Powered Armor: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

Some versions have other useful gadgets built in as well; too much of this can result in them becoming a sort of wearable [[Do-Anything Robot]]. [[Power Crystal|With crystals.]] Of course, some suits of Powered Armor are explicitly made to be [[Adaptive Armor]] capable of great versatility. If it does this with ''weapons'', then it's a wearable [[Swiss Army Weapon]]; expect at least one of these to be an [[Arm Cannon]], or possibly a [[Power Fist]]. [[Shoulders of Doom]] (and in turn, [[Shoulder Cannon|Shoulder Cannons]]) are almost mandatory. It usually is at least [[Immune to Bullets]] or whatever else is used in [[Five Rounds Rapid]] in the local 'verse; superior models may mount [[Deflector Shields]] allowing it to [[Stone Wall|tank]] damage well above its apparent weight class. Some of these double as life support units, as is the case for the [[Man in The Machine]]. Sadly, they can't remove their suits without risking death.

 

 

If the armor cannot be removed, then it is a [[Clingy Costume]].

Note that unlike [[Humongous Mecha]], [[Powered Armor]] actually could be useful, especially in urban battles where tanks (or four-story robots) would be limited in movement. There's also a number of different civilian uses for a suit that makes you strong enough to lift a car.

 

 

Compare [[Clothes Make the Superman]], [[Humongous Mecha]], [[Scary Impractical Armor]], [[Battle Ballgown]].

 

{{examples}}

 

* The ''[[Ranma ½ (Manga)|Ranma One Half]]'' manga presents Do-chan (for dogi, a martial arts uniform, plus an affectionate suffix.) It is an ancient, sentient (and utterly perverted) suit of armor that looks like a puffy Chinese blouse, black leggings, and a yin-yang belt. It can move around independently, has limited senses (sight, hearing, and touch, at least) and can fight to defend itself. It will only accept a female owner, but those who wear it will find that their speed, power, and agility have been increased to match their own ultimate potential. Thus, when Akane wears it, she can punch enormous craters into asphalt, [[Roof Hopping|leap over buildings]], and generally outclass Ranma to the point of utter humiliation.

** A more straight-up example is the Battle Armor which [[The Woobie|Gosunkugi]] purchased [[Charles Atlas Superpower|off a mail-order ad]]. It promises amazing strength and incredible combat skills for defeating one's foes... and it certainly delivers, except that it locks into place as soon as you put it on and only activates when said foe comes along. And ''then'', you have a very limited time to defeat him before the suit self-destructs.

* ''[[Gantz]]'' gives the hunters particularly [[Sufficiently Advanced|hypertech]] powered armour that provides superstrength, [[Roof Hopping]] jumping powers and apparently some kind of forcefield. In typical Gantz style the big black ball doesn't bother telling anybody these facts, or that the suits' protection does not extend to [[Sword Fight|swords]] or lasers.

** As seen in the Osaka and Italy arcs, there is a bigger, tougher Gantz armor that's [[Informed Ability|supposed]] to be superior to the regular suits. It's not sure if it can really hold up considering all of the users seen thus far are dead.

* ''[[Guyver]]: Bio-Boosted Armour'', a manga from the late 80's, along with a one shot OVA from '86, a twelve part mini-series released by studio L.A. Heroes released from 89 to about 92-93 and also a twenty six episode series that expanded more on the manga than the twelve episode one, that was released in 2005 by [[FUNimation]] Studios. This series uses this concept to its fullest extent. It starts out with a high schooler named Sho Fukamchi walking in the woods near the school with his friend Tetsuro Segawa. There they hear and see the aftermath of a huge explosion and see something hurdling through the sky towards them. Sho picks it up to and points out that it's alien looking, when he all of sudden trips and smacks his face against it and it starts to encompass him. Later when Tetsuro is in immediate danger from a secret world government style organization known as Chronos, Sho clad in this "bio" metal armor then destroys the ones troubling Tetsuro. Afterward he seemingly regains consciousness while still in the armor and notes that it is DEFINITELY alien.

** A downside of the armor is that they can't be permanently separated from their recognized user without the Remover. The user can "dequip" the armor at will when not needed and it's been demonstrated that a sufficient electrical jolt to the control metal can cause the armor to spontaneously dequip.The Removers have to be bonded to someone and though they don't kill the host, they do leave them naked and powerless in front of someone who ''wanted'' to strip their armor from them, probably a bad guy.

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7T-6ThKoJ0 Madox-01]

* ''[[Steamboy]]'' has one of the least impressive examples of Powered Armor on this list. They're basically full-plate armor with steam backpacks ([[Fridge Logic|how they're not cooking with that setting]], I'm not sure), showing immunity against small arms fire and not much else.

