Favorite Mecha/GIANT FIGHTING ROBOT Media and Why?

[Cybylt]

Warlords often go up against anime inspired Eldar Titans, so it isn't out of the question for them to fight agile opponents. And if Eldar aren't enough, there are plenty of Weeaboo Space Communists to crush as well.

Spoiler: Eldar Revenant Titan

Spoiler: Scratch-built Tau Titan from Dakka Dakka

Newest Tau codex included the XV104 Riptide Battlesuit.

Spoiler

Tau really like battlesuits.

But all of them cower in fear of the Tau Manta. I still think the rule on that one should be to throw it at the enemy's formation since you literally bought victory, like a jerk.


I like a bit of everything really, but something that has always stood out for me is the Gouf Custom from 08th MS Team which is probably the best Gundam OVA ever made.

And anybody who can go pick up Zeonic Front on PS2 for a sweet squad tactics game, as well as showing the terror of fighting the Gundam in a Zaku.

 

[DefunctTheory]

As I've said in an earlier post, Anyone can do big, but looking big and feeling big are two very different things. Eastern Mecha always looked very 'floaty' for me, as if it was a guy in a suit instead of a 100 ton death machine. Its not a bad thing, but it isn't to my taste.

You've read my mind.

Japanese mechs, for the most part, always seem to me to be lacking substance, like their just giant people, even if their dimensions aren't necessarily close to a humans. When you contrast that to a lot of western mechs, notably Battletech, Warhammer, and now Pacific Rim, they just seem... less then.

Alternately, I guess you could say Japanese mechs are based around the Rule of Cool, while the West seems to base it's designs on a long list of things that make people crap themselves in terror.

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

I'll be the lone person to say Sym-bionic Titan.

Its like Voltron only every character of both sexes isn't voiced by the same 3 guys, and it isn't an idiotic parody like Titan Maximum.

2nd place goes to Big O. I may not understand 90% of the plot, but the robots were awesome.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

I'll also throw in my love for the good ole' Marine Dreadnought.

Your ass is mine, Ork.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

As I've said in an earlier post, Anyone can do big, but looking big and feeling big are two very different things. Eastern Mecha always looked very 'floaty' for me, as if it was a guy in a suit instead of a 100 ton death machine. Its not a bad thing, but it isn't to my taste.

I was just going for goofy one upsmanship myself... everyone has their own taste and that's cool, that's all part of the spirit of the thread... that Giant Robots are awesome no matter the form... though for some reason I always thought Imperator Titans were bigger... *shrugs*

I wouldn't even say they move like a guy in a suit. Godzilla moves like a guy in a suit, because...well, because he is, so he kind of lumbers around. Eastern mechs tend to move like a guy not in a suit. Evas are actually somewhat ungainly as mechs go.

The prize for 'most graceful mechs' probably has to go to the Cybodies of Star Driver, which have more in common with gymnasts than Jaegers.

FABULOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUS!

I wonder if Stardriver shares a Mechanical Designer with Five Star Stories... which also has exceedingly fabulous Mecha...

Spoiler

Spoiler

Anyway since, for the most part, Mecha seem to be super silly strategically for me it all comes down to aesthetics... so whatever looks cool to you.

 

[Raziel]

Zone of Enders might be the best mech game I've played. At one time I was also a big fan of the armored core games. But I haven't played any since at least last gen.

Macross Frontier is a pretty good show with mechs.

But just straight design wise I think I prefer the gundams. Gundam Wing Endless watz, astray gundam and crossbone gundam are among my favorite designs. Gundam models are certainly the best physical mech merchandise I've owned. Five star stories has some amazing models too. But they are crazy expensive and I've not seen any in person.

 

[Samuki Elm]

Anyway since, for the most part, Mecha seem to be super silly strategically for me it all comes down to aesthetics... so whatever looks cool to you.

I agree totally - I think the people here talking about how some mechs don't "feel big" or whatever are merely talking about aesthetics of a different standard. Someone up there mentioned that Japanese mecha are more about Laws of Cool, while Western mecha are more about terror - no. They're all just about "cool." They're just different kinds of "cool." Some mecha designs are "cool" like a swordfighter, others are "cool" like a tank. And apparently, from a picture up there, at least one is "cool" like a windmill (the hell is up with that).

I've had friends who argued that the Warhammer-esque tank-style mechs were simply "practical" in design, which is ridiculous - there are reasons why we don't use mechs on the battlefield and "Luke Skywalker with a harpoon" is just one of those reasons.

 

[Risingblade]

Anyone ever play chromehounds? Those were some fun realistic looking mechs.

 

[Zetatrain]

Other than that I'll give a big hearty recommendation to The Gundam Movie Trilogy, which improves on the pacing of the original Gundam 0079 TV Series and gives it the fantastic ending it never got.

Wait wait what? Last I checked the endings for the TV series and Movie trilogy are practically the same. Are you referring to the fact that the TV series never completed its initial run in the US and the only way you saw the conclusion was to see the movies? If so I understand, but the TV series aired all 43 episodes in Japan before the movies were made.

