It's all in the name
Originally posted Jun 2, 2024
I have many mecha hot takes but tend to keep them to myself unless prompted (or perhaps provoked would be more apt). One I've been thinking about lately is I feel putting the term "mech/a", "ro/bot", etc. in your title is kind of a losing move that makes your work feel generic. Not hating on the ones that pull it off but they tend to be legacy franchises. Mechwarrior, Custom Robo, etc. But they got there first, so they get grandfathered in. The rest of us must be more creative than that.
I think the best mecha titles are ones that are more evocative than descriptive. Aura Battle Dunbine. Heavy Metal L-Gaim. Armored Trooper Votoms. Mouthfeel goes a long way too. Doesn't it just feel good to say Chromehounds out loud? Say it with me now:
Chromehounds
Mecha is a genre all about specificity. How big? How fast? Action, sim, or tactics? Simply saying your game has robots in it doesn't actually do much for most of us. We are inherently driven by our hearts. What's your favorite mecha title? Is it a sensible name or does it just feel good to type/say? Be honest.