Thundatross
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Thundatross (サンダトロス Sandatorosu) is a mecha that appeared in the 2022 video game GigaBash.
Name
"Thundatross" is a portmanteau of the words "thunder" and "fortress".[2] In-universe, OtomaTEC named the project as the Tactical Reactor-Operated Security System (T.R.O.S.S.). Dr. Kazuo Otoma also thought of calling it "Thunder-Robot", "Lightning-Fighter", and "Shocker-Sword", but believed that his son could come up with a more fitting moniker, implying that it was Yuuki Otoma who ultimately named the robot.
Development
Thundatross was largely influenced by DyGenGuar, a mech originating from the Super Robot Wars franchise.[2] To further create the classic Chogokin appeal, it also reflects elements of sword-wielding mechas like Voltes V, Mazinger Z, and Gundams.[3][4] Concept art shows that, without its "eyebrows", its helmet resembles that of Mega Man.
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Thundatross concept art -
Thundatross S-Class concept art -
Yuuki, "Otoma Saito", and Dr. Reiner concept art
Design
Thundatross evokes the color of a storm. Primarily blue like the sky, it bears various gold and yellow lights, trimmings, bevels, and jagged lightning-like parts, most prominently seen in the form of a pair of horn-like "eyebrows" above its bluish-white eyes, and similar designs on its chest and shoulders. Its kneecaps, though not lightning-shaped, are curved spikes. Its left hand bears the number "08" for unknown reasons. The mecha's greatsword has a massive, extendable, yellow lightning bolt-shaped blade composed of two parts with four segments each, the top one larger than the lower one. The blade is mounted on what appears to be a blue base, which is in turn connected to a long, narrow, two-handed cylindrical gray hilt bearing a rectangular pommel.
Thundatross Unit-02 appears similar, but has a darker bluish-purple paint scheme, red accents, lights, and sword pommel rather than yellow or blue ones, a pentagonal gem where its eyebrows meet, and four bolts on its shoulder plates.
Personality
Thundatross has onboard artificial intelligence that regularly interacts with its pilot in terms of notifications, danger alerts, answers to queries, and confirmation of commands and notes. Even so, most of the mecha's personality is expressed based on how it is controlled by the pilot, be they brash, energetic, and confident like Yuuki, or brutal, bloodthirsty, and imposing like Dr. Reiner.
Origins
OtomaTEC, founded by Dr. Kazuo Otoma in 1991, is a company that manufactures high-quality household electronics and computer components. However, their main focus is Giga Energy research and Anti-Titan weapons development, thus leading to several collaborations with the Global Titan Defense Force (GTDI). The organization is aware that OtomaTEC is working on "Gigatron Reactor" technology, meant for what they only know as the Tactical Reactor-Operated Security System (T.R.O.S.S.), a project started since the company's founding. Beyond a few snippets of data, the GTDI knew nothing else of the project beyond its existence, up until it was finally completed decades later.
In 2012, Dr. Otoma lost his wife Megumi when Rawa self-destructed next to the OtomaTEC headquarters after losing a battle to Gigaman. Knowing that he is somewhat responsible, Sho, the hero's human identity and friend of the Otomas (with Kazuo and Megumi being his childhood friends and among the few who know his secret) retired out of shame, inadvertently leaving Japan to the expensive and predatory "protection services" of the GTDI, thus giving Dr. Otoma even more reason to finish Project T.R.O.S.S. and free the country of reliance on the corrupt international organization. In at least one timeline (as seen in The Knight in Lightning Armor), Dr. Otoma was even permanently crippled due to a Titan attack. Furthermore, despite his brilliance and contributions to the project, Dr. Reiner, who worked for the GTDI prior to leaving the organization to join OtomaTEC in 1998, kept pressuring Dr. Otoma to lessen security and secrecy surrounding Project T.R.O.S.S. and to sell his blueprints to the GTDI for mass-production, with there being implications of him wanting to seize complete control of the company from its founder. Despite feeling guilty for selfishly withholding his knowledge, Dr. Otoma kept the project to himself, for he cannot entrust such power into the hands of outsiders, most especially the GTDI. Instead, he decided to hardcode his biometrics into the machine, which would prevent anyone not related to him from controlling what he made, at least, until he can find a worthy pilot for Project T.R.O.S.S. Despite these setbacks, Dr. Otoma finally managed to complete and launch Thundatross in 2019, which ended up being piloted by his prodigious teenage son Yuuki.
