With Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart less than two months away, the mysterious female Lombax "Rivet" has finally had her name confirmed. Alongside the new cast member, there are also some familiar faces returning to the series. From small-time rank and file enemies to notorious bosses, Rift Apart looks to be putting Ratchet and Clank up against one of their biggest challenges yet.
So far, a lot of the returning faces are not some of the previous allies that fans might be hoping for. Still, many of them are faces that have become rather synonymous with the Ratchet and Clank series, but as enemies rather than friends, or even frenemies. Rift Apart has done well at building hype without a lot of information available to the public, and the number of returning faces might continue to grow as the game gets closer to release.
Ratchet and Clank
Ratchet and Clank are the obvious first mention, though things are different this time. While they are usually the main focus of the game, their roles will not be as central as they were in other installments. The 2016 Ratchet and Clank aimed for the nostalgia of the original game, but Rift Apart looks like it will shake up the series' formula a bit. Rather than focusing solely on Ratchet and Clank’s adventures, the game will have them split between dimensions as they try to stop the evil Dr. Nefarious.
Based on what has been shown so far, it does look like Rift Apart will start with the two heroes side-by-side before Nefarious’ actions rips them quite a few dimensions apart. With how integral Clank is to a lot of Ratchet’s movement in the series, it will be interesting to see how the wily Lombax’s gameplay changes. The ability to travel using rifts has been shown in some of the early game footage, but it does not seem like it will be a full replacement for the benefits that Clank has provided in the past.
Clank’s adventure, on the other hand, seems like it will be a major factor in how the story for Rift Apart plays out. Fans have been clearly shown that after his separation from Ratchet, the new protagonist Rivet finds him. While not a lot is known about her character yet, it looks like Rivet is also in the business of trying to stop Nefarious. Her entire role in the story could have major implications for the game’s lore, and with a significant amount of interdimensional travel at play, the future of Ratchet and Clank could be in for some major twists.
Dr. Nefarious
Nefarious has openly made himself the villain of Rift Apart, and if the trailer is to be taken at face value, it seems like he will be quite successful for a while. His plans for interdimensional domination and the elimination of Ratchet and Clank make perfect supervillain sense. With his prior defeats, he needs a win, so the discovery of a dimension where he always wins makes it the natural stage for his next fight. So far, how successful and how much his influence has spread is uncertain, but with the size of the threat he presents hopefully some other amicable faces will appear to help Ratchet and Clank and Rivet.
Goons-4-Less
The Goons-4-Less made a hearty appearance in the gameplay trailer and they look to have been hired as easy blaster fodder. Their approach to life does not seem to have changed much, as they are still diligently in service for money. The intergalactic mercenaries also have brought their loyal Robomutts along for the ride, and they are about as cute as they were in the other games. While both classic Ratchet and Clank enemies have returned, Nefarious will likely have some new evil allies to help him as well. Given the state of reality seeing multiple Nefariouses on the loose, additional unknown foes are likely as more information about the game comes to light.
Sandsharks
Sandsharks made a quick appearance in Rift Apart when they were pulled through one of the dimensional rifts in the gameplay reveal. While they may not end up playing a giant role in the game, the iconic little biters were in the original game. Hopefully, their return also means some older Ratchet and Clank weapons will come back with past enemies.
With the dimensions breaking down and so much in the game, the inclusion of Sandsharks off their homeworld seems like a hint that a lot of previous enemies will find themselves displaced. What this means for other low-level mobs and previous bosses from other games remains to be seen, but it could be an indication that the fight in Rift Apart will grow beyond just Dr. Nefarious.
Other Characters
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart has been shrouded in mystery since its reveal. With little information out there, there is no real telling who all will return from the series' past. The interdimensional nature leaves the door wide open for Ratchet and Clank to have old allies return but, it could also be a situation with so much chaos that Rivet is the only one to count on. So far the story looks aimed at stopping Nefarious, but not much else is known.
With how many characters are likely going to be displaced fans could still see some familiar faces but in different roles. Alternate dimensions in the game could introduce alternate versions of previous characters, like Angela or Captain Qwark, that are not quite as friendly as Ratchet and Clank remember. Whether or not some allies will become foes or vice versa remains to be seen but there is a ton of potential for curve ball after curve ball in the new title.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart releases on June 11, 2021, exclusively for the PlayStation 5.