Rat Attack FAQ
Sony Playstation
Year: 1999
Version 1.0
By edwithgames (Edmund Rose)
Created: June 2007
"From beyond the edge of darkness the warrior cries revenge"
--------------------------
Greetings and welcome to my walkthrough for Rat Attack on the
Sony Playsation. I created this walkthrough because there are
no FAQs of this game on the web that I could find.
This game is one of the games that was created for little
children to enjoy and is a far cry from the more violent
games on the console such as Resident Evil and Doom. The game
is easy but that is to be expected seeing that little kids
are supposed to play it. Don't let that put you off playing it
though as Rat Attack is a very fun and addictive game to play
by yourself or with a friend.
This FAQ is split into several sections.
These are:
-Technical Information
-My experience with the game
-Story/Object of the game
-The main menu
-How to play
-Floor pads
-Items
-Chests/Crates
-Onscreen display
-The Scratch Cats
-Rats
-Levels
--------------------------
****** Technical Information ******
Rat Attack was released for the Sony Playstation in 1999
by Pure Entertainment and Mindscape Entertainment. The game
was awarded 90% and was called a "Triple A Title" by Station
magazine. The game is compatible with Sony's multi tap device
and can therefore allow for four players to play the game
simultaneously. The game also uses the left stick and
the vibration functions of the analog controller.
--------------------------
****** My experience with the game ******
I first played the demo of this game back in 2000 on a demo disc. I thought
it was a good demo so years later I got the game second hand. I then thought
it was boring but being bored can have a strange effect and so I played it and
completed it in a day. The game is surprisingly easy but there are plenty of
laughs as you do it from the chracters and the things that happen.
--------------------------
****** Story/Object of the game ******
(From the manual)
"Over 40 years after they were blasted into orbit as part of an early space
experiment, the laboratory rats Washington and Jefferson have returned to
Earth. Equipped with some fiendish gadgetry of a strange alien design, they
are leading a rodent revolution to take over the planet. Houses, gardens,
museums and factories are all being systematicaaly destroyed by a rat plague
of biblical proportions.
With mankind powerless against the cheese chomping horde, our only hope is
an elite band of feline freedom fighters. Known only as the Scratch Cats,
the fate of the world lies in their paws!"
The object of the game is to capture rats and ultimately to defeat Jefferson
and Washington to save the planet. The plot is nonsensical and as I said
before the game is designed for kids so the whole game looks like a cartoon
or a game like Ape Escape or Crash Bandioot if you've played them.
--------------------------
****** How to play ******
Controls are as follows:
T - Use Special Move
S - Jump
X - Hold and use D-pad to increase size of eraticator
O - Swipe
R1 - Drop cheese
R2 - Fixed camera
L2 - Move on screen display
Start - Pause menu
Select - Player indicator (multiplayer)
D-pad/left stick - Move
As I have explained the object is to capture rats. To do this, you have to use
the eraticator. Press and hold the X button and move around. A circle should
form. Release the X button when rats are inside the circle you created. The
rats will be captured. Walk over to the red destructor pad and the rats will be
permanently destroyed. If you are hurt or fall foul of any other hazards before
you go to the destructor pad, the rats will be released and will have to be
caught again.
To make the job easier, press the O button when next to a rat to stun them.
Depending on the cat you chose, the rat will be stunned for a certain amount
of time. You can catch the rats more easily this way.
Kill the number of rats required to finish the particular level and the exit
door will appear.
You have ten seconds to go into the door otherwise you lose a life and the
level will have to be repeated. Rats destroyed in the ten seconds are worth
double points. There are other ways to destroy the rats. Hazards such as lawn
mowers or vaccum cleaners can destroy them too and will count towards your
tally. These hazards can hurt you too though. If you take too long in a level,
"Hurry up" will be displayed. This means the rats will go faster so don't panic
as there is no level time limit.The rats must be caught otherwise the objects
they chew will be destroyed. If that happens, you lose a life so capture the
ones that are chewing first. The objects are the things that fall down at the
start of a level. Chests and crates count too. If an object is about to
disintegrate it will flash red.
