Megabots Inc. and Suidobashi Heavy Industries have just launched the world’s first-ever giant robot duel, and like every self-respecting enthusiast out there, I waited for the duel for two freaking years before it finally came out today at 10:35 a.m., local time.
I may not be doing a ton of Gunplas or modeling, but I play my share of mech games (MechWarrior and War Robots) and I’ve also watched and read my fair share of mech lore (Gundam, Warhammer, you name it); this is why I really wanted to see this fight happen.
Personal Preference
Even before the challenge was issued, I really loved the sleekness of the Kurata. Thus, by the time Megabots issued their terms, my heart was set on supporting the Japanese team despite knowing very well that the Americans would invest a lot of resources in ensuring that they get spectacular results in this duel.
That drive just increased after NASA’s Life Systems Division, Howe and Howe Technologies and other American organizations have offered Megabots help in terms of improving their robot. Yo, who doesn’t love an underdog?
Japan for the win! No to American imperialism!
The Stream
It was all smooth and steady, starting right at 10:00 a.m. local time. Tens of thousands of people were watching on Twitch and it was great to see the memes and crazy chat online!
The first 35 minutes or so were dedicated to the background and hype videos from both teams, followed by 30 minutes of the duel show itself. It was just amazing to watch the two sides do their thing.
Indeed, it was the time where science fiction disappeared and became real-life.
The Results
Both sides won within the parameter of their mobile suits: While Kuratas was able to one-punch the Iron Glory to death, it lost in an embarrassing manner against the revamped Eagle Prime, which was the result of combining some of America’s best technologies.
You just have to watch the video of the full duel to see what I meant:
Reactions
I was shocked when I saw the way the two robots dueled with each other. I was especially excited at the fact that the technology we have right now is actually enough to be able to operate a giant robot (granted that they can’t walk yet, but hey, you’ve got to appreciate what you have, right?) and that the crazy weapons that they created actually worked as intended!
I also loved the fact that they were not afraid to use different tactics to get the edge in the duel, especially in Part 3 where Eagle Prime just wrecked the commentators’ desk in order to ensure their victory against the Kuratas.
Implications
I’m pretty sure that this will not be the last one. Both Kuratas and Megabots came out as winners in this one, even though the Americans turned the sole Japanese bot into a pile of trash in the very end.
With the success of this production, there will be a lot more to come in the future.
This means that I might just have an entertainment show to look out for!
The Verdict
Show: 9.5/10 – Enjoyed it.
The Robots: 10/10 – You can’t ask for more; these robots are basically prototypes!
Future Potential: 9/10 – This was a successful maiden run.