Anyway, my top 3 favorite mecha series/franchises are

Mobile Suit Gundam
Macross/Robotech: Macross Saga
Full Metal Panic

1) Mobile Suit Gundam

Like many others my first exposure to the Gundam series was Gundam Wing and I enjoyed it a lot. However, it was the original Mobile Suit Gundam series that made me a fan despite its dated look.

I'm primarily a Universal Century fan mainly because of the tremendous amount of lore it has, but I still like most of the AU (Alternate Universe)series from the unorthodox G Gundam series to the somewhat controversial SEED series (though the less said of DESTINY the better).

As for may favorite series, I would have to say the original "Mobile Suit Gundam" movie trilogy and the extremely underrated "0080: War in the Pocket" OVA series. Also, if Unicorn Gundam manages to end on a good note it might end up being my all time favorite. I'm also really looking forward to the "Gundam: The Origin" anime adaptation.

Another thing i love about the Gundam franchises are the model kits/Gunpla kits. Built several kits over last 12 twelve years, and I have even more unbuilt ones piling up in my closet.

2) Macross

It basically combines two of my favorite things ever; Giant Robots and Fighter Jets. Back when i saw the Robotech: Macross Saga series there was nothing else like it, IMO. Macross Frontier was AWESOME, and its a shame I'll never get to support it officially.


3) Full metal Panic

One thing that really stood out to me back when I first saw it was its combination of High School Comedy and Mecha action. I know that there were other anime series that did this long before FMP, but this was my first encounter with such a hybrid. While I loved the mecha designs, I think I intially stuck around with it more because of the comedy and characters, and it wasn't until FMP: The Second Raid that I saw what FMP was truly capable of in terms of mecha battles.

While I love many other series such as Gurren Lagann, Eureka Seven, and Evangelion these are my top three favorite mecha franchises and I'll leave it at that for now.

 

[Talaris]

They say you like Eva or RahXephon but not both...and I'd say they're right. I'd be hard-pressed to think of a single thing it does better than Eva, except maybe the visuals, and even then I'm not sure.

I also think - and I freely acknowledge the irony and hypocrisy of me as an NGE fan saying this - that its plot was very confusing and things were not well-explained.

That last sentence really made my day, thanks for that.

I like both, but prefer RahXephon. One reason funnily enough is for complete opposite of your opinion, in that I think of the visuals in many cases as being worse, but at the same time more restrained, and in this case that helps not detract from the story. For example the finale of EoE, whilst is visually striking and leaves an impact, also to me felt contrived and a forced way to disturb you and feel as symbolic as possible. It was taken to such an extreme that it immediately threw me out of the anime, and left me feeling unsettled and annoyed rather than awed.

Also, who can't fall in love with the beautiful opening and closer themes composed by the legendary Yoko Kanno.

 

[GundamSentinel]

Gundam Unicorn is one of my favorites at the moment. Just look at this beautiful battle. Poetry, man, poetry.

And if you look closely, that fight actually makes sense from a tactical standpoint. The normal Jegans doing whatever they can against a funnel onslaught. And the Stark Jegan pilot knowing that filling space with missiles against funnels, then dumping weight and closing in on the Kshatriya is the only sensible option.

Yeah, Gundam Unicorn stands as a high point in the Gundam franchise for me. Good story, characters, mobile suits and battles. And it knows how to honour grunt suits and nameless pilots (Byarlant Custom = <3).

Close second would be the first season of Gundam 00. It did something different with Gundam and again had great characters and mech designs (Exia, Kyrios and the Flags stand out for me). The second season of 00 became a bit of a mess (those Innovators were just plain stupid) and even the mech designs weren't nearly on par with the first season (Ahead, anyone?).

Honorary mentions for Escaflowne, Gurren Lagann and Macross Plus (Top Gun with transformable jets).

 

[WindKnight]

well, if i may go back to a classic, i'd have to go for the VF-1 Valkyrie from macross.

Spoiler

Beautiful design in all three modes, capturng perfectly the versitility and agility needed in a modern combat aircraft, plus the hawk like stylings on the gerwalk configuration really grab me

For something a bit more mystical, Windam from Magic Knight Rayearth

Spoiler

http://s52.photobucket.com/user/Fuu_Phoenix/media/Mkr2-11_zps3a6627ba.jpg.html

technically not a robot, but it has the size and role of one. I love the overall Design, colouring, and those wings... Plus it doesn't hurt my favorite character (points to avatar) is the 'pilot'.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

Other than that I'll give a big hearty recommendation to The Gundam Movie Trilogy, which improves on the pacing of the original Gundam 0079 TV Series and gives it the fantastic ending it never got.

Wait wait what? Last I checked the endings for the TV series and Movie trilogy are practically the same. Are you referring to the fact that the TV series never completed its initial run in the US and the only way you saw the conclusion was to see the movies? If so I understand, but the TV series aired all 43 episodes in Japan before the movies were made.

That is in fact the case... though my web readinz implied that the Movie Ending was a slightly better conclusion...

Alas! I should have clarified my facts before posting! *hangs head in shame*

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

Gundam Unicorn is one of my favorites at the moment. Just look at this beautiful battle. Poetry, man, poetry.

