Mecha Expansion Pack: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

* One variant on the G-Armor in ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'' basically allowed the Gundam to ride ''in'' it, converting it into an impromptu fighter jet. Axed in the movie versions, like the infamous Gundam Hammer.

** On a more realistic note is the G-Defensor in ''[[Zeta Gundam]]'', which combined with the Gundam Mk. II.

** The ReGZ from ''[[Chars Counterattack]]'' combines this with [[Transforming Mecha]] - literally. Its flight form is achieved by docking it with the Back Weapons System, which is basically a nosecone, wings, and beam cannons that dock with the backpack. The Scorpio from ''[[Gundam Wing]]'' uses the same concept.

** ''[[Gundam Unicorn]]'' has the Stark Jegan, which is a slightly tweaked Jegan with fitted new armor and armaments.

*** Unicorn itself receives an upgrade to "Full-Armor Unicorn", which is Unicorn with about [[More Dakka|fifty-bazillion guns]] on it back.

** The (short) manga and model series ''Gundam F90'' has the ...Gundam F90<ref>stands for 'formula', read as Eff-Kyujuu</ref>, which was designed to take advantage of this trope. It's an agile, if relatively underarmed (for a Gundam) MS on its own, but it was built with 11 hardpoints on its body and can mount armor packs to deal with practically any imaginable situation. 8 configurations were produced<ref>with two more for the refitted second unit, but apparently compatible with the first unit</ref>, with a 'Full Armament' version (essentially a custom version, with the pilot strapping on the best possible parts - piecemeal - for the mission) actually getting used in the manga's final battle.

*** Duel has the "Assault Shroud", a set of armor for the [[Master of None|otherwise unspectacular]] GAT-X102, giving it heavier defenses and armor plates, greater movement and agility in space and extra weaponry.

** The Red and Blue Frames in [[Gundam SEED Astray]] both went through a surprising number of expansion packs, notably because getting ''destroyed'' was a running gag for the series. Taken to an extreme with the Red Frame's Power Loader, which is basically [[Meta Mecha|it riding a humongous exoskeleton]]. And carrying [[BFS|an even bigger sword]].

** Play straight with Freedom and Justice in ''[[Gundam Seed]]'', Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice in ''[[Gundam Seed Destiny]]'' with their METEOR weapon systems. It's pretty much the same in both series, but their destruction in the finale of Seed lets them bring them out again for the finale of Destiny.

** The Arios' GN Archer, which is both a [[Mecha Expansion Pack]] ''and'' a [[Transforming Mecha]]. Also strange in that they only combine in jet mode. Think Dreadwing from ''[[Transformers]]''.

** Played straight one more time towards the end of the series, long ''after'' the [[Mid-Season Upgrade]]. Most of the Gundams received add-on weapon and equipment packs (the 00 just got a new sword and the 0 a new battery pack) in time for their swansong.

** ''[[Gundam AGE]]'' has this all over the place with the Wear Parts produced by the AGE Device. The Gundams can swap out arm and leg units to gain new weaponry and abilities. The AGE-1 and AGE-3 Gundams swap out the parts depending on the situation. The AGE-2 more or less kept its only set of Wear Parts as a permanent upgrade. Some episodes show that even the [[Mook]] mobile suits on the Federation's side can be equipped with Wear Parts if needed.

** The MSVs for the Gundam series, as befitting their [[Merchandise-Driven]] status, usually reveal that certain units have had additions, usually extra armor, that was planned but was ultimately scrapped or used by someone else other than the intended pilot.

* All the ''[[Brave Series]]'' have a expansion for their mechs. Mostly, the 3-member squad (not the main hero mech) gets one every time. Examples include:

* This is the defining characteristic of Liger Zero in ''[[Zoids]] Zero'': it has three different such expansion packs, in addition to its base state.

** Don't forget the Zero X expansion, which only appeared in a couple of continuities, and let's not mention the Fire Phoenix and Jet Falcon, separate Zoids that combined with the Zero.

* Nearly every unique mecha in ''[[Code Geass]]'' eventually gains flight capability thanks to a bulky "Float Unit". The Lancelot later receives a shoulder-mounted "[[BFG|hadron cannon]]" as well - referred to as "Conquista formation".

** Though R2 also shows how you can make adding such an expansion as awesome as possible: The Guren gets its Float Unit and a new radiation wave arm delivered and attached ''by missiles'' while ''falling from the sky down to the sea''.

* The F-Type Equipment from the ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' [[Expanded Universe]] and [[Super Robot Wars Alpha]] 3 is a set of armor and weapons for the EVA-01(!) that also {{spoiler|actually prevents it from going berserk no matter what}}. The weapons also include a new rifle with a huge bayonet, N2 rocket launcher AND an AT field lightning weapon called the "Impact Bolt" mounted in the unit's shoulders, the strongest weapon in the entire franchise. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-v-ezBGvyo To say those last two create very large explosions when used is a complete understatement]

** Also, the S-Type Equipment for Unit-02 in Rebuild of Evangelion, which gives it flight capabilities.

** ''Rebuild'' also gave us the G-type equipment used by Unit-01 during the sniper battle against Ramiel, which consists of an advanced fold-down targeting scope that covers the eva's eyes and a radar antenna array, all mounted on the right [[Eva Fins|shoulder fin]].

* The [[Macross|FAST Pack System]]/[[Robotech|Super Veritech]] gives the [[Transforming Mecha|Valkyrie fighters]] improved maneuverability in space and increased weapon loadouts. There was also the Armored Valkrie/Veritech which added armor and a whole lotta missile launchers, but rendered the mecha unable to transform out of battloid mode until it was jettisoned.

