Shenlong has one, I wanna say Dragon Gundam has one too but I could be wrong about that.

It does atleast in video games.

Heh, bland mobile suits, as opposed to the literally, even in-universe, retreading of old designs in BF. And, as such, BF has no consistent aesthetic, and most of the redesigns are worse than the originals, being more generic super-robot styled. Find me anything in Gundam, or anywhere really, that looks like the Barbatos.

"Cardboard characters" you mean like Mika "Who do you want me to kill next?" sociopath who's slowly losing his humanity the more he pilots the Gundam? (and as of season 1, has even had some of his body taken by it) Even before that he unflinchingly executed two people, who had caused so many casualties, in a hostile takeover. Or McCharcolate "I have lived my entire life in anger, but through all the lies I've told, you were my only friend" or how the first developed member of the villain faction we ever met wasn't even villainous, and how the main characters in said faction believe it is too corrupt and seek to overthrow it.

The only flat characters in the whole show are the background characters like the extra Tekkadan kids. Every prominent character has something going on. Orga alone has to juggle being the stoic, infallible leader while in reality he himself is being guided by Mika. He opposes the world order not just by actively participating in the fight for equality, but even on a smaller scale defies conventions and stands by his goals even if it's inconvenient, or difficult. And if it gets too difficult, that's what Mika's for. My favourite part of the show is when Orga, depressed over the death of a friend and not wanting to continue leadership, is literally strongarmed by Mika into being leader agin. Like he grabs him by the collar, put shim on his knees and stares him in the face, telling him to lead. They're like a binary system, each start orbitting the other.

Also, by-the-book stuff doesn't usually open the series with a child murdering a person for money because they're too poor and live in such a neglected, apathetic society to feed themselves any other way. Likewise it usually doesn't have the heroes, as mentioned above, execute people who do bad things instead of be the better man and let them get away with it to do ti again. I'd actually say IBO is almost the exact opposite of by-the-books. Morally unconventional as my friend put it. Hell, it doesn't even fancy itself a toy shill, despite having a toyline where the Gundam undergoes upgrade after upgrade, they're be episodes at a time where no Mobile Suits appear, and certain upgrades are so brief and context-specific it almost defies the marketting's attempts at commercializing it.

I guess you prefer actual kids games as opposed to, like, genuine conflict and mortal situations. Blatant, generic Saturday morning messages of teamwork and perserverence alongside shameless toy shilling are more interesting than the deconstruction and tests of said messages, I suppose.

Yup. IBO is very different, with a great world aesthetic. It's a very unflattering, brutal world and everything from the MS designs to the chocie to avoid beam weapons to the style of combat work around this hard-edged, actually gritty undertone. It's a lived-in, grungey world

Just because it's nostalgia-driven doesn't mean it's not also for kids.

Every design that homages a past MS or series is just another cool design for kids to buy.

Orga and Mika don't look different because their development was likely skewed by their incredibly hard lives. They already matured quicker, wheras Kudelia hasn't, and is growing up normal speed. It's also entirely possible she jus look older because of her outfit, hairstyle, and/or the way she happens to be drawn there. The younger kids definitely appear older.

I don't like the red shoulders. The red parts should be white, and the white Tekkadan logos should be red for proper balance IMO. The colours feel more haphazard, and I don't like the big skirts or blue detail in the central crest, would like it to be white or grey.

Otherwise? Yeah, it's just form 4 but spiked up, which is just fine by me. The extra large beard ties nicely into it's namesake, and the cricket-bat is sweet but kinda undermines Mika's development with the katana by mastering such a difficult weapon by giving himself more and more to the Gundam. I also miss the giant maces, but I'm sure Barbatos will pick another up. It's just Mika's thing.

I will say, though, I feel like design undercust a lot of Barbatos' internal aethetics. While it continues teh deisgn evolution from scrawny and delapidated to brutish and demonic, I miss the pink symbols it had indicating some sort of unique brand or logo. Plus, the gold vents now no longer make a continuous "stack" up the body. The HG I feel also doesn't capture the aggressiveness of the show design. (which TBF, the old Barbatos models weren't as aggressive, either, but the gap was smaller)

It doesn't look bad, I just don't think it's as good as before. Just seems to have gone a bit too far detail-wise.

Flamethrowers are kinda useless with the advent of beam weapons. They're just as effective, but less unpredictable, easier to use, and more efficient. As for intimidation, a giant robot kinda has that covered by itself.

Plus, very few MSs have dedicated anti-infantry weapons. There are examples, but typically MSs fight other MSs.

...
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/...20120319155127

That doesn't look anything like Barbatos. Like at all.

I mean, it's humanoid, and thin. But oh, Barbatos isn't even thin anymore. And no other MS in IBO is that thin anyway. The EVA doesn't have the same chunky body parts. Or the stout, gutless midsection. Or the big, prominent knees and shoulder. Or the broad shoulders, for that matter. Or spikey aesthetic. Or the big feet.

http://67.media.tumblr.com/e1d3d99fd...q4vgb_1280.jpg

It does have a prominent chin, though, so I guess that makes them twins?

Yup, totally one-upped me there, champ.

I do admit, Barbatos is one hell of a unique design. It's a Gundam for sure, but way edgier and uses different shapes from Gundams before it.

Makes sense. I still believe the fan theory that the 3 Alya Vijana whiskers are severely slowly Mikazuki's growth but I sort of see that he's a bit taller.

Dumb idea, but what if there is an upgrade/accessory later on in the series that allows the bat to slot into an even more badass mace than Form 4's?


I agree with you completely. Barbatos in the show is aggressive and sharp. While the HG does capture the different shapes Barbatos uses compared to other Gundams (see the feet as an example), the agressive nature of the suit just doesn't come across in the HG. I really can't put a finger on it, maybe it's just due to HG's relative cheapness compared to MGs and PGs that the designers couldn't pull that sharp look off without making HG Barbatos a lot more expensive. Hell, even looking up pictures of the 1/100, it's closer, but it doesn't get it right.

[/QUOTE]

Yeah, it still looks like a Gundam, it's just really difefrent.

Also possible, and would show another tragic side effect of the surgery. (and yet would fit in nicely with Mika sacrificing his well being for more advantages)

It's also entirely possible we're both wrong, and he's just a shorty. :lol

That'd be cool. Maybe he could swing it around and let it fly off like how he used to throw the mace.


It's less horizontal than the lineart. Like for example the crest and chin don't protrude as far forwards, and the eyes are not as far back and to the sides. The model kits go for a more typical 'human' face.

Or he just looks especially short compared to Orga lol. I hope we get the backstory of them shooting the guy in the beginning of episode 1.

Ah, okay.

...
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/...20130419201714

Currently about an hour or so into Gundam Breaker 3 and here's what I've been able to put together:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CnM12l7UEAAilzJ.jpg