Yeah, Gundam has always provided me with internal delight. For me, it would have to be Seed and 00, I know people are divided but I really like the politics in them (tried to get into Universal century with the original but the style caused a bit of visual clash with me but will give props to the world made) and the 00 Quanta and Strike Freedom are my favorite Gundam to this day

Edit: I probably will watch it later in the summer but the issue is that the final episode is not coming out until 2014

 

[Cabisco]

This thread has reminded me of a 'mech' show that was shown on British tv long ago but I have no idea what it was called. It involed (I think) relatively small mechs but they seemed to move towards swords rather than guns, and I think one of them was running away from it's kingdom and was meant to be really rare or something.

Also, their might have been some people from 'our' realm in it, somehow...

I have no idea what the hell that was or why it was shown on tv.

Edit: Also, there might have been a guy with one black wing.

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

Judging by that picture, an Eva should actually be just about the same height. They're apparently supposed to be 50 meters tall, but since they're impossibly agile for something so big and most of the Angels are larger, sense of scale goes right out the window. The Warlord is more heavily armed, so I imagine if I had to fight an army I'd rather have one of those, but an Eva is basically impossible to destroy due to bla bla science bla bla bla god bla bla AT Field.

Gundams are smaller I think, but I believe they tend to be able to fly. But I haven't seen any Gundam except for 00, so I have no allegiance to the franchise. If you wish to declare your giant robot to be superior, I will not stand in your way.

Do you wish to continue comparing the size of our giant robot penises?

I'm guessing you didn't read my own views at the end?

Honorary mentions to the Atlas of Battelmech fame and the Jagers of Pacific Rim for actually looking and feeling like 100 ton machines designed to tear opponents a new one.

Special mention to MEGAS XLR because it may be absurd, but at least it runs with it.

As I've said in an earlier post, Anyone can do big, but looking big and feeling big are two very different things. Eastern Mecha always looked very 'floaty' for me, as if it was a guy in a suit instead of a 100 ton death machine. Its not a bad thing, but it isn't to my taste.

I think the floaty feeling is more intentional than you might think. Gundam has always had their mechs seen more as extensions of the pilot's mind and body (evident in the psychoframe system which links the brain with the mech itself making piloting like controlling your body). It's an odd ideology that can be extended to when samurai considered their sword to have a soul that must be treated with respect: Gundam adapts it for the modern world and the moral issues of war.

personally: I like stuff like 40K titans if I want something that looks packed with weapons and designed for siege but if I want a fight of wills, might, and morals, Gundam fits that bill fine

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

My favourite is probably Mechwarrior. I do love me a Dire Wolf [http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Dire_Wolf_%28Daishi%29]. Of course I'm also rather partial to the Wanzers from Front Mission, as my avatar suggests. Besides that I'll always have time for Omega Boost [https://gs1.wac.edgecastcdn.net/8019B6/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbuny5sJ0H1r4v2bso1_1280.jpg] or 40k.

Omega Boost is about as eastern as I'll go, though. Gundams and stuff just look bleh.

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

Anyway since, for the most part, Mecha seem to be super silly strategically for me it all comes down to aesthetics... so whatever looks cool to you.

I agree totally - I think the people here talking about how some mechs don't "feel big" or whatever are merely talking about aesthetics of a different standard. Someone up there mentioned that Japanese mecha are more about Laws of Cool, while Western mecha are more about terror - no. They're all just about "cool." They're just different kinds of "cool." Some mecha designs are "cool" like a swordfighter, others are "cool" like a tank. And apparently, from a picture up there, at least one is "cool" like a windmill (the hell is up with that).

I've had friends who argued that the Warhammer-esque tank-style mechs were simply "practical" in design, which is ridiculous - there are reasons why we don't use mechs on the battlefield and "Luke Skywalker with a harpoon" is just one of those reasons.

I made an earlier post about this but i will get to it. I debated with friends about this and came to a conclusion on how they make their settings and designs. Japan likes to make entire worlds so fantastic that you want to live in it and forget that the real world exists (a big problem but that's a different topic) which is why stuff looks so unreal but have a massive backstory: it may not be realistic but the setting and background information makes it appealing to watch and be in.

America likes to more integrate fantasy into their reality, taking a modern setting and adding the elements slowly as not to break suspension of disbelief: this is why Pacific Rim look more grounded; they took a real world setting and just added the kaiju which sparked jaeger development.

I will recognize one flaw with this analysis before I talk about mechs: hybridization can occur in which it's an entirely different world but is more additive in construction as in it uses older times or established fiction (the different world) but adds small changes (the additive part)

Japan's mechs looks unlike anything we see in the real world but look right at home in their own continuity. In addition, the floaty movements are informed by an ideology of weapon as expantion of body instead of tool which means they move more like humans than conventional weapons

Western mechs such as mechwarrior can be pretty much ripped from their world and added to ours (weapons and designs are not that crazy). in addition, the influence of conventional armor such as tanks and humvees can be seen in stuff like the Atlas which moves like a slow tank and has the same turret like torso

comment if you can