** The VF-25 Messiah fixed that problem with Armor Pack in [[Macross Frontier]], allowing it to transform into fighter and GERWALK modes while still using it. The VF-171's also wind up picking up special anti-Vajra modules late in the series run.

** In ''[[Macross 7]]'' Fire Bomber eventually picked up booster units for the their custom fighters, enhancing their effect against the Protodeviln.

** In an example that can be installed at will, Kittan can upgrade his King Kittan into the King Kittan Deluxe by having his sister [[Transforming Mecha|transform]] her Kiyalunga into a shield and lance for him to use.

* Part of the whole point behind the "Hecatonchires" system in the ''[[Appleseed]]'' Manga. With it, a cyborg can have several attachments hooked up directly to his body, and control them as easily as his own arms and legs. Reportedly, a 'Borg with the system could run an entire Aircraft Carrier by himself.

* ''Zentrix'' Zeus and quantum both get flight gear to go into space.

* ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha|Mahou Senki Lyrical Nanoha Force]]'' has started blurring the lines between [[Magical Girl]] and [[Mecha Show]] by equipping the title character with [http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/735440/absurdres-highres-kurogin-mahou_senki_lyrical_nano this] monster.

 

== [[Live Action TV]] ==

** Some seasons go a bit crazier with it, and ''numerous'' new Zords are introduced, each attaching to the standard formation in a way that adds one or two new capabilities. Eventually enough show up for the new ones to make their own formation, but that usually waits until near-midseason. ''[[Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue]]'' and ''[[Power Rangers Operation Overdrive]]'' didn't stop bringing out new formations until near the ''end'' of the series, and the greatest criticism about Wild Force is that it was more about its [[Mecha Expansion Pack|Mecha Expansion Packs]] than its story or characters.

** ''[[Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger]]'' and ''[[Power Rangers Wild Force]]'' were probably one of the best examples of this, since each new zord provided a new weapon or upgrade specific to the animal in question. The long trunk and large ears of the elephant became a sword and shield, the long neck of the giraffe became a spear, and the horns of the deer created a claw/clutcher. Still overdone, but there was a certain pattern to it.

 

== [[Video Games]] ==

* ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' is fond of busting this out whenever possible (including the ''Gundam'' and ''Evangelion'' examples above as well as many more from the mecha animes that take part). Examples in [[Original Generation]] mechs include the Huckebein Boxer frame from ''Alpha'', the various Excellence frames from ''R'', and the G-Thundergate in ''Original Generation Gaiden''.

** To explain, all Armored Cores have a special booster system called Over Boost, which lets the mech go really fast, but sometimes this isn't enough. The VOB stands for Vanguard Over Boost, and it basically amounts to a few Space Shuttle [[SR Bs]] bolted together and duct-taped to the back of the AC for when they need to get into a combat area ''really goddamn fast''.

** The VOB's average speed is around 2500 kph. It's possible to build a mech that has a normal OB ''faster'' than that, and actually get slowed down by missions that require the VOB. Many optimized OB Lancer and Twin Blade builds can accomplish this with ease, especially when you turn on the [[Game Breaker|Unlimited Energy Regulation]].

* ''[[Assault Suits Valken]]'' had three [[Unexpected Gameplay Change|shooter levels]] where the player's mecha is outfitted with a rocket pack.

* ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'''':'' ''[[Dawn of War]]'' '':'' ''[[Expansion Pack|Dark Crusade]]'' -- Though used on [[Powered Armor|battlesuits]] and not [[Humongous Mecha]], the Tau Commander and Crisis suits can be further upgraded once built with different weapons (the jetpack needs to be researched elsewhere). In the campaign, the Commander gets a lot more upgrades, such as stealth and drones.

* In ''[[Thunder Force]] V'', while not a mecha, the 5th mission start with your fighter RVR-01 Gauntlet docked with Brigandine module. It's [[Mighty Glacier|huge and slow, but can take lot of hits]] as well as unlimited [[Secondary Fire]] (one being [[Wave Motion Gun]]]). Too bad that [[Too Cool to Live|Brigandine only lasts for one stage]], but the Gauntlet will keep some upgraded from it and become RVR-02 Vambrace afterward.

** On enemy's side, the [[Super Prototype|Original]] [[Evil Counterpart|Vasteel]] will fight you using its own modules, each one is larger and more bizzare than before . Then in ''VI'', Vasteel Nocht will upgraded itself by having new parts cannibal old ones and recombine.

** And believe it or not, Ultra Magnus himself became a [[Mecha Expansion Pack]] for Optimus in Car Robots/Robots in Disguise.

** ''[[Transformers Armada]]'' takes this a [[Incredibly Lame Pun|step]] further, with Jetfire transforming into a pair of legs in place of Optimus' trailer. Overload could also combine at the same time, turning into a huge pair of shoulder cannons. The second series, ''Transformers: Energon'', provides even more "Powerlinks". This is different from other combinations such as the Gestalts of Generation 1 in that one member of the link (the top half) is completely in control, while the lower half Autobot is effectively dormant.

** Dark of the Moon has Optimus finally get a trailer. It's both a mobile armory and a flight pack. And it's awesome.

* Parodied in ''[[Megas XLR]]'', as with everything else. Coop shoves Megas' hands and feet up four of the S Force's "Zorps'" butts, and slaps the bird Zorp on his back. It's called "the most foul attempt at military strategy [one S Force member] had ever seen".