--------------------------
****** The main menu ******
The main menu is very simple and has few options. These are:
-One Player
-Multiplayer
-Options
I will discuss the options category first.
Memory card will let you load or save a game. After you have completed a
level, the game takes you to the next one immediately and so you might think
you have no opportunity to save. If you quit when you have done the level, it
will take you to the main menu. Save here and your data will be saved. The game
also has an auto-load feature so you can just turn the system on and play
immediately.
Skill select will allow you to choose EASY, NORMAL or EXPERT. More about that
later.
Controller will allow you to change which button does what on your controller.
Custom allows you to change whether you want HELP TEXT, BRIEFINGS, and
GOLD RAT on. Help text is the messages in the game telling you what buttons
to press. Briefings are the messages before all levels and the boss help
messages given during boss fights on all bosses unless you have it on expert
mode. Gold rat is for the multiplayer. More about that later.
Sound allows you to change the volume on sound effects and music.
Screen adjust is pretty self explanatory.
High scores is self explanatory too.
Choose One player to start the single player adventure and save the Earth
CHoose multiplayer to select a 2-4 player game.
--------------------------
****** On screen display ******
In the bottom left corner of the screen, you should see a picture of a cat's
face. This is the character's symbol. It will change if you change cats. To do
that you must return to the main menu.
You will also see a small green cat to the right of the picture. This is your
health status. Green is healthy, yellow is OK and red means one more hit and
you lose a life. One hit from a dangerous object, a rat, a boss or spikes will
cause you to get hurt. Being hit while holding rats will cause you to stay
healthy but lose rats. This is very similar to Sonic the Hedgehog and his
rings. Youw will have to collect ALL the rats up again so try to avoid this.
Next to the health status is a number. This is how many lives you have left
till it's game over.
The large (in size) number underneath the lives remaining number is how many
rats you still have to catch to open up the exit door.
Below this wil be a bar. This bar will be black at the start and, depending on
your performance throughout the level, will gradually go green then yellow then
red. This shows how much damage the room has taken. When the bar is completely
green and full, a life will be lost. It's a good idea to go for the rats that
are nibbling furniture first. The object will disappear when it is destroyed
and cannot be repaired.
Under that will be some grey circles. This shows how many coins you need for
a special move and how many are needed. The number of circles is how many you
need and the number of yellow circles shows how many bonus coins you have.
On the bottom right corner your score is displayed.
You will notice some rats have letters on them. Catch them to spell out
"EXTRA" and you will be awarded an extra life.
--------------------------
****** Floor pads ******
During the game you will notice several buttons on the ground. When pushed,
these pads do either disastrous or helpful things.
Destructor: This is a red pad and there is one on every level except boss
levels. Walk on this to destroy all of the rats you have stored. The more
you destroy in one go, the more chance there is of getting a bonus coin or
other reward explained later.
Scratch pad: These have a paw print on them and can be activated by cats or
rats. They usually turn on appliances or fans. Other times they cause the
destructor to appear or make cheese appear. You have to try them and see what
they do. Experiment!
Teleporter: These have a cats face on them. These pads come in sets of two and
transport you from one to the other. Simple as that.
Duplicator: These have two rat heads on them for rats only. When a rat walks
over them, a second darker rat is produced. Luckily the same rat can only do
this once. The darker rat must be caught as it behaves like a normal rat but
when destroyed it will not count towards your quota of rats that you need to
complete the level.
Mutator: This is red and green with a rat head on t. If a white rat
("genetic blueprint rat") walks on this it will be transformed into one of
several mutant rats. More on them later.
--------------------------
****** Items ******
Items appear on the screen every time you destroy more than one rat at a time
or open a chest. Collect all of them as they are VERY useful. You can only
have one at a time except with the eraticator boost. Remember to get the item
before it disappears.
Eraticator boost: This increases the range of your eraticator by up to three
levels.
Bonus coin: Pick these up to get the ability to perform special moves.
Shield: You gain temporary invincibility.
Catatonic: A white cube with a red cross on it. You gain a life.
