Wednesday 22 March 2017

Robot Wars Episode 3 Recap

Episode One Recap

Episode 2 Recap

At the midpoint of series 9 of Robot Wars, there is one small thing I would like to address before we begin recapping the carnage.

When Dara O'Briain and Angela Scanlon are interviewing the roboteers in the pit, they're always by a crowd.  Who exactly is in this crowd? Friends and family? Random members of the audience? This has been something I've been wondering for a while.

LET THE WARS BEGIN

Heat 3 was definitely the weakest heat so far.  The robots weren't as impressive and it wasn't as spectacular or destructive.  The first four robots battling were Thor, Tauron, Concussion and Chimera 2.

You may remember Thor last year where they competed in the second heat of last year's series, making it through to the grand final.  This year they came back with a morre pronounced axe/hammer, which had near a ton of force.  They were fighting Tauron who had a 20kg spinner bar, Chimera 2 and Concussion.  Chimera 2 competed last year, but they went out after their exposed wheels were damaged.  This year, they still had exposed wheels.  I feel like some logic is missing here.  Anyway, Chimera 2 were armed with an axe.  Lastly, there were new boys, Concussion, who were armed with a spinning drum that spun at 6000 RPM.

3...2...1...ACTIVATE

Tauron started strongly using its 20kg spinning bar to great effect.  The sparks flew and Tauron looked promising, but then it conked out.  A disappointing end to a robot with potential.

Meanwhile, Chimera 2 was being ganged up upon by Thor and Concussion.  Although it fought valiantly, it couldn't defend against the axe and spinning drum combination.  Thor and Concussion were the winners.

Foxic Vs Eruption Vs MR Speed Squared Vs Heavy Metal

Those who remember last year's series will remember that Foxic was an awful machine with an arrogant driver.  Unsurprisingly, Foxic is modelled on a fox and boasts a flipper that can flip 300kg.  Expulsion was a curious, experimental machine, made by students.  Their weapon was a spinning disc with retractable blades.  MR Speed Squared also fought last year with no real success.  They were a full body spinner.  Their team captain Pete had also made a bizarre promise to marry his long-suffering girlfriend if they lost Robot Wars.  If they won, then he'd get away with it.  Lastly, there was Heavy Metal.  Heavy Metal had weak armour, exposed tyres and no obvious weapon.  The team claimed that they had interchangeable weaponry, which could be attached to a 360 degree rotating arm, but I saw no evidence of this.

3...2...1 ACTIVATE

This fight began very quietly with all of the robots sizing each other up.  One of them hit the pit release, and bad driving sent Expulsion onto the arena floor spikes.  We also got to see MR SPeed Squared's wicked power, but also its unpredictability.  Full body spinners are notoriously difficult to control and MR Speed Squared was no exception.  Its spinning disc was so powerful that every shockwave set it flying.

However, their awesome power did immobilise Expulsion.  They tipped them over and Expulsion foolishly lacked a self-righter.  Foxic were once again rubbish, quickly conking out.  MR Speed Squared and Heavy Metal were through, despite the latter doing nothing except for taking heavy damage.

Onto the head to heads.

Thor VS COncussion

This battle saw the first occasion of the house robots going rogue in this heat.  Dead Metal quickly told hold of Concussion, but didn't cause any serious damage.  Once Concussion escaped, they slammed into Thor leading to their CO2 battle starting to leak.  But then bad driving saw Concussion get stuck over the pit.  They attempted to depress it, but instead the house robots went rogue again.  Although, they didn't do any serious damage.  However, Concussion were still stuck over the pit and Thor went in for the kill.  But this was when Concussion's spinning drum flicked Thor over and they couldn't self-right.  Thor's driver, Jason Marsten, was furious at himself, ad I don't blame him.  This error cost him a match he should have won.  He should have just let Concussion be.  But it's very easy to say this after the fact.

Heavy Metal vs MR Speed Squared

What Heavy Metal lacked in armour, weaponry and unexposed wheels, they made up for in very good driving.  Knowing the damage, MR Speed Squared could cause, Heavy Metal repeatedly slammed it into the arena wall.  MR Speed Squared just could not recover from this onslaught.  They were pushed into the CPZ where Shunt punctured them.  Eventually, Heavy Metal pitted them.  A convincing win here.

Heavy Metal Vs Concussion

This fight began very cagily.  By cagily, I mean, it was boring.  NOTHING HAPPENED.  That is until Concussion's spinning drum ripped off one of Heavy Metal's exposed wheels.  With literally one wheel on their wagon, Heavy Metal were out.

Thor Vs MR Speed Squared

Thor absolutely dominated this fight.  Just the same as Heavy Metal, Thor didn't allow MR Speed Squared the time to spin up.  Instead Thor slammed their axe into them, turning them into a colander.  MR Speed Squared couldn't recover and were out.

Concussion Vs MR Speed Squared

MR Speed Squared continued to prove that it was too power for its own good, as its own weaponry threatened to take themselves out.  However, Concussion disarmed them straight away with a hit of their spinning drum.  You might think it was all over from here, but you'd be wrong.  Concussion could not finish the job, but rather, they allowed MR Speed Squared to limp around like a wounded animal.  And as the fight progressed, MR Speed Squared came back into it.  When the fight ended, Concussion was smoking and the decision went to the judges, who awarded it to Concussion.  Looks like Pete from MR Speed Squared is getting married.

Thor vs Heavy Metal

This was the final battle before the heat final and Thor was determined to make it through to fight Concussion.  They were so determined that they relentlessly attacked Heavy Metal.  The axe swung down again and again, eventually leading Heavy Metal to lose its wheel once again.  Thor were through to the heat final.

Thor Vs Concussion

This was a close fight that could have gone either way.  Thor's CO2 bottle started leaking early on, but they still got some strong hits in.  Concussion managed to tip Thor over, but they had enough CO2 left to self-right.  This hit had caused some internal damage, as Thor became intermittently active.  But Concussion was also damaged, as they were stop and start as well.  With no clear winner the fight went to the judges who awarded it to Concussion.  Congrats to newbies Concussion.  As for Thor, they were chosen to compete in the final last year by the judges, as a wildcard.  Maybe the same will happen this year.

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