*** Oh, and it also lets him [[Running Gag|stop bullets by posing]]!

* From ''[[Naruto (Manga)|Naruto]]'', Akatsuki member Sasori is the prime example, hiding himself in a mobile and [[Multi-Armed and Dangerous|heavily armed]] puppet, we also have a version of this of the spiritual version in the form of Susano'o, which Sasuke Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha use.

* Similar to the [[Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animation)|Toph]] example below, Risho of ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' used earth to cover himself for battle, although it's not clear if it actually powered him or just lent more ferocity to his blows.

* The eponymous ''[[Infinite Stratos]]'' suits are powered armor that [[Stripperiffic|doesn't do much to actually armor]] the pilot's torso and head, instead enveloping it in [[Deflector Shields|some kind of force field]]. They are also of the [[Instant Armor]] variety, being summonable at will.

** In one notable issue of Mighty Avengers (just before [[Civil War (Comic Book)|Civil War]]) Doom and Iron Man go one-on-one after the rest of the Avengers were subdued by an army of [[Mecha Mooks|Doombots]] and array of traps. Their suits are so well matched that it comes down to whose suit's battery can last longer. {{spoiler|It's Doom's.}}

* [[X Men (Comic Book)|Jubilee]] and several other depowered mutants started wearing [[Powered Armor]] to [[Re-Power|compensate]] for their [[Brought Down to Normal|lost abilities]] in the latest incarnation of the [[New Warriors]].

** In ''[[Kingdom Come]]'' Batman needs an exoskeleton to move at all (thanks to the wounds from a life-time of crimefighting). His actual Batman costume is a [[Powered Armor]]. As is the [[Blue Beetle]]'s and several other heroes.

** In ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]'', Batman uses powered armor (among other things) to {{spoiler|fight Superman}}.

** The video game ''Aliens vs Predator'' gave us a military version nicknamed Alice. It looks like the aforementioned loader with some weapons strapped on and according to the manual, it could take on an infantry platoon or lightly armored vehicles.

* ''[[Avatar (Film)|Avatar]]'', by the same director as ''Aliens'', has AMP suits, which are made in both utilitarian and military models.

* In ''[[Batman and Robin]]'' Mr. Freeze wears a powered armor that allows him to toss people around. The suit was, of course, powered by diamonds.

* ''[[G.I. Joe the Rise of Cobra (Film)|G.I. Joe the Rise of Cobra]]'' features the "Delta-6 Accelerator suit", a powered armour that allows the wearer to outrun cars, leap over speeding commuter trains in a single bound, dodge missiles and climb buildings like a hyperactive monkey. Oh yes, and it's armed (quite literally) with an on-board [[Gatling Good|Gatling gun]] and mini-missile launcher. They're used in a single scene by the two newest recruits; the story goes that the script was originally for a [[Halo]] movie or rip-off and that scene is an artifact.

 

== Live Action TV ==

** The Cybermen, both the original and the [[Alternate Universe]] version in the new series, were originally designed as a suit to increase the vitality and lifespan of the wearer. And then [[It Got Worse]].

* On ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'', the Lost Tribe faction of {{spoiler|the Asgard}} wear humanoid-shaped power armor suits that provide them with mobility, protect them from hazardous environments, and come equipped with blasters and built-in energy shields. They're also conveniently designed to automatically adjust to the wearer, so other races that aren't bigger than the armor's maximum size can wear them.

* ''[[Warhammer 40000 (Tabletop Game)|Warhammer 40000]]'' ''loves'' [[Powered Armor]]. Every species from the [[Super Soldier]] (maybe human) [[Space Marine|Space Marines]] to the [[Black and Gray Morality|not-quite-as-evil-as-everyone-else]] Tau Empire to the [[Church Militant]] (definitely human) [[Amazon Brigade|Sisters of Battle]] to the [[Spikes of Villainy]]-loving Chaos [[Space Marine|Space Marines]] turned [[Face Heel Turn|evil]]([[Humans Are Bastards|er]]) to the [[Plant Aliens|Space Fungi]] [[Our Orcs Are Different|Orkz]] will wear these into battle. However, this armour is generally reserved for the elite forces of the species. Naturally, [[Crapsack World|being Warhammer 40000]], the less-fortunate tend to be [[Cannon Fodder]].

** Also naturally, [[Serial Escalation|being Warhammer 40000]], Powered Armour is merely where it ''begins'', with more extreme versions for everyone. Space Marines have Terminator armour equipped with personal teleporters and weapons including-but-not-limited-to arm-mounted [[Gatling Good|gatling guns]] and [[Drop the Hammer|giants hammers]] that spark lightning with every hit, Tau have suits armed with missile launchers and a pair of enourmous railguns, Chaos Marines have suits fused to their wearer that spontaneously spawns any desired weapon and even its ammunition, while Orkz prefer to simply stick on lotsa pointy bits and give it [[More Dakka]]. The Grey Knights even get [[Powered Armor]] ''for'' their Terminator [[Powered Armor]] in the form of the Dreadknight suit.