History
- GigaBash (2022) – Microsoft Windows, Sony PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
GigaBash
Legend of Luana Island
Gorogong made landfall in Palekana Port, enraged and searching for the Luana Island artifact. As Gorogong advanced towards the Giga Crystal, Thundatross hurled its Condenser Sword at Gorogong, knocking the Titan backwards. Thundatross landed between Gorogong and his crystal and engaged the beast. Gorogong severely damaged Thundatross and seized the artifact before dancing in joy. Taking advantage of Gorogong's distraction, Thundatross darted forwards and slashed Gorogong with its sword, knocking the artifact out of his hands and into the ocean, where a submarine seized it. Enraged, Gorogong dove into the sea in pursuit.
Project P.P.J.U.R.A.S
Following the defeat of MechaJURAS, OtomaTEC deployed Thundatross to Area 51 to stop the rampaging Pipijuras and prevent it from seizing its ship's beacon. Pipijuras weaponized MechaJURAS' destroyed parts against Thundatross, remotely taking the beacon and flying to Tokyo in search of its ship's Teleporter Module. Gigaman challenged the alien but faltered until Thundatross was deployed again, though Pipijuras defeated it once more. As Pipijuras begun destroying the OtomaTEC headquarters, the two heroes joined forces in a final stand to stop Pipijuras. Eventually, however, the alien destroyed the building and, connecting its reclaimed beacon and module together, teleporting itself and a large swath of Tokyo to Siberia, leaving the battered Gigaman and Thundatross behind.
The Knight in Lightning Armor
In 2019, Dr. Kazuo Otoma, CEO of OtomaTEC, was nearing the completion of the Tactical Reactor-Operated Security System (T.R.O.S.S.). His assistant, Dr. Reiner, insisted that he disable his authentication system in order to allow for the unit to finish its tests for tonight, though Dr. Otoma refused, for he was still waiting to see who is worth trusting as its pilot. As his son Yuuki waited for him to return home, the Titan Rohanna suddenly rampaged through Tokyo. In the chaos, Dr. Otoma is left badly injured. As Yuuki rushed into OtomaTEC headquarters to check on him, the boy desperately climbed into the mecha's cockpit, with the built-in artificial intelligence recognizing him as a verified user. Just then, as Rohanna closed in, Thundatross sprung into action and defeated the plant Titan.
One year later, as Yuuki showed off footage of his actions with Thundatross, he asked his father, now permanently crippled and stuck on a wheelchair, why should they not give everyone a mecha to stop the Titans. Kazuo replied that not everyone can be entrusted with such power, which is why the T.R.O.S.S. systems are equipped with authenticators that verify only him and his direct descendants as the system's legitimate users. Just then, Dr. Reiner called Yuuki's attention towards another mission, defending Palekana Port from Gorogong, a volcanic ape battling the military in an attempt to take back the Luana Island Artifact stolen from him. As Thundatross stunned Gorogong, Gigaman suddenly appeared, asking if Yuuki needed a hand. A perplexed Yuuki questioned the Veteran Hero, stating that he remembered him being thinner, while Gigaman said he was back in action. Gigaman insisted they fight Gorogong together, though Yuuki remained apprehensive about sharing the fight. The heroes' combined might bested Gorogong, and while Gigaman turned his attention to inspiring and flexing to the exhausted soldiers, Thundatross retrieved the Artifact and returned to Tokyo, much to Gigaman's dismay.
