User:McGowzo/10 things in robot wars that shouldn't have been reinvented

Write the text of your article here! Robot wars remains a classic show that promoted ingenuity, skill and design. There are some robots and aspects that never should of been considered to be changed. Here is my list of examples of one step forward, a hundred steps back...

10. Steg 2 - Many won't agree with this one and I am still not sure of it should be on the list. The robot was impressive to make the semi's and was very unlucky to be beaten by Chaos 2, (very strange to put 2 previous grand finalists when stinger fought mousetrap, both previous round 1 losers). The fact is this robot struggled at some times. The team abandoned speed and immense push of Steg-o-saur-us for a robot that would fly through the air as its flipper would go off. I'm thinking maybe they should have focused on strength in the drive rather than an awkward built robot that had no front offensiveness.

9. Cassius 2 - The robot that was brilliant and acrobatic. Series 3 dawned a new short lived Cassius 2, which only shone beyond the first round. The problem is it's paddle flipper didn't seem too effective in getting under the body of a robot. The ground clearance seemed a bit much making the wedge too steep compared to the previous edition. The robot was too lightweight and flimsy for my liking. Rex Garrod probably should of stuck to agility and more effective design.

8. Suicidal Tendencies - The classic tracked robot that shone in series 4 with it's agility and lovely fork lifts. Then in series 5 it appeared with a ridiculous looking crusher that would have provided no support when flipped. The weapon had little power despite the boast it had 15 tonnes of pressure (yeah right). The robot was a far way off the previous version that nearly won their heat.

7. Killertron - Ah the big pink swinging axe machine, the pick axe had great power and speed earning it a deserved 4th place in series 2. It wasn't until series 4 when we saw the pretty pink machine back in action, although something was very different, the axe shaft was made of wood and was very sluggish offering no offensive power. I don't even want to mention the celebrity special where they thought it would be fun to add a boxing glove to the ave head, only to be set on fire. It's a shame the axe never was not as speedy due to problems with it bending, but switching to a slow lumbering thing is a real shame.

6. Darke Destroyer II - I must put this robot here, but you wonder why so low? Well the first incarnation was never good to begin with. The Rotating blades did little more than scratch and chip paint off armour and it's huge turning circle made it a very slow and weak target. Series 4's Darke Destroyer II amazed everyone how bad can go to worse. I sure hope it was their intention to make a novelty robot with little 'wagglers' that looked like they were made of paper and string. The robot sucked beyond any doubt but the only saving grace was that we never expected much.

5. Corkscrew - It's really disappointing this made the list. Abandoning the classic tall hub cap design for one that was low down and didn't seem to have a weapon, switching from a very devastating full spinner to a robot that was drunk and spent most of its battle flying around the area. I assume the choice to lower and widen the robot was to prevent being flipped, although by series 7 flippers were so powerful they dominated almost every heat. The blades were too thin and had no damage potential whatsoever.

4. Wild Thing - Why? Just why did the Adams family decide to enter such a smaller vulnerable robot that had most of its body lifted off the ground? Most would remember the previous wild things that had speed and power to match. Going from a robot to push Chaos 2 all the way to being pretty much nothing. A tiny saw that never seemed to work and not much push power at all. They only won battles due to technical faults in a very weak heat before being eaten alive by Razer. They never should have tampered with the classic edition which was far more worthy.

3. Berserk 2 and Twister - I must include both these robots because they were almost as bad as each other. Berserk 2 never really got going in series 4, being too sluggish and the weapons not saving it. Compared to the original Berserk in series 3 which was more manoeuvrable and strong enough to hold against Hypnodisc. Twister in series 5 is an example of loading too much on the one machine, costing you the match. The team never improved from their near shot at the semi's in series 3 which by the way they could of reached the GF if it wasn't for that arena spike.

2. Panic Attack Gold - Clearly PA darkest hour when Kim Davis revealed his scrap heap of a machine. Poor manoeuvrability, no Srimech and weak armour that was ripped off like tissue paper. The robot was quite beautiful but beyond that it is insulting to the prowess of a past champion. Fortunately they brought the original design back for a few more appearances, but by then RW had advanced too much for the golden oldie and losing Kim Davis in Series 7 meant the end of PA. PA in gold doesn't give it any more value for just plain sucking.

1. Craig Charles - This is a very strange number one on the list, but I thought I might expand from robots to discuss the manner of the host. Craig Charles came in Series 2 to replace the dreadful Jeremy Clarkson, providing a more positive vibe and entertainment. Charles was a charming, witty and enjoyable host, with cartwheels, comedy and his personal view on life. Charles was a joy on RW being so enthusiastic.

After series 4 something changed in the show, the producers wanted to make it more for kids so they made it more bright and colourful. Craig Charles became less of comedian and more of a crazy, screaming individual. Like a pro wrestler he would spend 10 minutes making the crowds go as crazy as he was. The dialogue was along the lines of 'destruction' 'mayhem' 'carnage' 'destruction' 'metal munching' 'battle' 'destruction' 'raging' and destruction. Dressed in a stupid bikie jacket transformed Charles into being unbearable. It was part of a ridiculous change from a man who as a natural comedian to screaming a narrow vocabulary to a moronic crowd. This became too much on revving up for a fight rather than the good old days where it was about the skill of engineering and the reality of the robots being designed. It is a shame to lose the Charles that made the show such a joy, being pressured by BBC to adopt a child like lunacy from his wonderful charm and personality.

So there you have it, not the best list but I hope you consider my points into changes that only caused things to go from bad to certainly worse.