Tritons: Teeth, Claws, and Laser Beams!

Monsterpocalypse: Big in Japan adds more Triton monsters and units from the depths of the sea to the game. This week’s preview highlights some of the awesome abilities these new additions bring to the Invaders agenda.

News from the Beach

As a lone reporter in a news helicopter flew along the coast, reporting on the day’s beach activities, he spotted a large creature surfacing a few miles out into the ocean. The reporter headed toward the creature to get live close-up footage. Before the video feed from the news helicopter was broken, images of a slew of Triton invaders made their way to the television screens of the coastal city’s populace.

Crustacean Cruncher

The first of the Tritons spotted was a gigantic lobster-like monster. In the video, the menacing lobster monster changed from a pinkish tint to a glimmering yellow and then leaped from the ocean waters toward the shore. The yellow glimmer dissipated as the monster landed, and the giant crustacean demolished a posh beachside apartment building with its far-reaching claws. Burrowing up through the road nearby was a steel shell crab. The claws of the giant lobster scooped up the slow-crawling crab and moved it forward.

In both its alpha and ultra form, the new Monsterpocalypse: Big in Japan Triton monster Crustaceor has the claws to Reach out and Crunch someone. His massive claws are used not only to Power Strike the enemy but also to Hoist units into place.

Triton Tech

As the remaining invaders neared the shore, a tremendous wave pushed against the formation of attack crafts, crushing many of them. Then from out of the sea arose the Elemental Champion Aquosia. Hope for the innocent was brief, however, as a group of Triton submarines emerged from the water, firing energy-sapping bolts at the aquatic protector. Aquosia staggered, and the Triton subs showed their ability to traverse land as they reached the surface, revealing a propulsion system similar to that of the Nautilus Blaster that has already played a part in many coastal invasions.

The durable Maco Hunter Sub uses its boosted laser blasts to Disrupt enemy monsters.

This Was No Boat Accident

Coming up from the rear of the invading force was a supersized hammerhead shark, heading straight toward the stunned Aquosia. It moved swiftly past all the Triton attack crafts and, without slowing, shot beams of light from its eyes to blast an abandoned barge in its path. The advancing shark grappled the elemental champion, then pulsed with a crimson glow. Aquosia’s calming luminosity slowly faded as the giant hammerhead consumed her life energy. With strength even beyond its size, the Triton monster heaved Aquosia far over its head.

Before or after going hyper, the Armored Leviathron Power Drains enemy monsters with its power attacks and its Pathfinder ability clears out enemy units. In its ultra form, allied units Hasten to keep up with the fast-moving Triton monster.

Slithering Assaulters

Aquosia splashed down amid a group of oversized eels swimming close to the ocean’s surface. Radiating with electricity, these eels increased the damage to the mighty goddess of the waters. Just before the video ended, several more of these eels swam past the fallen Aquosia at speeds equal to the Tritons’ fastest sea crafts.

Hazardous and Unstable Psi-Eels usually keep a good distance from each other and the rest of their force.

Up Next

We’ll keep the faction previews moving right along. Three factions remain to preview. Which will be next? You know the drill—come back to MonstrerInsider.com to find out!

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Neutral Units: Unsung Heroes

As cities are met with the destructive encounters of the gigantic opposing forces of the Monsterpocalypse, many civilians are caught in the crossfire. Most of these unfortunate souls do what is only natural in the face of such horror—run! But there are some who find the strength within to become the heroes their cities desperately need. Here are a few stories of these unsung heroes.

A Hard Day’s Night

Shirley Johnson drives trucks for a living. Her motto has always been that hard work puts the best food on the table. She took the hazmat truck assignment for the extra pay. She did not realize exactly how hazardous the assignment would turn out to be, nor did she imagine that taking it on would put her in the position to become a hero.

Shirley’s drive through the forest road just outside the city was cut short by what looked to be a huge crab crawling from out of the trees ahead. Then, in her rearview mirror, she saw a strange-looking giant fish-monster coming her way. Scared, totally weirded out, and knowing she couldn’t go forward or turn around, Shirley chose to shut off her engine, raise the volume of her radio, and close her eyes. “It’s been a harrrd day’s night . . .”