Back in the Kimura District of Tokyo, Dr. Reiner impatiently waited for Thundatross to set the artifact within strange machinery, which caused the massive crystal to generate a portal to the Hollow Earth, from which a Zyva emerged to destroy the city. In the midst of fighting the new Titan, Gigaman flipped into battle to assist the mecha. Yuuki demanded to know what Gigaman was doing in Tokyo, to which the hero replied that it was his city as well before he noticed Zyva and again offered to fight it together, though Yuuki grumbled that he could handle it alone. Two more Zyvas appeared, though all three were defeated by Thundatross and Gigaman, the latter encouraging the former throughout the fight. Suddenly, a second Thundatross unit crashed down and killed one of the Zyvas, revealing itself to be piloted by Dr. Reiner of OtomaTEC, who had taken Kazuo Otoma prisoner, strapping him into the back of his cockpit to thwart the mecha's biometrics. Unit-02 retreated into the Hollow Earth before Thundatross could catch it. Distraught, Thundatross dropped to its knees in despair while Gigaman comforted Yuuki, telling him about Hollow Earth and revealing that he knew a shortcut.
Gigaman lead Thundatross to Tarabak Island and told Yuuki the story of how Skorak assassinated the Dragon King Rawa. Yuuki snapped at the hero, still distraught over his father's kidnapping, before Gigaman suddenly disappeared. After briefly searching for Gigaman, Thundatross was attacked by Skorak. Gigaman ran back, having been attacked by Skorak as well, and attacked the snail Titan with Thundatross. Though Skorak was defeated, a surge of Giga Energy allowed the mollusk to assume its S-Class form and attack the heroes once again. Yuuki and Gigaman exchanged banter before attacking Skorak again and forcing the Titan to retreat, but not before it used its Poison Deluge ultimate on the duo. Gigaman took the brunt of it, knocking Thundatross out of the way before Gigaman discovered a sinkhole leading to Hollow Earth. After the Veteran Hero asked if Thundatross could handle the drop, Yuuki told Gigaman to not hurt his knees on the way down and jumped.
Within the Hollow Earth, Gigaman and Thundatross discovered a graveyard of Zyvas, killed by Unit-02. Gigaman explained that Zyva was a species of guardian Titans, devoted to defending the Giga Core from hostile Titans seeking its power. Gigaman also revealed that he knew Yuuki's father before stating that it was a story for another time and hurried towards the Giga Core, where Unit-02 was waiting and absorbing the Giga Core's energy. Dr. Reiner monologued, explaining that he would use both Thundatross units to absorb all of the Giga Core's energy and starve every Titan out of existence; Gigaman exclaimed that doing so would risk blowing up the entire planet. Mad with power, Reiner brushed off the prospected losses as the price to pay before announcing he'd take Thundatross by force. Though Thundatross and Gigaman defeated Unit-02, the mecha finished absorbing the energy of the Giga Core. Gigaman dropped to his knees, his power weakened by the Core being drained, leaving Thundatross on its own to fight the now S-Class Unit-02. Eventually, Thundatross was defeated, and Reiner gave Yuuki an ultimatum. Seizing the opportunity, Gigaman instructed Yuuki to open Thundatross's reactor hatch before firing his Giga Beam into it, bestowing Thundatross with his power and allowing it to achieve its own S-Class state. Gigaman collapsed from exhaustion while the two mechas fought but recovered in time to assist Thundatross during its sword clash with Unit-02, kicking the hero's Condensor Sword and allowing it to cut Unit-02 in half. Finding his father in the wreckage, Yuuki pulled Kazuo out, leaving the weakened Dr. Reiner trapped in his destroyed mecha and stranded in the Hollow Earth.
A few weeks later, Yuuki spoke with his father in their apartment about the incident as well as Yuuki's deceased mother. When Yuuki asked what would happen if he made another mistake, Gigaman appeared in their window, asking if Yuuki was ready to go. Kazuo reassured his son before he departed to join Gigaman in Thundatross.