Cat nip: Lightning bolt. Increases speed.
Room repair: A spanner. A very useful item as it completely restores all the
objects in the game to full health that HAVE NOT been destroyed.
Rat freeze: An ice lolly. Freezes the rats on screesn and stops more coming
for FIVE seconds. This sounds really useful but you will find that it doesn't
help you much.
Cheese: Pick this up and drop it using the R1 button. All the rats nearby will
crowd round it until it's eaten up. This does two good things: It draws the
rats away from the objects so they aren't destroyed and also makes it easy to
catch the rats all in one go.
Big cat: A potion. Makes the cat very big so you squash and kill rats. You can
still use the eraticator but this makes it easier. You cannot kill the mutants
though.
--------------------------
****** Chests/Crates ******
In the game you will come across chests and crates with numbers above them.
Here is an explanation of them. Remember to get the chests before they are
destroyed as you will lose the item inside and both chests and crates count
as objects so try your best to protect them from the rats. Remember to get
the item before it disappears too.
Wooden chests: Destroy any way possible the number of rats shown above the
chest. An item will come out.
Silver chests: The exact number of rats must be destroyed AT THE SAME TIME
/IN ONE GO to gain an item.
Gold chests: Same as silver chests except they can be opened again and again.
Crates: Crates are bad and are like the silver chests. Something bad will come
out if either destroyed by rats or the number of rats required are destroyed.
A mutant rat will come out which can be VERY ANNOYING or one of four
Power-Downs are released.
Power-Downs are skull and crossbones that will chase you and are very hard to
avoid. Keep running away and they will disappear. Once they touch you, you will
leave a green trail and will be affected for 5 seconds.
Rat Scat: You eraticator will release all the rats it has stored.
Slow Down: You move VERY slowly making it impossible to catch rats and avoid
things.
Reverse controls: COntrols are reversed which is very confusing. Sometimes I
get used to it and can go to the destructor pad before I am hurt.
Cat Nap: The instructions say this is only in the multiplayer but it is also in
the single game too. You fall asleep for five seconds. Can drastically alter
the tide of the level you are playing.
--------------------------
****** The scratch cats ******
The scratch cats are the eight cats with which you can play the game.
You choose one and play until you want to play as another. The ending is the
same whichever one you choose. However, they do all have different attributes
which are represented by bars on the cat selection screen.
I shall explain these here.
-SPEED
This is the green bar at the top. The more speed a cat has, the faster he will
run on screen.
-ERATICATOR RANGE
This is below the speed bar and is pink. The more range the eraticator has,
the number of rats that can be caught in a single area will be greater as the
circle can get bigger.
-STRENGTH
The red bar at the bottom represents the cat's strength. The more strength the
cat has, the longer the rats will stay dazed after you swipe at them.
-COINS
Above the bars will be a number of yellow circles. This represents the number
of coins that are required to perform the special move.
Below is a list of all eight cats that can be used to play the game. I have
described each cat's strength, speed, range, coins required for the special
move and what the special move is.
NOTE: I have discovered that the special moves are not worth the effort of
collecting coins and should not be planned as the coins take ages to get.
Do them if you have the coins but don't specially get coins for the purpose.
The moves are weak and only work on the rats within your immediate close
vicinity. In other words, the special moves are SHIT. There are too many rats
on the screen in the later levels for one shit move to handle.
-HAI JINX
Speed: Average
Strength: Average
Range: Average
Coins required: 4
A good all round cat. Hai Jinx is neither good nor bad and is the ideal cat
for beginners. The special move just shoots lightning bolts on the rats that
are in close range and kills them.
-SPARKY
Speed: Excellent
Strength: Weak
Range: Low
Coins required: 4
Sparky substitutes strength and range for brilliant speed. If you like speed,
choose him. I personally don't use him as his range is so low it gets
annoying. Rats are difficult to catch with him. His special move puts a curse
on the rats in close range and turns them into rabbits and frogs effectively
destroying them.