Her escape from this unreal reality was broken by a loud shriek. She looked out the side window and saw a flying, orange-glowing, dinosaur-like creature equal in size to the strange fish. The great dinosaur flew straight at the giant fish to strike it with its claws, then immediately grappled it in a swift motion. The dinosaur hurled the fish right over Shirley’s truck and onto the huge crab creature in front of her.

As the fish made it back up onto its legs, the strange bulb protruding from its head began to glow. Seemingly in sync with the fish’s glowing bulb, more crusty crabs began to gather, along with alien-style machines shooting laser beams at the flying dinosaur.

Shirley thought of her kids at her sister’s house in the city and restarted her truck. Flooring the gas pedal, she headed straight toward the giant sea creatures. Halfway to impact, with the radio still blasting, “. . . will make me fe-eel all right,” Shirley leapt from the truck. Just as she completed her tumble, she looked up to see the explosion.

The laser-blasting machines were destroyed, the crabs were blown to their backs, and the giant fish was taken down. Shirley heard another shriek and looked to see the winged dinosaur-creature fly away. She then noticed a strong and distinct smell. “I guess it’s fried fish and crab cakes on the table tonight,” she murmured.

The Hazmat Truck is the most destructive of the three neutral units in the Monsterpocalypse: Big in Japan set. With its Explosion and Radial Attack brawl triggers, you can run a Hazmat Truck right into a group of enemy units to take them out. Of course, Self Destruct means the Hazmat Truck will be taken out as well, but since the neutral units have no agenda, no extra action dice beyond the unit’s cost are required to spawn another one.

After School Special

Classes came to an abrupt end as fire alarms went off in buildings all across the campus. Despite the clamoring bells, the students spilling out of classrooms and lecture halls moved at a normal class-ending pace until the sound of a giant robot smashing into the pavement outside drowned out the alarms. Mass hysteria ensued.

Oblivious to the tumult, a preoccupied Dr. Gregory Platt collected his teaching materials. As he exited the classroom, he looked back at an extremely long, unfinished equation on the whiteboard and mumbled something only a physicist could interpret. He slowly walked through the university halls, stroking his beard in deep thought. All the while, students and teachers ran frantically about, knowing the Monsterpocalypse was now invading their city.

Dr. Platt stepped out of the front doors of the physics building and saw the fallen robot, which he recognized as the G.U.A.R.D. protector Defender X. He gave it a quick once-over and continued to walk absently toward his car. He then noticed an impressive G.U.A.R.D. vehicle beginning to glow next to a power generator. This stopped him in his tracks. “Very interesting,” he said aloud. Briefly looking up, then counting on his fingers, he began to walk again, but in a new direction—toward an abandoned tanker truck.

Without any sense of urgency, Dr. Platt made his way to the tanker, still mumbling. Bystanders looked on in awe as Defender X started to get back up. The giant mech protector began to glow dimly as the glow of the G.U.A.R.D. vehicle faded. Not at all surprised at this, the professor continued his conversation with himself as he climbed into the tanker truck.

Shouts of alarm added to the tumult as the subterran monster that caused the great robot’s fall ran full-force through the city. As the behemoth of flesh and drills advanced relentlessly toward the weakened Defender X, Dr. Platt calmly crashed the tanker truck straight through a fence to park next to another power generator. He exited the cab, then the truck began to pulsate with power. Defender X glowed even more intensely.

The glowing seemed to empower the robot greatly: glowing brightly, the massive guardian took full- speed flight, then shot out its mechanical fists right at the fiendish drill monster’s chest. With a loud boom, the powerful impact sent the monster flying back into an unmanned construction site. The monster would not get up from this fall.

Cheers began to ring through the streets as the still-mumbling Dr. Platt reached his car. He tossed his briefcase onto the passenger seat and suddenly paused as if startled. ”Eureka!” he exclaimed with great excitement. “I think I’ve got it!” Then, as if awakening from a dream, he noticed the jubilant crowds around him, the glowing Defender X, and the huge chunk of asphalt embedded in the hood of his car.