A Legend Reborn
In 2012, the hero Gigaman stopped Rawa from rampaging through Tokyo. However, while the hero posed for the news cameras, the Dragon King got back up and self-destructed, blowing up a large swathe of Tokyo, along with the OtomaTEC headquarters, leading to the death of Yuuki Otoma's mother Megumi. In shame, Gigaman retired, with his human form, Sho, retreating back into his uneventful, obscure life, in an apartment full of merchandise honoring his now-finished heroic days.
Eight years later, Sho saw a vision of an avian and serpentine entity battling, with Gaya, the bird-like being that provides his power, saying it is foreshadowing what is to come. Suddenly, Thundatross crashes against the apartment, on the losing end of a battle with Pipijuras, with Yuuki shouting at him to get away from the unfolding chaos. Condescendingly stating "Aren't you OtomaTEC guys supposed to be smart?", Sho watches as Thundatross engages Pipijuras once more. Conceding that the situation has become dire, Sho, coaxed by Gaya, transforms into Gigaman, now out of shape, eight years after retirement, to beat the alien. Soon afterwards, Yuuki watches Gigaman wander off, clutching his sore back and declaring that he only came back for this one event, with the boy wondering where he is off to disappear again.
One year later, Gigaman and Thundatross stood in Palekana Port, the latter furious that Gigaman let Gorogong escape while the Veteran Hero insisted that letting Gorogong leave with the Luana Artifact allows both monster and humans to get what they want, unaware that, on Tarabak Island, a newly-revived Rawa has already brought the volcanic ape down to consume his Giga Crystal for power. Yuuki asked Gigaman a few more questions, though before he could answer, a distant roar disturbed two Kongkretes dwelling within the city, enticing them into attacking the heroes. Gigaman and Thundatross fought the Kongkretes individually before the fight forced them back together, allowing them to battle both Titans together, with Yuuki remarking that they have to check every building after this, in case another such Titan is hiding among them. Once the Kongkretes were defeated, OtomaTEC and the GTDI reported that Titans were going berserk all over the world, stretching both entities' forces thin. Gigaman deduced that Rawa was behind the mayhem and was tasked alongside Thundatross to hunt down and stop the Dragon King, while MechaJURAS units were deployed to defend cities in their stead. One unit landed in Palekana Port and greeted the heroes before insisting that it would defend the city. While Gigaman and Thundatross departed, a previously unknown feline Titan watched from afar.
As the mecha and hero flew after Rawa, they found the Chinese city of Yefan below, besieged by an onslaught of Titans driven into a frenzy by Rawa. Gigaman and Thundatross broke off from their pursuit to defend against the siege, first fighting off Rohanna and Skorak, then three Yetis, before a Zyva emerged from the Hollow Earth. While fending off the crystalline Titan, a MechaJURAS unit briefly warned of an agile attacker before going offline; the culprit, Balzarr, leaped into the battle and killed the weakened Zyva with its ultimate, incidentally disabling Thundatross as well. Gigaman got between the unresponsive Thundatross and the Balzarr, ready to fight the Demon Star, when R.O.J.A.K.'s Aegis team appeared and assembled, eager to defeat this adversary they have long pursued. Once the Super Aegis and the legendary warrior overwhelmed the feline and forced it to retreat, Gigaman invited the Super Aegis to join him and Thundatross, as Balzarr and Rawa were both reported to be heading towards Siberia's Yeti Sanctuary.
While the trio headed north, Gaya insisted to Gigaman that he could not avoid confronting Rawa forever; Gigaman retorted that he was not before being beset by memories of his fight in 2012. Gaya recalled how a "snot-nosed kid" had convinced him to lend its power to do the world good despite Gaya's hesitation. When Gigaman proved receptive, Gaya suggested that he needed a snot-nosed kid himself (referring to Yuuki now serving the same purpose that Sho served for Gaya) to give him the drive to do good. Gigaman attempted to speak to Yuuki before R.O.J.A.K. noticed Balzarr within a massive dust storm at the Yeti Sanctuary, the Demon Star having reached its S-Class state, with the remains of slain Zyvas at his feet. The heroes engaged the Titan and eventually triumphed over it. Suddenly, Rawa appeared, also in his S-Class form. Rawa and Balzarr roared at each other before lunging and tearing into one another, quickly enveloping in flames before both Titans fused into one. Gaya told Gigaman that the resulting Titan was their ancient nemesis, now reborn: Zargorah, the Devourer of Stars.
