Ratchet & Clank has amused gamers with its platformer-shooter antics for nearly two decades. The titular duo has traversed across countless wacky worlds, battling bots, aliens, and other creatures in a profit-driven galaxy. Of course, a franchise as long as this is bound to have a few callbacks along the way.
The most recent entry, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, dials that up to eleven. Not only does the game allude to past titles in Insomniac's series, but fans now have a gun that literally fires references. The RYNO 8 creates rifts that brings in characters and objects from other dimensions (or franchises). That means Easter Eggs galore. Even the most jaded gamers might crack a smile at some of these cheeky cameos.
10 Sly Cooper And The Gang
These stealth action titles stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ratchet & Clank as the most beloved platformers on the PlayStation 2. Though their inclusion here was teased on Twitter, fans weren't expecting to get three Easter Eggs for the price of one.
The RYNO portals can spit out the raccoon thief himself, his tech turtle ally Bentley, and even their colorful Cooper Gang van. No sign of Murray, though. Maybe the hefty hippo will make it through the rift later. After all, the team van is nothing without its daredevil driver.
9 Jak & Daxter: The Precursor (Orb) Legacy
Rounding out the trifecta of iconic PS2 platformers, Jak & Daxter themselves pop out of a portal to join the fun. Unfortunately, they don't look too happy to see Ratchet & Clank, probably because these dynamic duos have an unofficial rivalry that stretches back to their earliest adventures. Of course, it doesn't help that Ratchet's taking all their money.
Players can also replace the collectible bolts with Precursor Orbs. These engraved globes function as currency in the Jak & Daxter games, particularly the first entry. Their inclusion here takes the Easter Egg concept to a more literal level.
8 Bots From Horizon: Zero Dawn
Talk about a stylistic shift. Sometimes, the RYNO portals will spit out two of the robo-dinos from Horizon: Zero Dawn: the Sawtooth and the Thunderjaw. These mechs are far more intimidating than the ones Ratchet & Clank typically tackle. Maybe they should have ported Aloy over here to help.
Then again, their arsenal is much bigger and deadlier than hers. A gun beats a bow and arrow, especially a space gun. If anything, pitting the local heroes against these new buckets of bolts would probably be overkill.
7 Uncharted Artifacts
While none of the witty characters from this treasure-hunting series make an appearance, several artifacts do. One of the less obvious is the jeep from A Thief's End, which just looks like a miscellaneous vehicle from any other game. Far more distinctive is the plane straight out of Drake's Fortune, complete with the dirty picture up front. This comes courtesy of Victor "Sully" Sullivan.
Considering it crashed on a creepy island, this thing should be scrap. However, its size and bright colors do help it stand out more than Marco Polo's dagger from Uncharted 2. Sure, it's the key to Shangri-La, but this little tool often blends into the darker environments and slew of other items flying everywhere. Good luck spotting it, let alone identifying it. And speaking of keys...
6 A Keyblade From Kingdom Hearts
Among all the guns at Ratchet's disposal, it's easy to forget his melee weapon: a wrench from his mechanic roots. Thankfully, this Easter Egg ensures that no one forgets the close-quarter combat.
As an alternate weapon, Ratchet and Rivet can swap out the wrench for a Keyblade. In the longstanding Kingdom Hearts series, worthy heroes use these keys to travel between Disney worlds and battle the hordes of darkness. It's a different dimension-hopping tool than the RYNO, but the result is the same. The only downside is that it can't fix leaky pipes.
5 Rupees From The Legend Of Zelda
It figures one of the most famous game series of all time would show up here. That said, it's surprising how little lip service The Legend of Zelda gets. Neither Link nor Zelda show up, and the Master Sword and Triforce are nowhere to be found. Instead, players can simply replace bolts with rupees.
For longtime gamers, though,even this will be enough to make them smile. Not only are they recognizable, but their vibrant coloration makes them more visually appealing than the gray bolts. When it comes to in-game currency, it's impossible to beat the classics.
4 Tales Of LittleBigPlanet
Sadly, Sackboy himself doesn't appear here. Instead, his quirky journeys get a mention through the Lombax Lorbs. These secret collectibles reveal several hidden messages left by lombax explorer Mags. One of his recordings describes a realm with abundant creativity and a "pleasant voice."
The clues indicate that this is the patchwork world of LittleBigPlanet, the PS3 platforming and puzzle game. As for the voice, it's probably the theatrical narration by Stephen Fry. The guy narrates audiobooks, so he ought to have a pleasant tone.
3 Sunset Overdrive's Malicious Mascot
This post-apocalyptic shooter may not be one of Insomniac's better-known titles, but that won't stop them paying tribute in their flagship franchise. Out of a rift comes Fizzie, the mascot of energy drink company Fizzco. However, the heroes should be concerned, since this company's soda turns people into ravenous mutants.
Then again, players can also change their currency bolts to Fizzco cans. As such, the sinister side effects must not matter much to consumers in this dimension. It's not all that surprising, considering how commercialized Ratchet & Clank's galaxy is.
2 Angela Cross, The Wayward Lombax
One would think the franchise's first female lombax would get more attention. Angela Cross debuted back in the second game, Going Commando. She needed the heroes' help in saving her galaxy from the mysterious MegaCorp. In that way, she's much like Rivet.
It's only fitting, then, that this new heroine references the old. During her journeys, Rivet mentions escaping from a prison with a friend named Angela, lamenting that she hasn't seen that friend for a while. That's for sure – it's about time for a comeback. The other characters got alternate-universe doppelgangers, so is it too much to ask the same for this forgotten lombax?
1 RYNO
Perhaps the most potent Easter Egg is the RYNO itself. This weapon is a well-worn staple of the series. Ever since the shady salesman sold it for 150,000 bolts in the first game, unlocking the "Rip Ya A New One" has been a challenge for only the most devoted players.
That's why its return here is so important. While newcomers might see it as just another gun, series veterans will view it as a stamp of authenticity. It just wouldn't be a Ratchet & Clank title without the RYNO.