*** That can fly.

** Spyrers are ordinary humans (from the Spyre, natch, of Necromunda's Hive Primus) who use [[Powered Armor]] to achieve [[Clothes Make the Superman]], and it's hinted that their ancient, possibly alien suits are actually [[The Symbiote]], as they literally grow stronger and more powerful as the wearer gets more used to them. These are unusual artefacts belonging to noble families rather than standard military gear, however.

* Given ''[[Exalted (Tabletop Game)|Exalted]]'''s attitude towards the [[Rule of Cool]] (namely, if the concept exists and is sufficiently awesome, put it in the game), it should come as no surprise that there are many, many examples of this to be found in Creation.

** They're called Warstriders. The Abyssals call them Bonestriders. Which they make [[Memetic Mutation|IN A CA-]] in the Underworld. [[Overly Long Gag|WITH A BOX OF SCR-]] [[Squick|With spare body parts]].

* ''[[Cyberpunk 2020]]'' introduced an entire subclass of Solo called 'PA Trooper' who's only reason for existence was using various heavily-armed suits of Powered Armor. The supplement 'Maximum Metal' was mostly devoted to their design.

* Pretty much every side in ''[[Cthulhu Tech]]'' is a big fan of powered armour. Of course, how dangerous they are is entirely dependent on what they're up against. They're basically invincible to infantry level firepower, requiring specialist anti-armour weapons to scratch, while carrying guns which can kill a normal human/Migou/Deep One with a single shot. On the other hand, up against anything larger, they're the [[Glass Cannon]], who tend to get crippled if they get hit at all.

** To expand, there are two types of device. Those you can remove with a disarm check (weapons) and those you can only remove from someone only when he's unconscious. This include powered armors.

* It is technically possible to do this in [[Shadowrun]] by combining multiple levels of Mobility Upgrade, Strength Upgrade, and Hydraulic Jacks on a suit of milspec or modern Samurai armor, but your GM will not be pleased.

 

 

* ''[[Starcraft]]'' has several types, most of them Terran. Protoss Zealots get powered armor, too. The only reason the Terran infantry stands a chance against the Zerg is that they're in that armor (and they have guns, letting them draw first blood against Zerglings). The Zealots are so able to take advantage of their power that <s>in the hands of a skilled player</s> when ably commanded, they're able to do three to one against Zerglings.

** Strangely enough, the apparently unarmored Terran "Civilian" units you get in some campaign missions are nearly as tough as a normal marine. If I recall, they only have 10 less HP.

* ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]''. Although in the original the Cyborg Ninja was a cyborg instead of a guy in a [[Powered Armor]], in the sequel it is this way.

** And how does ex-president George Sears {{spoiler|AKA Solidus Snake}} stay limber despite {{spoiler|premature}} aging? Power Armor.

** Or a couple hours in, with the most recent release in the franchise.

* ''[[Arcanum of Steamworks and Magick Obscura]]'' had [[Steampunk]] Powered Armor.

* ''[[Killzone]]'' and ''Killzone2'' give us the Heavy Assault troops (Abrreviated to just "Heavies" in the second game) who wear big bulky Faceless suits of powered armour, often ccarry some of the heavy hitting weaponry, and soak up tonnes of punishment before finally dying (especially in the second game).

* ''[[Shining Force]]'''s Guntz is a Steam-Powered Armor-dillo.

* Featured prominently in ''[[Vanquish]]'', which basically allows the user to go [[Crazy Awesome]]. Comes with a shapeshifting gun!

* The Demonica in ''[[Shin Megami Tensei Strange Journey (Video Game)|Shin Megami Tensei Strange Journey]]'' is designed to withstand the environment of the Schwartzwelt, a place innately hostile to humanity. It increases in power as its user progresses, and early on acquires the Demon Summoning Program, allowing them to control creatures of eldritch power. The only catch is that there are no on-board weapons - you have to carry an issued gun and knife.

** ''[[Warcraft Expanded Universe]]'' has a character class named "Steam Warrior", which specializes in operating similar suits of [[Steampunk]] or Magitek armor.

* The idea of powered-armor-wearing shooter heroes is directly ridiculed in ''[[Duke Nukem Forever (Video Game)|Duke Nukem Forever]]''. Duke is offered some oddly [[Halo|familiar]] power armor but turns it down on the grounds that "power armor is for pussies". In fairness, since Duke can kick an alien's head off, rip open metal doors with his bare hands and survive weapon damage using the power of his ego, he hardly needs it.