The Cosmic Chaos began absorbing Giga Energy from all over the world, rendering Thundatross and R.O.J.A.K. powerless and even weakening Gigaman before the Veteran Hero got in front his allies and challenged Zargorah, with Yuuki insisting that Gigaman must win. The veteran unfortunately proved no match for the Ascended Titan, leading him to be beaten into the ground and repeatedly impaled in the chest; while Zargorah brutalized the hero, Sho found himself in a watery void with a shattering ceiling, face to face with Gaya. His creditor apologized, stating that even his power was waning against Zargorah's onslaught. Sho asked about the fate of the Earth if Zargorah broke through, to which Gaya stated the planet would be devoured whole, temporarily sating the Cosmic Chaos before he would seek out more. Gaya insisted that they sever their chain, stating that Sho had fulfilled their contract and revealing that it had kept a reserve of power to facilitate Sho and Yuuki to escape Earth while Gaya would personally hold Zargorah back. Sho again experienced flashbacks of people begging for Gigaman to save them and rejected Gaya's proposal, stating that he would not repeat his mistake and remembering the gratitude people had after his many victories. Sho said he was done running away and proclaimed them both as Gigaman. Gaya questioned if he was sure; once Sho confirmed, Gaya dissolved their chain with a smile and shared a fist bump with the man, bestowing him with his reserve of power while the ceiling shattered into Gaya's G emblem.
Zargorah continued piercing Gigaman's body before being thrown back by a burst of light as Gigaman levitated into the sky and transformed into Gaya Gigaman, insisting that he and Zargorah "finish this." Gaya Gigaman exclaimed that he was fighting for the world and everyone he couldn't protect while he engaged Zargorah, with both Apex Titans eventually achieving their S-Class forms. Gaya Gigaman eventually enacted his ultimate attack, "Giga Bash", kicking Zargorah into space before sending the Titan into the bowels of the Earth with a Pulsar Beam. Gaya Gigaman landed in between the rejuvenated Thundatross and R.O.J.A.K. as they peered into the chasm. Suddenly, Gaya exclaimed about the Giga Core immediately before Zargorah burst forth from the sinkhole, having ascended into its Ultimate Form and simultaneously terraforming the surroundings into a violet stony landscape riddled with massive Giga Crystals. Gaya Gigaman urged his allies to flee before engaging in three grueling rounds against the Cosmic Chaos, each fight causing Zargorah to use increasingly more powerful attacks. Gaya Gigaman eventually engaged Zargorah in a beam clash, though neither Titan could prevail until Thundatross and R.O.J.A.K. returned, the latter configured around the former's blade to aid Gaya Gigaman with another beam, resulting in an explosive victory for the heroes.
As he slowly fell to the Earth in defeat, Zargorah rose back up and used the remainder of his strength to blast the Giga Core nested in his own chest in an attempt to take the planet down with him, similar to what Rawa did to Tokyo nine years earlier, but on a larger scale. While Thundatross and R.O.J.A.K. panicked, Gaya Gigaman approached the massive serpent without hesitation or fanfare, enveloping the Cosmic Chaos in a force field to contain the upcoming blast. Looking back, he apologized to Yuuki for failing to save his mother years ago before reassuring him that she would be proud of him and finally thanked the boy for saving him before Zargorah detonated, enveloping the area in a flash of light.