-MANX
Speed: Slow
Strength: Very strong
Range: Excellent
Coins required: 2
Manx is a very strong cat and the low speed is a small price to pay for the
srength and range. The special move just throws all the close range rats
against the wall.
-MUFFY DUPONT
Speed: Excellent
Strength: Very weak
Range: Average
Coins required: 5
Muffy is OK but her weakness makes it difficult to trap the rats. The special
move throws hearts on the rats and kills them.
-BOB CAT
Speed: Slow
Strength: Strong
Range: Very good
Coins required: 1
Almost the same as Manx but a little worse. This is made up for by his needing
one coin for the special move which involves Bob cat punching all the close
rats. Choose Manx instead.
-SMOKEY
Speed: Average
Strength: Weak
Range: Average
Coins required: 3
Not a bad cat but not good either. Special move makes targets appear on close
rats then killing them.
-BANUBIS
Speed: Excellent
Strength: Outstanding
Range: Excellent
Coins required: 1
This cat is unlocked after completing the museum level. Once you get this cat
don't bother using the other cats. The special move involves a wide flaming
circle to surround Banubis for a while.
-PEARL
Speed: Outstanding
Strength: Excellent
Range: Excellent
Coins required: 2
Pearl is unlocked after completing the factory. She is very good and after
getting both Pearl and Banubis, you needn't bother with the other cats ever
again. The special move is almost identical to Banubis's move.
--------------------------
****** Rats ******
There are many different types of enemy you will encounter during the game.
These are explained below.
Soldier Rat: Early on in the game they will be grey and will move to blue to
green to red as you progress through the levels. The rats will become faster
and cleverer. i.e. they will jump when you are about to eraticate them.
Bennett the dog: Not a rat but just as dangerous. In some levels, a
sleeping dog will be present. If he wakes, he will chase you and hurt you
before falling asleep again.
Genetic Blueprint Rat: If the white rats go into the mutator pad, they will be
transformed into several mutant rats which can also come out of crates. The
early levels have the easy mutants while the later ones have the most
difficult. It's a good idea to eraticate these before they head for the mutator
pads. Especially on the later levels.
Mouth rat: Is just like Bennett and will chase you. Eraticate and destroy it.
Jelly rat: This will destroy an object in one go so destroy as soon as
possible. To do this you must jump on it. If you eraticate it it will split
into two which both must be destroyed.
Mummy rat: Like the Mouth rat only it has to be eraticated twice to capture it.
After the first eratication it goes smaller.
Genius rat: One of these will go to an object and start pulsating its brain.
When itdoes this it cannot be eraticated. It will destroy the object in one
go so eraticate it when it is moving to an object.
Vampire rat: This will fly from object to object quickly demolishing the
objects and shooting fireballs. Eraticate while on the ground. This can be tough
as on the later levels other rats can get in the way. It's best NEVER to let
these come.
Devil Rat: Basically are harder version of the vampire rat and will just hurt
you. Eraticate immdiately. This can be tough as on the later levels other rats
can get in the way. It's best NEVER to let these come.
Martian rat: Like the devil rat only extremely difficult. Don't let these loose
as they are very hard to deal with. Again I cannot stress enough that you should
NEVER let these appear.
NOTE: Another crap feature of this game is that some rats have letters on them.
Capture them with a letter and you get that letter on the side of the screen.
Spell "EXTRA" and you gain an extra life. Too hard to pull off to be useful.
Don't bother with it. You will end up doing it by accident.
--------------------------
****** Levels ******
Here is a description of the levels you will encounteras you progress through
the game. The game is split into eight stages. Each stage has a certain number
of levels in it between four and six. The last level is always a boss.
I will explain the hazards, the enemies and the bosses you will encounter.
A good strategy on some of the later levels is to go in the exit
IMMEDIATELY and as soon as you can as one more second could spell doom.
I will not explain the number of rats needed for each level for two reasons.
1. I went through the game not paying attention and just completed each level
without really knowing how many rats needed.
2. Because of the above reason, I can't be bothered.
1. The House
The house is the first stage and consists of six levels.
