovered each of the 10 Spybots needed to unlock Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart's incarnation of the gun, they can wield it with similar devastating results. The RYNO eight stands apart from its cousins though, due to the fact it weaponizes cameos from a wide array of PlayStation games and universes.

RELATED: Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart - How to Unlock Silver and Gold Cup Challenges at Zurkie's

Horizon Zero Dawn

With Guerrilla Games' Horizon Forbidden West being the next known major release from a PlayStation's first party studio, it makes sense that the franchise is heavily invoked by Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart's RYNO 8. While Aloy herself is never seen on screen, two of the machines that she tangles with in Horizon Zero Dawn do make an appearance.

The first of the pair that can drop out of the sky is a Sawtooth, a feline-like machine created to protect the Zero Dawn project within the Horizon universe. In Rift Apart it doesn't hang around as a bodyguard for long though, unlike the second robot that has a lot more to say. In many ways the T-Rex shaped Thunderjaw has always been one of the franchise's mascots, so it seems fitting for it to rampage and roar its way through enemies.

Jak and Daxter

Insomniac Games have always had a close knit bond with Naughty Dog, dating back to before they both officially joined the PlayStation Studios family. From in-game Easter eggs, demos, and even the sharing of technology and engines, it's almost impossible to talk about the history of either without mentioning the other. It's for this reason that multiple cameos from the studio's games can be found throughout Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart.

Of the two franchises that are referenced, the handful of references from Jak and Daxter are the most fitting, considering they were arguably as synonymous with PlayStation as Ratchet and Clank, during the PS2 era. Curiously the titular Jak can drop out of the sky either alone, or with his orange Ottsel companion by his side. On rare occasions a single Precursor Orb, the franchise's main form of currency, can also come through a rift. This particular cameo essentially acts as a two-for-one deal, as the ancient object also appears in each installment of the Uncharted franchise, as the Strange Relic.

Rift Apart isn't the first time the two iconic PlayStation duos have met on screen, courtesy of inter-dimensional chaos. In the long forgotten PlayStation Move Heroes, both sets of heroes teamed up to stop a different multiverse sized threat. Seeing each other again so unexpectedly after 1o years, could be one of the reasons why Jak looks so confused in-game.

Sly Cooper

sly cooper art

Having references to Jak and Daxter, naturally means that the Sly Cooper series has to be represented in equal measure too. Back in the day the three franchises came together to form a legendary trio, with each being just as beloved by fans to this day. Thanks to the RYNO 8, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart players can summon a bunch of cameo from Sucker Punch's PS2 classic.

The first of which is the titular master thief himself, Sly Cooper, who can drop out of the sky with a cheeky expression on his face. Bentley, the brain's of the gang, is also on call and looks a whole lot more surprised to be sucked through an interdimensional wormhole. Both characters rounded out the cast of PlayStation Move Heroes, and naturally therefore have a history of working with Ratchet and Clank in the past. Meanwhile Murray on the other hand, the final member of the gang, has once again been snubbed from having the same opportunity. Fortunately his signature van is also one of the cameos that can be summoned within game, which slightly makes up for this.

Uncharted

Naughty Dog's second IP representative that the RYNO 8 can draw on, is the Uncharted series. Unlike the other cameos and references that are found within the game, non of these feature actual living creatures or people. Considering Insomniac Games have mainly targeted a handful of the franchise's iconic vehicles, this is probably for the best.

Cameo number one comes in the shape of the Road Hog, a Jeep inspired vehicle that Nathan Drake and Chloe Frazer both respectively utilized in Uncharted 4 and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. When it comes to call backs this one has layers to it, as its name is actually a call back to another vehicle from Naughty Dog's Jak X: Combat Racing. Sully's original plane, the Hog Wild, which was actually destroyed in-universe during Uncharted Drake's Fortune, also joins in on the vehicle destruction. Uncharted's appearances within Ratchet and Clank's universe is rounded out by the overlooked Phurba Dagger, the key to Shambala in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

Ratchet and Clank 2016

ratchet and clank ps5 frame rate update

Externally developed corners of the PlayStation universe aren't the only dimensions that Insomniac Games have drawn inspiration from, when picking ammo for the RYNO 8. A handful of the studio's own games have also received some much deserved cameo shaped love. One of which is the 2016 Ratchet and Clank remake.

Technically speaking the implications of the RYNO 8's power confirms that the universe which the PS4 entry in the franchise occupies, can be considered its own separate dimension and timeline. It does this by pulling through the redesigned version of the Blargian snagglebeast, a gorilla like creature that stomps around once summoned. In both the original 2002 game, and the 2016 remake, the beast is originally used by Captain Qwark in a misguided attempt to prevent Ratchet and Clank from exposing the superhero's fall from grace.

Sunset Overdrive

ratchet And Clank Rift Apart Sunset Overdrive

Over the last few months or so, Insomniac Games has been teasing the revival of one of its cult classic IPs. Leaks and suspicious references suggest that a PS5 Sunset Overdrive Remaster might be on the cards at some point in the near future. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart pours even more fuel on the rumor fire, through the delivery of  a handful of references.

Players who get access to the RYNO 8 can on occasion summon Sunset Overdrive's evil loudmouth mascot, Fizzie. The cameos don't stop there though, as a large keg of OverCharge Delirium XT can also be pulled into the game too. Handling the drink should come with a particular warning, as the substance is the source of the OD outbreak that plagues Sunset City. Both references could be significant hints of what's to come for Insomniac Games, as they mark the first time that PlayStation players have been able to experience Sunset Overdrive in any capacity.

Song of the Deep

Song Of The Deep Exploration

Before Insomniac Games was officially acquired by Sony, the studio released a handful of experimental games, unlike anything else they'd worked on before. One of these was Song of the Deep, a charming Metroidvania style side-scroller about a young girl's quest to save her father.

In that game Merryn pilots the S.S. Eirnin during her voyage, an old-school yellow submarine. In Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart the vessel is the final object that the RYNO 8 can weaponize and drop on unsuspecting enemies.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is available now for PlayStation 5.

MORE: Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart - All Cordelion Gold Bolt Locations