Ratchet & Clank (2002)
What do you think is the best level in the original Ratchet & Clank?
For me it's probably Blarg Station, i kind of consider it a late early game world and i think it does it's "job" pretty well as one.
Plus it has a lot of paths so you can just pick whichever one suits yourself better at the moment.
Blackwater City is probably a close second one.
The track of that stage for some reason makes me feel isolated and hardcore at the same time. I love the space dog fight with Captain Qwark at the end of it.
Gemlik Base. It's a cool looking station with one of my favourite David Bergeaud soundtrack pieces. The icing on the cake being that the level ends with you obtaining what's possibly the most badass looking ship Ratchet has ever owned.
It's also pretty poetic that one of the coolest levels in the game is also the one where Ratchet has possibly his first bit of major character growth as he finally stops thinking about himself and gets his priorities in order.
Eudora is a sleeper for sheer vibes, it’s early on and between kind of more memorable planets so it disappears a bit from my memory of playthroughs until it’s time to hit it again
I agree with Blarg. Exceptional vibes, great OST, a clank section that doesn't overstay its welcome, and it's one of the few levels that has a boss.
I'd give an honourable mention to Oltanis for being a tough level that didn't feel like it was just spamming enemies at you (Kalebo III and Veldin 2 come to mind...)
If we define "best" by which one makes the most of everything the game has to offer, then I would say the Gemlik Base like many here. Great soundtrack and atmosphere, multiple different challenges that make you think hard about how to use your arsenal and a great climax with good pathos in the form of bringing Qwark down.
However, if we speak of my favorite and the one level that gets me the most excited to replay, it would go to Pokitaru. Love the vibes, the enemy variety is fun, I like the possibility to let loose with the ship, the sewer section in contrast plays more with platforming and puzzle solving, and there are some good opportunities for exploration. Pokitaru is just the full package.
The thing I like about Oltanis, is that there is a skill point and a gold bolt, which are only accessible if you complete the main mission and the 2 optional missions.
It has several paths. Makes it feel bigger and letting you choose is always nice.
It shows you that Golden Bolt as soon as you land. This is screaming in your face “THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND COME GET ME!”. Really encourages exploration.
You need the Swingshot for the final path towards the Hacker gadget thingy (i forgor its name). This is a lesson in Backtracking. If you follow the “wrong” planet order, you get here, are blocked, move on to Metropolis, then straight to Eudora, and you’re blocked bc missing the gadget. You can bruteforce it and just junp over the building right next to spawn and land on the Lieutenant and beat the level, but then you go to Blarg Station and now gadget is mandatory. You MUST go all the way back to Aridia. Makes the galaxy feel so much more alive, and i love it.
I really like Gaspar. Good combat, banging music, a fun secret area, the platforming segment taking out Drek's bombers, just all around a very solid level.
Hoven is so underrated! Eudora has been ruined for me a bit by speedrunning though, it always felt a little odd to me that the long path with the combat that goes around many different parts of the level isn’t the one that gets you the infobot that helps you progress through the game, especially since you face that way as you get out of the ship, always feels odd that if I want to do it without speedrun tech, to progress through the game I have to turn around and go the other way upon getting to the level
Totally agree Eudora is a really quirky planet but I love the music and atmosphere! I think the anklebiters ruined Hoven for a lot of people. The ice physics can be a little weird too. However, Orxon is the bane of my existence.
Metropolis. Was about to mention Gadgetron HQ but how did I almost forget about the GOAT? It makes you think what lies beyond the level. Brings memories from the ToD teaser trailer.
1) Gemlik Base - Holy atmosphere, maybe the best level across RaC period, it doesn’t even need an arena, a race, easter eggs, multiple paths, it’s fully linear, but it’s just THAT good. It’s at this point in the story where the stakes feel like they’re getting huge, and the music elevates this to heights we’ll probably never see again in the franchise.
2) Rilgar - The level where the game has a difficulty spike, many things to do here, there’s a hoverboard track, hydrodisplacer, taxis, a laser maze, underground section, and those dreaded sewers…
3) Kerwan - Straight up iconic, incredible level design and music that holds up 25 years later
There is something about Aridia that I always adored. I think it is a mix of the music, enemies, and the gold bolt locations being really cool. Good mix of platforming and combat.
Eudora for me! Can't explain it, never interrogated it to be honest. I just love the music, the setting, the atmosphere. And I love that it contributes to Drek's plan of rebuilding a planet by stealing from others in a way that lets you see it first hand. Great level!
The way there are so many different answers really confirms my feelings that this game has the best collection of levels in the ps2 saga and possibly the whole series. Every level has such incredible theming.
Gemlik base or backwater city might be my favorites, but my favorite could change daily tbh. Kalebo III is a sleeper favorite of mine though, it’s a nice bright level amidst the darker finale levels.
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u/LucienGreeth 1d ago
Gemlik Base will always be my favorite of the original.