* In ''[[Schlock Mercenary (Webcomic)|Schlock Mercenary]]'', Tagon's Toughs (and some other military/mercenary groups) all wear powered armor, which can deflect small arms fire, increase strength, and fly. The formfitting [[Latex Space Suit]] version is much better than the bulky armored suit, which was civilian-grade gear bought on the cheap.

* Tessa and the rest of her squad of [[Super Soldier|super soldiers]] in [[SSDD]] are field-testing experimental powered armor that is controlled using [[Nano Machine]] implants as of the current arc (which is backstory), she has been seen using the armor in other story arcs that take place later (from her perspective).

* [[Never Mess With Granny|Abigail Primrose]] in ''[[The Inexplicable Adventures of Bob]]'' owns a suit of [[Bubblegum Crisis]]-styled [[Powered Armor]] capable of flying into space. It was given to her by [[Our Dragons Are Different|space dragons.]]

* In ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'' the 4U City military initially seemed to be using [[Giant Robot|Giant Robots]], but these were later revealed as being this trope.

* In [[Tales of the Questor]], the newest member of Quentyn's party is a knightless squire with a sort-of-borrowed, sort-of-stolen suit of armor. Magical, self-propelled armor.

* [[Coga Suro]]: Steve's second Super Suit [and possibly the third] works like this; in the sequel, Zero-Saviour wears a [[Robot Girl]] that turns into a [[Kamen Rider]]-esque suit of [[Power Armour]].

* The Bulls from ''[[My Lifeat War]]'' wear bulky, primitive power armor. They even have power cables to power them.

* Building your own suit of power armor is apparently a pretty common ambition of gadgeteer and devisor students at [[Whateley Universe|Whateley Academy]]. (In a bit of a subversion, the blind devisor Jericho is working on a life-''saving'' powered armor super-suit for EMTs and medics to wear on battlefields and in similarly dangerous spots like your basic superpowered hero-vs.-villain slugfest.)

** Loophole has designed and built a suit of 'Iron Man' style power armor with flight, weaponry, and spacesuit capabilities. She's about fifteen. Dynamaxx has a similar power armor suit, but he may have bought some of the components.

* Nick Klein inherited his grandfather's Powered Armor and his superhero identity, The Rocket, in Jim Zoetewey's ''[[Legion of Nothing]]''.

* Lampshaded in the blog-novel ''[[Flyover City]]!'' – crime fighting archer Sureshot is something of a joke until he dons his 90s-style cyber armor… transforming him into an even ''bigger'' joke.

 

== Western Animation ==

** Also ironically, it packed Kryptonite rays up the wazoo, making it quite appropriate for battling [[Superman]].

* Granny May from ''[[Word Girl]]'' has one. In addition, one episode involved the [[Evil Genius]] Dr. Two-Brains building one.

** She later gets a battle suit. Among its features are: defensive shields, self-repair, the ability to capture and redirect energy beams and a physical boost sufficient to let her clumsy boyfriend become a star quarterback.

*** [[Holding Back the Phlebotinum|And all the reliability of a Lada Riva]].

* The Monarch and his Deaths-Head Panoply from ''[[The Venture Brothers]]''. Subverted in that it isn't actually powered. Its just a solid, unmoving suit that fires missiles and rockets about. He can't even move his arms. However this is due to design flaws that haven't been worked out yet.

* In "Gangland", an episode of ''[[The Spectacular Spider Man]]'', Silvermane shows off his powered armor, which inexplicably doesn't cover his face. It's the kind of powered armor that hums and whirs with every movement, and the noise tips Spidey off about how to defeat him.

** According to Scientific American, Raytheon plans to introduce a tethered version of their suit for logistics and loading/unloading in 2015, and an untethered version 3-5 years after that. The logistical problem with the untethered suit is building in a power supply that won't run out in less than an hour.

* A one man project armor that while not fire proof could have potential use for fighting forest fires. Or the vengeful, hellfire-fueled ghost of Smokey the Bear.

* A Japanese company named [[Terminator|Cyberdyne]] introduced a powered exoskeleton named [[2001: A Space Odyssey|HAL]] (it's like they're ''trying'' to bring about the end of mankind). [http://www.cyberdyne.jp/english/robotsuithal/index.html See for yourself].

* The US military model HULC has graduated from testing to production, still no arms though, but has the added bonus of being useful for spinal cord injury sufferers. [http://www.ted.com/talks/eythor_bender_demos_human_exoskeletons.html\]

[[Category:Travel Cool]]

[[Category:Powered Armor]]