These are:
Leisure Lounge:
One hole and five objects makes for an easy level. Five rats are needed.
Bathtime: A bit trickier with four objects and two mouse holes.
Five rats are needed.
Bedroom Bonanza: A vaccum cleaner makes this even trickier. Still piss easy
though. Three objects here.
Play Away: Three objects to worry about here and your first mutant rat pad.
The mutants are always mouth rats and are easy.
Kitchen Kapers: Use the scratch pad to turn on the food mixer and the cooker to
help kill the rats.
Boss: Yippy Yappy
Simply wait for him to charge up and stand by a target. Jump out of the way
and he will get hurt. Repeat until dead. He will only get hurt when he hits
a target so make sure he hits it.
2. The Garden
The next level is a bit trickier as you are informed that duplicator pads are
around. Remember that clones do not go towards your quota. Teleporters make
their first appearance too. Five levels to do here.
Back Porch: Watch out as Bennett is around. Three objects to worry about as
well as a teleporter to help you escape Bennett. YOu shouldn't need it.
Sundial Showdown: Again there are three objects which include a wooden chest.
Don't forget that the chest is an object. The lawnmower can be a problem but
it also kills rats for you.
Fountain Of Fun: As the title suggests, one of the five objects is a
fountain. There are two silver chests here: don't worry too much if you
can't open them. The destructor pad can only be gotten to with the
teleporter which might cause a problem.
Compost Corner: Another lawnmower is present and a mutator pad which
will make mouth mutants. Three objects to protect. If playing on expert
difficulty, this CAN be tricky believe me!
Boss: Beefy Bennett
I don't know whether this is the same Bennett or a different one as the
normal one continues to be in the normal levels. Regardless, here is how
to defeat him. DO NOT try and attack him. Jump on the bin and jump off
just as he strikes. If successful, he will hit the bin and make a noise
which annoys the neighbours who will throw slippers etc. Avoid the items
they throw as they WILL hurt you! You want them to hit him. Repeat until
dead.
3. Funhouse
Things get more hectic as racing cars and other hazards appear in this
level. Six levels to complete in this one.
Bouncy Castle: Here is the first appearance of the dreaded crates. DO NOT
let them be opened. Here is also the first appearance by an irritating
feature of this game. The fan has to be turned on to allow the destructor
pad to be funtional. The fan will also blow you away from it too. Just
keep trying and you will succeed. Three objects.
Rifle Range: Five objects here and a radio controlled car which works
the same as the lawn mower from previous levels.
Bumper Cats: Three objects plus a fan to get past if you want the
destructor pad. EASY
Pinball Machine: Watch out as jelly rats and a duplicator are present
here but with six objects they shouldn't pose much of a problem.
Poker Face: Four objects and the annoying fan. The fan is needed to
jump the gap to the destructor. This level is an optical illusion.
You should get used t that though.
Boss: Rat Clown
Can be tricky on expert level but the strategy is the same. Run around
and press the scratch pads to shoot a dart which will hopefully hit
the clown. If it doesn'tjust try again on a different pad. You have to
hit the centre one in between the outside pads though. Feet will follow
you which CANNOT be destroyed so just run away from them while
following the same strategy.
4. Haunted House
This is where the game can get VERY annoying and hard.
Just keep trying and you'll get there.
Ghostly Gatehouse: Bennett is around again and so is a duplicator.
The four objects can be difficult to keep here. The level can get
very hectic.
Creepy Chapel: A weird slime ghost acts like the lawnmower here. With
three objects and the duplicator in an awkward position, this level
can be difficult.
Haunted Hall: Three objects plus you have to teleport to get to the destructor.
A ghost can cause more problems than solutions on this level too.
The Pit: Four objects plus the destructor is fan operated plus(!) a duplicator.
Good luck!
Ghostly Graveyard: Four objects plus the dreaded mutator that now produces
vampire rats other than that pretty easy.
Boss: Ghostly Ghoulies
Simply run around pressing the scratch pads releasing the bombs. Eventually
he will be hit. Avoid the green things and repeat until dead.