Looking for an enhancement on your power base? Park one of these Tanker Trucks on a power zone to get that power up boost your force needs. Along with Amplify, the Tanker Truck has the Hazardous ability, making it a nice unit to pull out of your reserves whenever you want to set up a more damaging power attack against the enemy monster.

Disaster Control

The Brooks brothers had been a part of their community’s volunteer fire department for over a year. William, the eldest and wealthiest of the three, even purchased a fleet of new emergency response vehicles for the city’s fire department. Having dreamed as a child of taking the wheel of a shiny red ladder truck, William also made sure a fire engine was in his driveway. This made it easy for him and his brothers, Robert and Daniel, to get to emergency scenes quickly. And the greatest emergency they would ever know would test their response time as well as their resolve.

The brothers’ bantering over the half-time report of the local college football game was cut short by an emergency call. With the home team down by a field goal, William shut off the television, and the three quickly got equipped and on the road.

As William drove, chilling reports came over the radio of giant creatures from underground, super-sized insects, sea monsters walking on land, and a very mean ape wielding a train as a weapon. The monsters all seemed to be at odds with one another, but that didn’t mean the innocent bystanders of the city were safe from their attacks. The reports were broken by a new, clear voice saying, ”This is UCI Control calling all emergency response vehicles. You are needed in the university district. Make your way to the stadium. Our robotic protection vehicles are dealing with the rampaging monsters, but we could use your help keeping customers . . . er, civilians safe. We have secured the stadium and created a garrison. Over and out.” Only blocks away, William kept up the fire truck’s speed as he squinted his eyes and focused on navigating through the small fires and rubble all over the roads.

When they arrived at the stadium, William parked the engine and a ready team of firefighters ran to get its attack hose started to tend to fires in the surrounding buildings.

A familiar voice sounded from a nearby UCI RPV, “All air units, this is UCI Control. Mechathugrosh is online. Prepare for screening maneuvers.” The building-sized Mechathugrosh rocketed through the air over the stadium, trailed by many smaller RPVs. William looked around at the many firefighters, police officers, and other emergency response workers assisting civilians, and although the stadium’s scoreboard read otherwise, he knew this was a win for the home team.

Fire Engines can easily get to hazards to use their Extinguish action with the help of All Terrain. That utility alone will be enough for players to want one or two in their force, but being the only unit in the game with Deflector Shield (Buildings adjacent to this figure gain +1 DEF from enemy attacks.), you may want a full five Fire Engines to help protect your secured buildings.

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UCI: Making the world safe with more monsters!

With the ongoing devastation brought on by the monstrous enemies of our civilization, UberCorp International thrives. Inspired by the most impressive of these monsters, UCI continues to advance their robo-technology. Wallace Weir, UCI President, had this to say in a recent press conference about their latest developments, soon to be revealed:

“It is most unfortunate that the greatest ingenuity is found in the midst of the greatest of tragedies. It is also a duty of humanity to embrace this. UberCorp International does just that. We put the greatest of engineering minds to work on making the best possible protection available to every nation.

Personal protection robots have kept many safe in this dangerous time, and our mecha-monster program has proved to be a great success in staving off city-wide attacks. Now, we are expanding this program with over 100,000 tons of mecha-monster. If and when there is another monster threat, you can be assured that UCI will be there alongside our customers. We must show the fiendish abominations that we do not fear their faces and that this world belongs to humanity—or at least those who can afford it.”

Secrets of the Congo

Though UCI has publicly labeled the gargantuan apes from the Congo a menace, their mecha-monster program would not exist if it weren’t for the nature-loving beasts. Even before the apes left their seclusion, the would-be mega corporation had begun gathering information about the secret society of primates.

Using stealth AI probes, UCI researchers collected DNA imaging data from the beasts. In the course of this research the scientists lost contact with one of the probes, which never made it back to UCI headquarters. There was no official investigation into the fate of the missing probe—no wonder, considering the amazing finds keeping the researchers occupied. One lab tech (speaking on terms of anonymity), however, believes it was destroyed by the very beast whose data it was sent to retrieve. That giant ape had caught the particular interest of UCI researchers early in their observations.

