Mechs have appeared in video games for a long time, from retro games like Mega Man to more modern games like Titanfall 2; there have been an expansive variety of mechs throughout the last four decades of video game history.
While many mechs have humanoid designs, there have also been plenty with designs based on different creatures. From modern animals to prehistoric beasts and even mythical creatures, animal-based mechs have had various practical abilities inspired by the creatures they're based on. Not all of these mechs have the most significant roles, but they remain memorable due to their unique animal-influenced designs.
8 Robo-Scorpion – Fallout New Vegas
In the Old Moon Blues add-on for Fallout: New Vegas, Robo-Scorpions appear as security for the Big Mountain Research and Development Center. These scorpions are known for their durability, being somewhat resistant to several types of weapons.
There are also a handful of different variants of Robo-Scorpions, including the regular series, the quick, melee-only pincer series, the blaster series, which can shoot an electric beam from their tail, the bomber series, which can turn invisible, and the giant X-42, which has an atomic laser. They may not be the most well-known enemies in the Fallout series, but the variety of abilities they can have makes them some of the most formidable.
7 Eagle Monobeast – Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Looking at the designs of the five Monobeasts from Danganronpa 2, it's clear that the artist is probably a big fan of the Zoids series. While the tiger Monobeast looks the closest design-wise, the Eagle Monobeast is the only one who does something on-screen, besides standing alongside Monokuma menacingly. When the Monobeasts are first introduced, Monokuma uses the Eagle Monobeast to make an example of Usami so that the more rebellious students don't disobey him and still participate in the school's sinister activities.
Although the Eagle Monobeast's Gatling guns obliterate Usami, she isn't out of commission for long and eventually defeats it offscreen – as she does with the other four. The Eagle Monobeast may not have the most prominent role, but it does help the cast understand the gravity of their situation.
6 Depth Crawler – EDF
The Earth Defense Force spends most of their time defending the Earth from alien invasions and killing giant creatures of all kinds (primarily insects and arachnids), but sometimes you need to think like the enemy to defeat them. This is where the spider-inspired depth crawlers come in.
Like the creatures they're modeled after, Depth Crawlers can climb on walls and leap small distances. Depth Crawlers can also have a variety of weapons equipped to them, although not simultaneously. These weapons include cannons, incinerators, heavy shotguns, sniper cannons, and Gatling guns, but some are more advantageous than others. Depth Crawlers aren't the most powerful mechs in the series, but they're still useful when dealing with giant creepy-crawly aliens.
5 Divine Beast Vah Ruta – The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
This divine beast from Breath of the Wild is modeled after several types of elephants and happens to be in the dungeon where Waterblight Ganon is fought. Initially piloted by Zora Champion Mipha, Vah Ruta was infected by Malice by Waterblight Ganon and stayed that way for 100 years, killing Mipha and attempting to flood part of Hyrule as a result.
What makes Vah Ruta the best of the Divine Beasts is that it's the only one where everyone's favorite fish-man, Prince Sidon, helps Link access it. Zelda also mentions Vah Ruta in the game's ending scene as it has mysteriously stopped working, which may give players a clue where the sequel starts.
4 Cybuster Cybird Form – Super Robot Wars
The Cybuster is one of the first Banpresto original mechs made for the Super Robot Wars series and the only one able to transform. First appearing in the second Super Robot Wars, alongside its pilot Masaki Ando, the Cybuster is a Masou Kishin, one of four mechs initially created to fight the God of Destruction.
Although the Cybuster doesn't switch to Cybird form all that often, it does so when using its upgraded Akashic Buster attack, which has the mech being engulfed by a bird made of fire and then diving into the intended target. The Cybuster is also the first and only Banpresto original mech to get its own anime series, appropriately titled Masou Kishin Cybuster. This first aired in1999, eight years after the mechs first appearance.
3 Diablotiger – Zoids Legacy
Diablotiger first appeared in the Game Boy Advance title Zoids Legacy as an unlockable Zoid that can be acquired at the end of the game. It is the rival of the rhinoceros-like Cyclops and will swear loyalty to any pilot it deems strong enough to help take it on.
Besides having several powerful offensive weapons, including claws, fangs, laser blades, and a cyber metal cannon, the Diablotiger also has an energy shield, cloaking device, and the ability to regenerate health every turn. The Diablotiger later had a Cyber-Drive Zoid model, a line of Zoids that could be controlled with a remote, and was also an unlockable playable Zoid in Zoids: Battle Legends.
2 Metal Gear REX – Metal Gear Solid
There have been several Metal Gear units throughout the Metal Gear Solid series and its spinoffs, but the first Metal Gear to appear in Metal Gear Solid is the best and most memorable by far. Resembling and named after the Tyrannosaurus Rex, this roaring nuclear tank has heavily armored legs, cannons, anti-tank missiles, a Mobile Tactical High-Energy Laser, and a magnetic railgun that can launch a nuclear warhead that cannot be tracked.
If all those weapons weren't enough, REX can also kill enemies by simply stomping on them. It may require a human pilot, but that doesn't make it any less threatening.
1 Tallneck – Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn has the widest variety of mechs based on animals to date, and all are great in their own way. However, the best in the game are Tallnecks, which are primarily based on giraffes. Tallnecks also happen to be one of the more peaceful machines in the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, just idly walking by in a predetermined path instead of attacking humans.
Because of their peaceful nature, Aloy cannot kill them in the game. It also probably wouldn't be wise for her to kill them anyway since overriding them provides her with a map of the surrounding area. The resulting pulse will also damage or destroy any hostile machines nearby.
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