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Mechagodzilla (メ��ゴジラ,   Mekagojira^?) is a mecha created by Warner Bros. and licensed by Toho that first appeared in the 2011 novel, Ready Player One and it's 2018 film adaptation of the same name.. This is the first incarnation of Mechagodzilla to appear in an American film, as well as the first to appear in a film outside of the Godzilla franchise.

Design[]

Appearance[]

Mechagodzilla's appearance strays from past incarnations, much like the Mechagodzilla of City on the Edge of Battle. It features a more distinctly dinosaur-like appearance, especially around the head, with its dorsal plates bearing a resemblance to the MonsterVerse Godzilla.

It features longer arms than its predecessors, and its legs are also slender in design. However, its head has a crest similar to that of the Showa Mechagodzilla.

In the book, Mechagodzilla simply looks like Kiryu, although it is not specified as the original model from Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla or the modified version in Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S..

Portrayal[]

This Mechagodzilla was portrayed mostly through CGI.

Roar[]

This Mechagodzilla's roar is very hoarse, not sounding much like other Mechagodzilla incarnations. It does however, share the same tone of most Godzilla roars.

History[]

Ready Player One[]

Sorrento saved Mechagodzilla for the endgame. IOI had reached the final stage of Halliday's challenge, located in his abandoned castle. They were stumped, but to make sure no one else could figure it out first, they set up an impenetrable force field around the stronghold. Out of options, the top gunters—Parzival, Art3mis, Aech, and Shoto, plus Daito in the movie—joined forces. Contacting the entire OASIS, Parzival raised an army. In the book, he also managed to bring down the shield by infiltrating IOI in the real world, while Art3mis pulled it off in the film. The stage was set for a robot battle for the ages.

Unencumbered by budget or licensing costs, Cline let all his heroes pilot vintage mechs, obtained from an earlier phase of Halliday's challenge: Parzival in Leopardon, Art3mis in Minerva X, Aech in an RX-78 Gundam, and Shoto in Raideen. Other IOI agents backed up Mechagodzilla in fighter mecha from "Robotech," Evangelion units, and the Lions of Voltron, but fell quickly to enemy fire. Nothing short of Minerva X's Breast Fire and Raideen’s God Breaker could dent Mechagodzilla, who retaliated with lightning from its mouth. The ray killed Shoto's avatar in Raideen and destroyed Leopardon too, though Parzival managed to eject in time. Mechagodzilla pursued him, but rather than fly into the safety of the castle, he decided Sorento needed to be humbled. Using a rare artifact called the Beta Capsule, he transformed into Ultraman. The damaged mech was no match for the giant hero, who cleaved it in two with an Ultra-Slice. Sorrento ejected in Mechagodzilla’s head, but Ultraman took him out with his signature Specium Ray.

Ready Player One[]

Mechagodzilla was the last and final boss of the game. Mechagodzilla fights and heavily damages Iron Giant using his flame thrower before destroying Parzival's DeLorean - pursuing both Parzival and Art3mis as Sorrento attempts to crush them. However, they are saved by Daito (who is piloting the RX-78 Gundam), with Daito causing damage to MechaGodzilla while Art3mis tends to the Iron Giant, but Daito ultimately runs out of time - despite Shoto calling for him to abort his attack - and transforms back to normal before been been zeroed out as he is blasted by Mechagodzilla's flamethrower.

Mechagodzilla attempts to destroy Parzival and Shoto with MechaGodzilla's finger missiles, but is attacked from behind and briefly restrained by the Iron Giant - with Art3mis shooting through one of the eye lenses on MechaGodzilla's head (revealing the control room where Sorrento's avatar is piloting the robot) before throwing a bomb into the control room. When the bomb explodes, Sorrento is zeroed out and MechaGodzilla's head is destroyed - thus ending the mechanical monster's brief reign of terror as it collapses to the ground.

Abilities[]

Blue Lightning Weapon[]

In the novel, Sorrento relied exclusively on a blue lightning weapon fired from Mechagodzilla's mouth. The ray destroyed every giant robot, ship, and avatar it touched, although it required time to recharge after each use.

Durability[]

In the film, Mechagodzilla withstood punches from the Iron Giant + slices from Gundam's beam sabers.

In the novel, it was stated to seemly be almost indestructible and had shown to be very durable, as it tanked hits from Gundam, Minerva X, and Raideen and was still able to function properly.

Flame thrower[]

Mechagodzilla utilized an attack much akin to the 2014 Godzilla's atomic breath in the film's climax, being a blue flame. The beam was powerful enough to weaken Gundam and iron giant.

Physical abilities[]

Mechagodzilla was able to physically fight as well. He was able to knock down both iron giant and Gundam with his immense strength. He also used his tail as a weapon to push several objects.

Finger missiles[]

Like his previous incarnations, Mechagodzilla's fingers are able to launch missiles at his foes.

Weaknesses[]

In the film, the Iron Giant's attacks and RX-78-2 Gundam's Beam Sabers are both able to damage Mechagodzilla. RX-78-2 Gundam's Shield is also capable of absorbing and redirecting Mechagodzilla's breath attack back at him.

Mechagodzilla's eyes are a weak point, which can be breached by gunfire, exposing the cockpit inside his head. Mechagodzilla will be disabled if a detonation is set off within the cockpit.

In the novel, while Mechagodzilla was nearly indestructible, it had been observed that it lacked speed in both it's movements and attacks, which proved this be a major weakness during it's battle against Parzival and his team.

"The Mechagodzilla's slow movement and attacks counterbalanced its seeming invulnerability." - Parzival observing Mechagodzilla's weakness during their battle.

Gallery[]

Concept art[]

Concept piece for the mech, by Jared Krichevsky.

Concept piece for the mech, by Jared Krichevsky.

Concept piece for the mech, by Jared Krichevsky.

Concept piece for the mech, by Jared Krichevsky.

Screenshots - Film[]

Mechagodzilla walks into battle.

Trivia[]

• This Mechagodzilla takes the spot of Kiryu, the Mechagodzilla originally featured in the 2011 novel of the same name. Shinji Nishikawa, Kiryu's designer designed this version of Mechagodzilla.
  • However, in GUNSHIP'S music release (which came before the movie), this Mechagodzilla was designed as Showa Mechagodzilla.
• Nishikawa noted that the size of Mechagodzilla in the novel is 200 meters in height because it is "twice the size of Leopardon, which is 100 meters tall".
• The film version of RPO Mechagodzilla has a striking resemblance to the 2014 Godzilla including details like head shape, dorsal plate shape and beam attack.

List of appearances[]

• Ready Player One (First appearance)