5. Museum
The rats have mutated to harder green ones. They are faster and will destroy
objects more quickly. Laser beams make an appearance. Don't forget they will
kill rats. Six levels.
Dead Old Stuff: Four objects plus a metal detector makes this difficult.
A laser beam prevents easy access to the destructor as well.
Fossil Frolics: There are four objects, a laser beam and a mutator which now
makes mummy rats.
Catlantis: Four objects plus the fan activated destructor pad. The mummy rat
makes this one of the most frustrating levels in the game. The crates are
priority.
I Want My Mummy: Four objects here. Nothing too serious about this level
apart from the spikes. Be careful the fan doesn't blow you onto them.
Although surprisingly, the spikes do kill rats.
Dino Drama: Very hard especially on the expert difficulty. It was cruel
of the designers to put this one at the end of the museum level. Four
objects. The duplicator is right in front of the only rat hole. This
effectively doubles the number of rats you need.
Boss: Scarab's Palace
Just trap and kill the beetles using the destructor while avoiding his
attacks. Simple.
6. Art Gallery
Much harder. The levels have fewer objects on average and the ghastly
genius rats make an appearance.
Pop Art: Three objects plus a mutator. Kill the genius quickly. Use the
metal detector to your advantage.
Renaissance Nuisance: Three objects and a duplicator. The Destructor is
awkward too.
Artful Dodgings: Two objects. I suggest ignoring the upper onject and
focusing your efforts on the crate. The metal detector should take
care of most of the rats. The upper most scratch pad will produce a
shield. Use it to get past the laser beam which can only be turned
off from one side.
Art Attack: Possibly the hardest level in the game simply because of
Bennett and the fact that most of the objects are crates. This is
also the one level where it would be easier with fewer objects. (Five)
Spanner is useful too.
Boss: Yippy Litter
Let the biggest hit one of the front of the glass cabinets three times
then the middle one and finally the little one. This can be tricky just
jump and use all your skills to get away from the little dogs. On easy
they only need one hit.
7. Factory
Here the rats are red and there are even more mutant crates. The yellow
liquid will kill rats. Sometimes they walk into it. There is no boss at
the end of the five levels.
Control Room: Four objects plus a mutator for the devil rats. Be careful of
the fan which you need for the destructor.
Frying Tonite: Named after the famous phrase uttered by Kenneth Williams?
Three objects. Fairly Easy. Again, beware of the fans.
Carry On Conveyor: Another one. Kenneth Williams was in all carry on
films. Six objects. Beware of the crates and mutants. The destructor is
difficult to catch too.
Best Little Warehouse: Three objects. Given the small number of objects,
the genius rats make this difficult.
Conveyor Crisis: Four objects plus an annoying conveyor belt. Easy.
8. Space
The martian rats make an appearance here. also are lots of floors where a
laser gun will shoot you if you stand on it. Most levels here are very easy.
Transporter Room: Named after the star trek room perhaps. Four objects
and a weird device that acts like the lawnmower. Just jump over the
teleporters to get to the destructor.
Laser Locomotion: Four objects plus a ray gun. Don't let the martian rat
appear.
Mutator Creator: Eight objects but most of them mutant crates. Very hard.
Livid Lasers: Four objects and a laser. The destructor pad is invisible
but pressing the scratch pad will make it visible temporarily.
Boss: Space Showdown
Swipe the posts one by one until Washington and Jefferson are visible.
Then stand between them and let them attack eachother. Repeat this process
until dead.
Congratulations!
You have completed Rat Attack. Try it on Expert Level if you haven't
already. It's a big challenge and VERY frustrating!
If you still have problems with this game and cannot find an answer in
this FAQ you can email me at edwithmj@yahoo.co.uk or
thedictator@graffiti.net.
You may post this FAQ on any site as long as you don't change it and
give credit to me for creating it. This FAQ can be founf on the
following sites:
www.gamefaqs.com
www.gamewinners.com
There is rarely a cheat that isn't on one of those two sites.
I hope you enjoyed this guide as I did playing the game and writing it.
Good day
Peace