In the aftermath, as the sun shone down upon Siberia, Kazuo stated that, thanks to Sho, the Giga Core had been stabilized and the world was returning to normal, while Yuuki relayed that Zargorah and Gaya Gigaman had both sank beneath the Earth, leaving the fates of Gaya, Sho, Rawa, and Balzarr unknown. Team R.O.J.A.K. lamented Gigaman's disappearance while Yuuki expressed hope that Gigaman would return one day like he had before.
Abilities
Condenser Sword and Electrokinesis
Though Thundatross is likely capable of fighting unarmed, almost all of its known moves involve swings, thrusts, and hilt strikes from its "Condenser Sword MK-I", an expandable greatsword with an electrified, lightning-shaped yellow blade larger than the mecha itself, thus giving it a reach advantage over adversaries. The Condenser Sword is enhanced by condensing energy from the mecha's Gigatron Reactor and the environment into itself, hence its name, and is able to summon lightning strikes from the sky, and even within enclosed spaces like the caves of the Hollow Earth. In S-Class form, these lightning strikes would even cause four balls of lightning to travel across the ground in the four primary directions away from the point of impact. The mecha's power source, the Gigatron Reactor, is also capable of producing powerful surges of electricity, either channeled through the sword, or directly as a point-blank pulse against enemies, the latter being demonstrated by Thundatross when grabbing enemies while the mecha is in S-Class form.
In A Legend Reborn, Thundatross combines its sword with R.O.J.A.K.'s body to form an energy cannon.
Boosters
By default, Thundatross is slower than even Rawa, despite being rated as faster on the website of Passion Republic Games. However, due to boosters installed all over its body, Thundatross is able to perform quick dash bursts, move at high speeds, and even fly, sometimes covering itself in electricity when rocketing through the air.
Barrage Slash
By charging its sword up for an attack known as "Barrage Slash", Thundatross performs four rapid slashes. During this move, it can still be damaged, but, unless grabbed or struck with an ultimate beforehand (with the charge-up motion being the only warning that opponents get), the mecha cannot be staggered or interrupted, and, furthermore, all four strikes combined are enough to shatter the defense of those within range, stunning them in the process.
Heaven Splitter
With all systems set to overdrive, Thundatross blitzes around the battlefield at blinding speed, paralyzing any enemy it comes in contact with, before crashing down with a powerful strike of lightning.
S-Class
After gathering a sufficient amount of Giga Energy, Thundatross achieves peak power, with parts coming in from out of nowhere to increase the mecha's size by massive proportions, thus granting it great power and enhanced abilities. Giga Energy is gathered through dealing damage to other Titans, or gathering it from the surrounding environment. The phenomenon of Giga Energy enhancing the size and power of the titans (as observed based on an affected apple during the development of Thundatross) is what led to the research and creation of the technology behind the Gigatron Reactor and Condenser Sword to begin with.
Weaknesses
Although Thundatross has its own advanced onboard artificial intelligence, its battle prowess is limited by the experience and capabilities of its pilot, who was beaten by Gorogong in The Legend of Luana Island, and by Pipijuras, two times (or three, if the player chooses to battle it again while destroying OtomaTEC headquarters) in Project P.P.J.U.R.A.S, and once in A Legend Reborn. While Dr. Otoma hardcoded his biometrics into the machine to prevent his technology from being used by anyone not related to him, this was bypassed by Dr. Reiner, who first made his own copy of the mecha, then kidnapped and strapped Dr. Otoma into the cockpit behind him in order to thwart the built-in security system. The durability of Thundatross has limits, as Dr. Reiner's copy, Unit-02, was bisected by the original Thundatross slashing it across the torso, albeit only following a long battle, and with the aid of Gigaman kicking the back of the sword. The Gigatron Reactor powering Thundatross can be deprived of energy by powerful forces like Zargorah's global siphoning of his primordial essence, which can weaken and shut down Thundatross.
Gallery
Icons
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Subspecies
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Prototype - 01 -
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Lionheart -
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Timbertross
Roar
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References
This is a list of references for Thundatross. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
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