Battlebots 2015: Episode 2 Review

This episode concluded the qualifying round. How did they manage this when they only show 4 fights a show and there were 8 fights to do? Simple, they only showed highlights from the other 4, which is disappointing. I'm not sure why they didn't want to do an extra show to, you know, show all the fights. But they didn't. So, let's review the fights they did show.


Overhaul vs. Lock-Jaw

In a close match, totally-not-Disector beat Overhaul, another clamping robot. Overhaul got off to a really good start, but I think the experience behind Lock-Jaw was just too much. Also, there was controversy of Lock-Jaw dishing out a late hit, but I guess it ultimately didn't matter.

Witch Doctor vs. Bronco

It was yet another multi-bot where the smaller robot had a flamethrower against Bronco, a bot from the same people who did Toro...and T-minus...and Matador. With Bronco, they took the bold step of...no they didn't. It was basically the same as its predecessors. This fight didn't last very long, as Witch Doctor got stuck after it got flipped into a gap on the edge of the stage. Bit of a design flaw of the stage if you ask me.

Tombstone vs. Counter Revolution

Two robots I'm completely unfamiliar this time around, both with big blades. Tombstone with a horizontal bar and Counter Revolution with two vertical saws. One of the robots got obliterated. It was the one that didn't look stupid. The weapon on Tombstone is something brutal, it's going to take some really fancy driving to beat that robot.

Complete Control vs. Ghost Raptor

I remember Complete Control back from the old days. It was a Middleweight back then, and my most vivid memory was it getting destroyed by Hazard. I mean, most robots in that division were, but I remember that fight was especially fun to watch. Well, Complete Control is a Heavyweight now, and to start off this fight, it got a net stuck in the blade of Ghost Rider. This was the most exciting point of the entire match. After a restart, Complete Control performed the equivalent of breaking its own leg on the floor, and Ghost Raptor's blade snapped in half after hitting its opponent once. Ghost Raptor won the fight, mostly because it was able to move.

Random Thoughts to close:

Seriously, what's up with flamethrowers? I guess the rules have been changed, and I know the House Robots in Robot Wars had them, but they don't feel right for Battlebots.

That net was one of the stupidest things I've ever seen. I mean, in what sort of reasonable universe would that be allowed.

I saw the guy who did Minion in the highlight reel for the 4 qualifying fights they didn't show.

It doesn't feel right to have a Heavyweight division Battlebots tournament without Biohazard or Vlad the Impaler. I guess those guys have moved on, because they weren't there in any capacity.

The wild card thing was weird. Why didn't they just bring in 32 bots instead of 24?

Next week we get to the real competition, I'm looking forward to it.