The much-anticipated UberCorp International monster Robo Kondo joins the faction’s ranks in Monsterpocalypse: Big in Japan. In both its alpha form and ultra form, Robo Kondo sports a high-tech jet propulsion system, giving it great maneuverability. The great robo-ape is also programmed with a combat disengagement protocol, allowing it to strike and move quickly. This works really well in tandem with its alpha form’s remote synchronization systems.

Ultra Robo Kondo helps allied units blast clusters of enemies and can easily combo punches into super strong power attacks.

Mechanizing Evil

Dr. Dietrich Bonhoffer, the head of UCI’s research department, had great interest in the Cthulians. With their cultists wiped out, the greatest knowledge of the dark beings was left with those who fought against them. When UberCorp International began negotiations with G.U.A.R.D., they did not intend to close any deals. Instead, putting forth a proposal to develop mechs for the global protectors gave UCI spies the intel needed to access G.U.A.R.D.’s highly secure monster threat database. Dr. Bonhoffer got exactly what he needed, and UCI’s monster-mech program benefited greatly.

The ability-loaded Mechathugrosh flies onto the scene ready to show off the tech savvy of UCI engineers. Its cargo bay is specifically designed for the transport of Mecha Taskmasters. Equipped with a reverse polarity tractor beam, this mecha-monster can draw allied or enemy units close. The biggest breakthrough (so far) in mecha-monster science is Mechathugrosh’s power redistribution system, allowing the mech to use nearby power sources to restore its own.

Ultra Mechathugrosh switches its flight mode to burrow mode and uses its reverse polarity tractor beam not only to draw in enemy units but also to disrupt their advancement.

New UCI Unit Models

Also in the works are the UberCorp International Mecha Chomper and Robo Brontox, soon to come off the assembly line.

Gorghadratron will gain some nice assistance from the Mecha Chomper’s advanced targeting systems, giving his multiple blasting modes a greater threat range. On their own, the Mecha Chompers can be quite effective as well, especially when ganging up in close combat.

The Robo Brontox will be a great mecha-monster support unit with its cyber positioning control systems, which strategically grants the towering mechs greater mobility. Elite Robo Brontox units are outfitted with a cloaking device to keep them safe from enemy fire.

Up Next

Next week we will take a look at the neutral units making their way into Monsterpocalypse: Big in Japan. What types of vehicles will they be? Come back to MonsterInsider.net to find out. 

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Elemental Champions: Earth & Wind

For centuries the yotari, or “the four,” have been chosen from the Tenshi Seigikan order to wield the magical power of elemental gods to protect our world. These chosen ones may spend a lifetime preparing and need don the ancient armor of the gods but once—or even not at all. Never has there been a time when all the elemental warrior-gods were needed at once. That has changed. The Monsterpocalypse has come. With a multitude of threats from other worlds, dimensions, and now the depths of our own planet, the four will unite to keep our very existence safe.

The elements of fire and water has already been called upon but will soon be accompanied by the elements of earth and wind.

Strength of the Earth

As soon as he was chosen to become part of the four, the monk Riku knew that before his life was spent he would be required to take the form of the earth god. Close to the end of his days, and much to his regret, this belief proved true. Once the force of the earth god’s strength is felt, it is those who would torment the innocent that will regret.

Tectomoc is the Elemental Champion’s beat stick. Not all alpha form monsters have the ability to deal more than 1 point of damage outside of a power attack. That’s why Tectomoc’s Beat Back brawl trigger makes him a particularly tough opponent. But this beat stick is not only offensively tough, his alpha form has a health of 7, the highest of all the Elemental Champion monsters. Also, to keep him standing on solid ground, he has the Steady skill, making him immune to body slams.

The low hyper stat of his ultra form coupled with his alpha form’s Power Gorge brawl trigger ensures that early hyper ups for Tectomoc will happen often. The ultra form has an additional power B-Die and brawl B-Die (the best brawl stat ever, by the way) and gains the Burrow ability, allowing Tectomoc to get to his opponent with ease and trigger his brawl Chain Attack.

The earth god is not alone. The Earth Kami, one of the new Elemental Champion units, has the same rock-solid defense of 4 as the Earth Avatar found in Monsterpocalypse Now. Also like the Earth Avatar, the Earth Kami does not have a blast attack. But with the Fling brawl trigger, this blastless unit is still a ranged threat.

Celerity of the Wind

The first unsui (monk in training) to be chosen as a guardian of the ancient armor, Yukikaze accepted her calling with no hesitation. Some doubted her qualifications for such a heavy burden, but she will soon have the opportunity to prove that the greatest of the monks are so in spirit and not experience. The elemental warrior-god of the wind will take to the skies once again.

The wind component of the Elemental Champions is Hurricanus. In her alpha form, the swift Hurricanus allows her allies to ride the winds with the red Hasten skill. Her Energy Drain blast trigger decreases the enemy’s effectiveness, while the Weaken skill increases her own (imagine a Rocket Chopper assisting here).

The winds of Hurricanus become much stronger in her ultra form. Her Hasten skill is blue (how about some Speed 9 G-1 Strike Fighters?), and Energy Drain is replaced with Lightning Attack. She also becomes much harder to hit, with a tremendous 7 Defense.

The winds of change also bring the Air Kami, which will Distract the enemy and give a Lift to earth-based allies. This flying unit’s utility makes it a great splasher for many forces.

Up Next

Next time we’ll take a look at another Monsterpocalype: Big in Japan faction. Which will it be? Come back to MonsterInsider.net to find out. 

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A Look at Series 5

Monsterpocalypse is moving full force into 2010 with more stomping, smashing, rampaging destruction than ever. Series 5 is on the way, and we are going to be taking a weekly peek at what’s coming. To start, here’s an overview of the new additions to your Monsterpocalypse experience.

Monsters!

What would Monsterpocalypse be without monsters? Series 5 will introduce 12 new monsters to our world’s greatest conflict. The Elemental Champions channel the magical energies of the wind and earth. The Empire of the Apes dispatches more gargantuan apes, along with explosive war tools of man. The Subterran Uprising burrows up with 3 heads seeking to blot out the sun. The Savage Swarm buzzes into the fray with stinging power. The Tritons surface with claws and teeth ready to dig into land dwellers. And UberCorp International develops new mechanized monstrosities to fiendishly and radically further their corporate expansion.

Our sneak peeks will go into some of the stats and abilities of these new monsters along with their accompanying units (each faction will have 2 new monsters and 5 new units).

More Buildings!

In the upcoming Series 5 Monsterpocalypse release, fans of city destruction will be elated to find 8 new buildings to smash (or secure, if you’re into that sort of thing). Among these 8 buildings will be 3 new monuments of the city where it all began. All the new buildings will be found in the Series 5 unit boosters, which will be packaged with 4 random units and 1 random building.

We’ll take a closer look at these buildings in the weeks to come, but for now let’s just say there’s lots of green abilities, including a couple of very unexpected ones. Oh, and a giant Ferris wheel…

Civilian Vehicles!

When monsters attack, not everyone can make the evacuation in time—and then there are always those who actually want to stay behind, whether to help preserve the city or to take the fight right back to those oversized terrors. Series 5 will bring you these brave civilians to add to your force in the form of neutral vehicle units.

There will be 3 different civilian units, randomly packed in the unit boosters (2 rares and 1 uncommon). Any faction will benefit by including a mix of these 3 units in their force, as their abilities are very useful (and sometimes deadly). Stay tuned for more detailed info.

Character Units!

Series 5 will debut an all-new super rare type of elite unit. There will be 6 of these character units randomly packaged in the unit boosters. Each faction will have 1 character unit. The character units will each be based on one of the other units in the faction but will bring its own unique flavor to their force. The Dire Ant Warriors, for example, make a really tough swarm on their own but become much more motivated with Warlord Rifa by their side. 

So who are the other 5 character units? You’ll just have to keep your eye on MonsterInsider.net to find out. 

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